Donna L. Cook

Overview

Donna L. Cook focuses her practice on labor and employment law, general liability, and municipal law and land use. She is experienced in all facets of general civil litigation including mediations, arbitrations, motion practice, appellate work, in both state and federal courts. 

In her general liability work, Ms. Cook’s experience in litigation includes construction defects, motor vehicle accidents, personal injury, general liability, dram shop litigation and physical assault. Ms. Cook handles auto insurance liability law in defense of large companies and their insureds, in accident claims involving bodily injuries, and property damage. She has handled vicarious liability claims in relation to auto defense. 

In her labor and employment law work, Ms. Cook defends a range of employers in discrimination claims, public accommodation, defamation claims, and wage and hour, fair housing, and sexual harassment matters. She provides counsel on employment practices and policies. As an example, she has defended real estate agents for claims of discrimination and continuing education non-compliance by a licensing administrative agency.

Additionally, she has handled a wide spectrum of municipal law and land use matters on behalf of towns, villages and housing authorities including claims involving civil rights, Article 78, open meetings law and police misconduct. She also provides counsel and advice on these matters as well as others including public records law compliance, tenant relations and employment/labor. Ms. Cook is General Counsel for a housing authority.

She also represents beneficiary clients by monitoring probate action litigation of wills and trusts. 

Ms. Cook is a Continuing Legal Education lecturer. She has conducted seminars on HIPAA law, and for claims representatives of insurance carriers regarding legal issues in insurance defense, including civil lawsuits, social networking, and liens. Previous to practicing law, Ms. Cook  worked as an investigative agent for Workers’ Compensation fraud, and as a Certified Peace Officer in Broome County, NY, Supreme Court. She has appeared as a local TV guest, and as a guest lecturer at several universities in New York.

Professional Memberships

• Bronx County Bar Association
  • Officer, Secretary, 2024
  • Officer, Treasurer, 2023
  • Board of Directors, 2020 – 2022
  • CLE Committee & Membership Committee Chair, 2017 – 2024