File, William H

Phil Cook is a trial lawyer with first-chair experience in jury trials, bench trials, and domestic and international arbitrations. His successful track record in individual, multiparty, and class action litigation runs the gamut of commercial litigation, with a focus on financial institution, corporate governance, securities, and insurance issues. He also has experience in cases involving antitrust and trade regulation, patent infringement, product liability and toxic torts, governmental liabilities, real estate, First Amendment, and environmental issues.

As an adjunct law professor, Phil has taught clinical courses in trial practice. He regularly participates in seminars and workshops teaching deposition, advocacy, and trial techniques and has appeared on the faculty at local and national continuing legal education seminars.

Phil has directed the pro bono activities of the Los Angeles Office since 2000, including significant and ongoing representation of Public Counsel and Bet Tzedek clients. He is an approved voluntary settlement officer for the California Court of Appeal and has been appointed as an early neutral evaluator by the Los Angeles County Superior Court.

Prior to attending law school, Phil spent 12 years in the computer and consumer electronics fields. His business experience ranges from marketing and management positions with national Fortune 500 companies to a number of his own entrepreneurial ventures.

Phil serves on the board of directors of Public Counsel. He also is on the board of governors and is secretary of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers, serving as program chair for the ABTL Annual Seminar in September 2008.