Chisholm, Chisholm & Kilpatrick names Barbra J. Cook Partner
Providence, RI (July 29, 2016)– Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD, one of the largest and most respected veterans law firms in the country, is pleased to announce that, Barbara J. Cook has been named partner. Cook, who has been Of-Counsel at CCK since May of 2014, is nationally known for her experience representing veterans and their dependents especially in the areas of Veteran compensation and pension claims.
Cook, who brings 26 years of experience working on veterans’ issues, is a valuable addition to CCK’s veterans practice, which has been responsible for many precedent-setting decisions that have helped millions of veterans.
Cook has been focused on Veterans’ issues starting with her work with the Legal Aid Society of Cincinnati in 1990. In 1996 she formed her own law firm in Cincinnati, working exclusively with Veterans and their dependents.
At CCK Cook has been focusing on cases before the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims and the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals. She’s co-counseled and argued cases at both the Veterans Court and Federal Circuit, most recently Ortiz-Valles v. McDonald, which recognized that VA lacks objective standards for assessing total unemployability claims.
“We are pleased to have Barbara join CCK as a partner. As one of the foremost Veterans attorneys, she has played a major role in identifying and developing successful arguments on legal issues that affect large numbers of veterans,” said Robert Chisholm, CCK Partner. “Barbara is a strong addition to the firm, and has been instrumental in helping CCK structure its practice to integrate agency and court team approaches. In addition, Barbara has provided invaluable mentoring and training to both court and agency team staff.”
“CCK provides excellent representation to veterans and their dependents, and works with DAV as well as the Court and others to foster that excellence throughout the country,” said Cook. “I’m proud and honored to be associated with them and by the recognition the partnership signifies. I look forward to continuing to work with all the staff in helping our clients successfully maneuver and improve VA’s legal landscape.”
Barbara is a regular presenter at legal education conferences on substantive veterans law and on brief writing. She writes the Appellate News Section of the National Organization of Veterans Advocates NOVA website, a forum by which members are updated on relevant court cases. She has served as a member of the Board of Governors for the CAVC Bar Association and as a member of NOVA’s Board of Directors. A NOVA member since 1994, Barbara is the 2009 recipient of that organization’s Kenneth Carpenter Achievement Award for Excellence.
Barbara graduated cum laude from the University Of Michigan School Of Law in 1977, and holds a B.A. in English, also from the University of Michigan (1974).
Barbara will continue to work out of Cincinnati as she closes her private practice there.
About Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD:
Chisholm Chisholm Kilpatrick LTD is a Providence, Rhode Island based law firm with a national practice and reputation, known for its ability to handle complex cases involving veterans benefits, personal injury, wrongful death lawsuits, disability insurance for both long-term disability and short-term disability, private disability insurance, ERISA claims, life insurance litigation, long term care insurance claims and litigation, commercial and contract disputes and other areas of civil law.