William Cook Named One of the Nation's 100 Most Influential Black Lawyers by OBABL

WASHINGTON, DC, March 1, 2012-- Arnold & Porter’s William E. Cook, Jr. has been named one of the nation’s 100 most influential black lawyers by On Being a Black Lawyer (OBABL).

The awardees are selected by OBABL’s editorial team, together with an advisory group that researched candidates in trade publications, blogs and critical reviews. OBABL is a social media firm that seeks to advance diversity in the legal profession and provides research, career development and brand marketing to clients. Mr. Cook is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office, where he has specialized in telecommunications and cable television law since 1988.

“Our committee was impressed with Mr. Cook’s reputation as one of the best telecommunications attorneys in the country,” said OBABL CEO & Publisher Yolanda Young. “In addition to admiring his commitment to excellence, we hold him in the highest esteem for his efforts to increase diversity within the legal profession. Whether it is his work to increase the number of attorneys of color within his law firm or the assistance he lends to initiatives like MCCA’s Lloyd M. Johnson, Jr. Scholarship Program, which aids newly accepted law students from disadvantaged backgrounds, Mr. Cook uses his power and influence to help others advance in the field.”

The Power 100 Special Edition, published by OBABL, also noted that Mr. Cook, after becoming Arnold & Porter’s third black partner in 1995, became a leader of the firm’s efforts to increase the number of minorities in the firm, most recently as head of the firm’s Diversity Committee. Since Mr. Cook became a partner, the firm has received the Minority Corporate Counsel Association’s Thomas L. Sager Award eight times. The award is given to law firms demonstrating a commitment to improving hiring, retention and promotion of minority attorneys.

Mr. Cook is a member of the Federal Communications Bar Association, where he served two terms as a Co-Chair of the Diversity Committee and currently serves as a Co-Chair of the Broadband Committee.  Mr. Cook also serves on the DC Advisory Board of The Posse Foundation, Inc.This foundation identifies public high school students – many of whom are minority students overlooked by traditional college selection processes – for four-year, full-tuition leadership scholarships from participating colleges and universities.

The Power 100 honorees were honored February 29, 2012 at the OBABL cocktail reception at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Washington, DC.