Holocaust Litigation
Cohen Milstein served, pro bono, as co-lead counsel for Holocaust survivors suing Swiss banks that collaborated with the Nazi regime during World War II by laundering stolen funds, jewelry and art treasures. We negotiated a settlement of $1.25 billion. Similar cases against Austrian and French banks also resulted in significant settlements. This litigation led academics to revise their assessment of Switzerland’s relationship with Nazi Germany and exposed the extent of business participation in the Holocaust.
Cohen Milstein was lead counsel in litigation by forced and slave laborers against German companies that profited from the use of forced slave labor during World War II. The case, which resulted in a groundbreaking $5.2 billion settlement, was resolved by multinational negotiations, and over one and a half million individuals in 41 countries received compensation.