William F. Cook VI

Bill Cook has a proven track record of representing individuals and commercial enterprises in contract disputes and catastrophic torts, including wrongful death and survival claims. He also works with clients on resolving managed care disputes, including those related to life, health, disability, and ERISA. Bill assists both in-network and out-of-network providers with issues related to payment, coding audits, and denials of certain treatments and charges. He also represents cases involving employee benefit plans and fiduciaries in health, life, and disability benefit claims, managed care litigation, health care litigation, consumer fraud, bad faith, data privacy, biometric privacy acts, corporate disputes, IT software implementation disputes, securities fraud, and corporate dissolutions in court litigation, both ERISA and non-ERISA.

Additionally, Bill handles construction litigation and alarm-related matters involving contracts, municipalities, licensing, data protection, compliance, and regulations. He not only helps clients navigate and understand the matter at hand but provides them with tailored solutions for whatever legal problem they may be facing.

Before joining Hinshaw, Bill honed his experience at the Circuit Court of Cook County, Office of the Chief Judge, where he served as a judicial clerk for the Honorable Christopher E. Lawler. During his tenure, Bill gained valuable courtroom experience while providing research and analysis for complex contracts, personal injury, and medical malpractice cases.

During law school, Bill clerked for a large firm in Chicago, working on personal injury-related matters, including an extensive case that resulted in a $54 million verdict.

• Chicago Bar Association
  • Judicial Evaluation Committee, Investigator
• Celtic Legal Society of Chicago

• Professional
  • Awarded the title of "Publications Contributor of the Year" by the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (IICLE), 2024
• Academic
  • Chicago-Kent College of Law at Illinois Institute of Technology
    • CALI Award for "Advanced Legislative Advocacy"
    • CALI Award for "Legislative Advocacy"

• Successfully represented a holding company in a general chancery case against a venture capital private equity firm. The victory involved a successful motion to pierce the corporate veil and a monetary sanctions award.
• Obtained a victory for a hospital client resulting in a two-year restraining order and a complete defense judgment on medical negligence claims.

• Co-Presenter, "Debt Collection Compliance," Lorman, Webinar, January 26, 2024

• Co-Author, Chapters 1, 2, and 3, Causes of Action: Contract and Business Disputes, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 2024 Edition
• Co-Author, Chapters 3, 4, and 5, Dramshop Act Practice, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 2024 Edition
• "Breach of Contract and Nonperformance," Chapter 12, Contract Law, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 2023 Edition
• Co-Author, Chapters 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7, Wrongful-Death and Survival Actions, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 2023 Edition
• "Personal Injury and Nursing Home Actions: Reconciling Split Decisions on a Decedent's Legal Disability," CBA Record, 2020

When not spending time with his family and friends, Bill enjoys running, playing golf, and cheering on the Chicago White Sox.

• Alliance Française de Chicago’s Professionals Group
• Chicago-Kent Student-Alumni, Board Member
• John Carroll University
  • Chicago Alumni Chapter, Service Committee, Co-Chair
• Brother Rice High School, Class Captain
• Knights of Columbus, Former Financial Secretary
• Young Irish Fellowship Club