William J. Cook

Biography William J. Cook has a diverse and varied legal background filled with practical experience in many different areas of civil and commercial law. He has tried numerous cases in both federal and state courts, conducted arbitrations and hearings, and handled appeals. He represents clients in matters involving business litigation and commercial and employment disputes, securities litigation, business transactions and counseling, and insurance. Mr. Cooks peers have awarded him with the highest possible rating of AV-Preeminent* by Martindale-Hubbell, which speaks to his stellar professional reputation and track record of high moral character. He has been listed in Florida Super Lawyers under business litigation since 2013. Mr. Cook attended the Stetson University College of Law where he was actively involved as a Notes Editor with the Stetson Law Review. While in school, he also received the American Jurisprudence Book Award in Business Associations and was honored as a finalist in the Scribes National Note and Comment Competition. Serving his internship for U. S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Kovachevich of the Middle District of Florida provided him with valuable experience in federal courtroom procedures. After graduating cum laude, Mr. Cook became licensed to practice under the Florida Bar in 1993. He is also admitted to the U. S. Court of Appeals for the 5th, 11th, and D. C. Circuits and the U. S. District Courts for the Middle, Southern, and Northern Districts of Florida. Mr. Cook has written several published articles on legal topics such as insider trading and appeals issues. He also co-wrote the Florida Practice Handbook, Damages in 1995 along with the Florida Practice Handbook, Motor Vehicle No-Fault Law in 1998. Topics of other legal articles include the basics of civil litigation, insurance coverage, federal court, Florida civil procedures and expert testimony. Mr. Cook has been asked to speak at a number of professional conferences on topics such as third-party insurance coverage, basic tort law, class action lawsuits and Florida legal ethics. *AV-Preeminent and BV-Distinguished are certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the confidential opinions of members of the Bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell ratings fall into two categories - legal ability and general ethical standards. Practice Areas Business and Commercial Litigation Shareholder Disputes Employment Disputes Securities Litigation Insurance Business Transactions and Counseling Education Stetson University College of Law, St. Petersburg, Florida J. D. - 1993 Honors: cum laude Honors: Finalist, Scribes National Note and Comment Competition, 1992-1993 Honors: Recipient of the American Jurisprudence Book Award in Business Associations Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia B. A. - 1990 Bar Admission Florida, 1993 U. S. District Court Middle District of Florida, 1995 U. S. District Court Southern District of Florida, 2001 U. S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit, 1994 U. S. District Court Northern District of Florida, 2013 U. S. Court of Appeals District of Columbia Circuit, 2013 U. S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, 2019 Published Works Note, From Insider Trading to Unfair Trading: Chestman II and Rule 14e-3, 22 Stetson L. Rev. 171, 1992 Getting Slam-Dunked on Appeal, The Hillsborough County Bar Association Lawyer, April, 1998 Damages (Co-author), Alperts Florida Practice Handbook, 1995 and current supplement Florida Practice Handbook, Motor Vehicle No-Fault Law (Co-author), 1998 Representative Cases Peterson v. Morton F. Plant Hosp. Assn, Inc. 656 So. 2d 501, 1995, Fla. 2d DCA Key Club Associates, Limited Partnership v. Mayer 718 So. 2d 346, 1998, Fla. 2d DCA Rice v. NITV, LLC 19 So. 3d 1095, 2009, Fla. 2d DCA Alderman v. BCI 68 So. 3d 396, 2011, Fla. 2d DCA Axiom Worldwide, Inc. Excite Medical Corp. 2014 WL 6234006 (11th Cir. 2014) Medco Data, LLC v. Bailey 2014 WL 6677204, 2014, Fla. 2d DCA Honors American Jurisprudence Book Award in Business Associations AV rating by Martindale-Hubbell Super Lawyers, Business Litigation Senior Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America Classes & Seminars Insurance Law: Third Party Coverage in Florida, National Business Institute, 1998 Basic Tort Law for the Florida Paralegal, National Business Institute, 1999 Litigating the Class Action Lawsuit in Florida, National Business Institute, 1999 Protecting the Legal Rights of Florida Citizens in Consumer Transactions, National Business Institute, 2003 Florida Legal Ethics, Lorman Business Services, 2001 Rules and Procedures for Federal Court Success:, National Business Institute, 2008 Effective Case Presentations at Trial, National Business Institute, 2012 Building Your Civil Trial Skills, National Business Institute, 2012 Civil Trial: Everything You Need to Know, National Business Institute, 2020 Pro-Bono and Civic Activities Rotary Club of Tampa Bay, Past President Attorney Ad Litem, Crossroads for Florida Kids Professional Associations Florida Bar Association, Member, Business Law Section Recent Posts Forging a Management Agreement is Not Ok Is a Lawyer Bound by the Terms of a Settlement Agreement? The Importance of Listening Tortious interference claims only apply to third parties Negotiating severance packages in Florida