Reed Smith LLP today announced the addition of William “Bill” Cook as a partner in the Intellectual Property, Information & Innovation Group in Chicago.
Cook was formerly a partner in the Chicago office of McGuire Woods, where he served as Deputy Chair of that firm’s Data Privacy & Security team.
“Bill is an accomplished data privacy and security lawyer, with significant technical experience in intellectual property law,” said Co-Practice Group Leader Mark Melodia. “He adds additional depth to our global data security, compliance, IP and technology practices.”
Prior to joining McGuire Woods, Cook was a partner at Edwards Wildman (formerly Wildman Harrold) from 2003-2011. Before entering private practice, he was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Chicago, serving 16 years in the Special Prosecutions Unit of that office, heading its Computer Fraud & Abuse Task Force, and serving as its Counter-Terrorism and Counter-Espionage Coordinator.
Cook’s practice focuses on internal investigations and data security and privacy counseling, as well as IP, export-import and white collar litigation. He also provides data privacy and security counseling to clients across a broad spectrum of industry sectors, and conducts compliance, privacy and security assessments for security controls under state privacy laws, and federal SEC, FTC, HIPAA/HITECH, and the PCI data security standards.
“Reed Smith has a strong reputation in the areas of data security and privacy, as well as intellectual property and insurance recovery law,” said Cook. “With significant data breaches at major companies routinely making national headlines, my extensive experience in data breach preparedness and response, and working with corporate boards on related risk and insurance issues, will be a great benefit to the firm’s clients. In addition, working with an insurance recovery team of the stature of Reed Smith’s will facilitate and help implement that counsel to clients across a broad range of industries.”
An experienced IP litigator, he handles cases involving trade secrets, industrial espionage, copyrights, patents, “malvertising,” privacy rights, social media and unfair competition before federal and state courts and the FTC.
Cook’s practice spans Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Brussels, Germany, Italy and Israel on ISO 27001, PIPEDA and the EU Data Privacy Act on security compliance. He has also conducted international investigations in China, Japan, Russia, Bulgaria, Poland and Saudi Arabia, and has advised clients on export and import regulations and compliance with respect to the Commerce Department’s Export Administration Regulations, and the State Department’s International Traffic in Arms Requirements.
In addition, Cook litigates export and import compliance matters, as well as new shipper review designations, and he has handled white collar criminal matters for victims and defendants concerning industrial espionage, health care fraud, defense contracting fraud, mail fraud and violations of U.S. export restrictions. He has also testified before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, the FCC and the National Science Foundation on Internet law and liability.
“Adding Bill to the Chicago office strengthens our team here and continues our growth momentum,” said Michael LoVallo, Reed Smith’s Chicago Office Managing Partner. “Our clients in Chicago and firmwide will benefit from his experience in internal investigations and cyber-security standards, and his knowledge of the financial services and retail sectors.”
A 1973 graduate of Creighton University School of Law, Cook has taught Internet and web law as an adjunct professor at the University of Illinois Law School, and has been a guest lecturer on information security law and liability at Bell Laboratories, Harvard, Yale, Purdue, the University of Illinois and the University of Salzburg. He is recognized as a “Leader in the Field” of security and privacy by Chambers USA and Chambers Global.
Prior to his legal career, Bill served in the U.S. Army Infantry from 1968 to 1970. As an Airborne-Ranger, he was deployed as a combat infantry platoon leader with the 25th Infantry Division in the Republic of South Vietnam. As a result of his service, he was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, three Bronze Stars, two Purple Hearts, two Army Commendation Medals and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry.
Source: www.reedsmith.com
