Kerryann Cook is the Managing Partner and founding member of The Cook Group. As one of the premier products liability defense attorneys in the United States, Kerryann has managed, tried or resolved thousands of cases across the country. From that experience, Kerryann has seen the common pitfalls for clients navigating lawsuits, as well as some of the shortcomings that can happen in client service. Kerryann believes there is a more modern, more efficient and more effective way to practice law and service clients. That is why she founded The Cook Group with handpicked her team of attorneys dedicated to leading the charge to modernize and streamline practices to more efficiently serve clients while effectively advancing and protecting their interests.
Known as an extremely tough and shrewd advocate and negotiator, Kerryann was chosen by her peers to currently serve as one of four defense liaison counsel to the New York City Asbestos Litigation (NYCAL). She has also served a member of the NYCAL Case Management Committee, is liaison counsel for active docket cases, and is also a member of the defense medical liaison group.
Due to her proven track record of successfully managing and settling cases across the country, Kerryann serves as National Coordinating Counsel for several major clients in toxic tort litigation around the nation. In addition to managing and resolving cases for clients, Kerryann has played an instrumental role in bringing important legal issues to the forefront for her clients on the appellate side as well. Some of her appellate highlights include Corazza v. Amchem Prods. Inc., (Cooney (2019 WL 1387270)(reversing $1.7 million asbestos exposure award because Plaintiff failed to show that he was exposed to asbestos through his work on Caterpillar equipment) and Robert F. Perdicaro v. A.O. Smith Water Products, et al., 52 A.D.3d 300 (1st Dep’t 2008). Kerryann is in demand on the public speaking circuit and has served on the faculty at industry conferences presented by the American Conference Institute (ACI), Defense Resource Institute (DRI), Harris Martin, Perrin Conferences. She has also given presentations on a wide variety of legal issues for numerous insurance companies as a part of their in-house training programs.
Kerryann is also committed to her community and is involved with numerous equity-focused, non-profit and leadership development organizations. Kerryann is currently the co-chair of the Women’s Leadership series for Perrin Conferences, and is honored to serve as co-chair of the annual Women’s Event that benefits The LBGT Center of New York City. She also serves on the LGBT Bar Association of Greater New York’s (LeGAL) Leadership Council. Most recently, Kerryann joined the Board of The TEAM, a Brooklyn-based theatre ensemble dedicated to creating new work about the experience of living in America today.
Kerryann received her undergraduate degree from Western Carolina University, and her Master’s Degree from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, where she worked for the Lady Volunteers athletic programs. She remains a dedicated Lady Vol for Life. She received her Juris Doctor from the University of Memphis School of Law, where she was the Chief Justice of the Moot Court Board and a member of the school’s National Moot Court team. Kerryann is admitted to the bars of New York and Pennsylvania, and the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. Additionally, Kerryann is a registered sports agent and has spent countless years working in and around collegiate and professional sports programs. She is a proud parent to her young son.