Susan M. Cook

Susan Cook co-heads the firm's Administrative Procedure Act (APA) group. Susan also handles complex commercial litigation involving the life sciences, health care, pharmaceutical, medical device, and consumer industries.

Susan has robust experience litigating APA cases against federal and state agencies in courts around the country, as well as handling administrative appeals at the agency level.  Susan also brings legal challenges to state regulatory laws on state APA, preemption, dormant commerce clause, and other constitutional grounds.  Susan regularly represents clients in APA challenges involving the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the Department of Education (ED), and other federal and state agencies. In all of these matters, Susan works seamlessly with the firm's regulatory and appellate lawyers to bring the whole of the firm to the client. She also advises clients on rulemaking procedures, comment letters, FOIA issues, and reverse-FOIA disputes.  

In addition to her APA practice, Susan also handles competitor and contract disputes in heavily regulated industries, including claims under the Lanham Act and state laws governing false advertising, unfair competition, and corporate defamation. Susan successfully navigates the complex interplay of such laws with regulatory requirements, helping each client to craft a unique litigation strategy targeted to its own specific goals.  

Susan’s legal practice spans more than 20 years at the firm.