Pekny, Darren J.

Chris Cook has more than 20 years of experience in corporate investigations, white-collar defense, and civil litigation. His practice is focused in particular on international investigations, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), and health care litigation, but it also involves a wide range of disputes between private parties and against the government.

Chris's corporate investigations work relates primarily to the FCPA and other issues unique to international business. Chris has counseled scores of clients regarding anticorruption compliance in contexts such as responding to investigations, creating compliance policies, undertaking due diligence, and negotiating business relationships. Based on his extensive experience, Chris advises boards of directors, audit committees, and senior management on the manner and scope of conducting an appropriate corporate investigation, as well as the complex issues surrounding voluntary self-disclosure.

As a former federal prosecutor, Chris defends clients being investigated by the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and state attorneys general. His civil litigation work includes commercial disputes, class actions, False Claims Act enforcement actions, and nationwide federal cases consolidated by the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation.

Health care litigation likewise has formed a mainstay of Chris's practice since leaving the Chicago U.S. Attorney's Office in 1997. He has represented pharmaceutical companies in litigation relating to drug marketing and pricing. He also has defended health care providers under the False Claims Act, the Anti-Kickback Act, and the Stark Law. In addition, Chris represents health care clients in civil litigation between private parties.

In his free time, Chris enjoys competing in triathlons.