Nicole Cook Email and Phone Number

Dual appointment. Faculty within the University System of Maryland and the only Legal Specialist in the U.S. at an 1890’s Extension Program, and Legal Specialist with Maryland's Agriculture Law Education Initiative. Providing legal and regulatory analysis on issues of importance to agriculture, natural resources and the environment. Working with local, state, regional, national and international counterparts in food and agricultural law to develop an extension/public education/policy-support… Show more Dual appointment. Faculty within the University System of Maryland and the only Legal Specialist in the U.S. at an 1890’s Extension Program, and Legal Specialist with Maryland's Agriculture Law Education Initiative. Providing legal and regulatory analysis on issues of importance to agriculture, natural resources and the environment. Working with local, state, regional, national and international counterparts in food and agricultural law to develop an extension/public education/policy-support program. Providing leadership in designing, coordinating and implementing outreach projects in food and agricultural law including collaborative work with other faculty members and/or students and disseminating results through scholarly journal articles, popular publications, social media, workshops, and presentations to both professional and lay audiences. Particular attention is given to limited resource, small, or socially-disadvantaged farmers, ranchers and producers with special emphasis on the Food Safety Modernization Act and other food and food safety laws, risk management, new and beginning farmer sustainability, urban agriculture, and intellectual property. Developing and supervising internships for students in food science and agricultural disciplines who are interested in pursuing law degrees. Teaching undergraduate and graduate courses on food and agricultural law and policy. Show less

Senior Advisor to the Administrator for the Risk Management Agency in the Office of the Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services. Advised the agency on various issues related to crop insurance and achieving the objectives set out in the 2014 Farm Bill, particularly concerning expanding risk management supports for organic and specialty crop producers.

Proposed the idea of offering Legal Fellowships, and became GFI’s first Legal Fellow. Researched potential regulatory issues involved in the development of alternative proteins.

Conducted literature review of legal issues related to beginning women farmers and ranchers for the "21st Century Management: Enhancing Educational Programming for Beginning Farm and Ranch Women" project. The goal of the project is to assemble a national learning network to evaluate existing curricula and materials targeting beginning farm and ranch women, and to identify information gaps, develop corresponding learning modules and train peers and colleagues in their delivery and evaluation.… Show more Conducted literature review of legal issues related to beginning women farmers and ranchers for the "21st Century Management: Enhancing Educational Programming for Beginning Farm and Ranch Women" project. The goal of the project is to assemble a national learning network to evaluate existing curricula and materials targeting beginning farm and ranch women, and to identify information gaps, develop corresponding learning modules and train peers and colleagues in their delivery and evaluation. The project is funded through a Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development grant provided by the USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Show less

Upper-Level Legal Writing Instructor in the School of Law

Corporate counsel for multiple affiliated insurance companies and a publicly-traded holding company. Primary responsibilities included all aspects of protecting the companies’ intellectual property, managing real estate transactions and construction projects for the companies’ properties at locations across the United States and managing all of the companies’ corporate litigation. In charge of developing and implementing the companies’ litigation hold protocols, social media policies… Show more Corporate counsel for multiple affiliated insurance companies and a publicly-traded holding company. Primary responsibilities included all aspects of protecting the companies’ intellectual property, managing real estate transactions and construction projects for the companies’ properties at locations across the United States and managing all of the companies’ corporate litigation. In charge of developing and implementing the companies’ litigation hold protocols, social media policies, third-party vendor management policies and contract management database, and developing the companies’ compliance procedures related to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other domestic and foreign anti-bribery and anti-fraud laws. Oversight of reinsurance agreements, investment agreements, market conduct compliance, corporate governance and education of employees and directors regarding compliance, best practices and good corporate governance. Show less

Resolved insurance claims and managed defense counsel representing insureds. Managed outside counsel representing the company in bad faith and coverage litigation.

Represented insurers in all aspects of litigation of insurance coverage disputes, including appeals to the New Hampshire Supreme Court. Represented attorneys, physicians, dentists and pharmacists in all aspects of litigation of claims of professional negligence and disciplinary proceedings before licensing boards and review panels.

Represented clients in all aspects of complex products liability, malpractice and insurance coverage litigation.

Analyzed insurance coverage issues and drafted coverage opinions involving a variety of types of insurance contracts. Represented clients in all aspects of insurance coverage disputes, toxic tort litigation and general liability litigation.

Drafted, negotiated, and analyzed agreements between companies. Issues involved the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. Developed risk management procedures related to the USA PATRIOT Act, wrote articles for client and employee newsletters, presented informational programs to management teams, drafted standard operating procedures regarding proxy voting and tender offers… Show more Drafted, negotiated, and analyzed agreements between companies. Issues involved the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. Developed risk management procedures related to the USA PATRIOT Act, wrote articles for client and employee newsletters, presented informational programs to management teams, drafted standard operating procedures regarding proxy voting and tender offers for employee handbook and created a revenue sharing guide. Show less

Assisted defense attorneys with the arbitrations of complex construction contract disputes.

Assisted defense attorney with a multi-district product liability litigation case.

Drafted pleadings, various motions and oppositions to motions. Conducted extensive legal research on issues involving torts, employment discrimination, “whistle blowing,” eminent domain and sexual harassment.

Analyzed, negotiated, and drafted software licensing agreements, non-disclosure and non-compete agreements, and employment contracts for domestic and international offices. Researched trademarks, drafted and filed trademark applications with the USPTO, protested trademark applications to the USPTO and composed cease-and-desist letters to be sent to infringing parties. Worked with inventors and outside patent counsel to complete patent applications.

Drafted pleadings, motions, pretrial memoranda and a notice of temporary injunction that was served via e-mail to “mirror” sites on the Web. Researched issues such as copyrights in “open-source” code which exist in violation of the original author’s copyrights, exposure to single or multiple statutory damages under the Federal Copyright Act for copying a computer program’s graphics, trade secrets misappropriation, unfair business practices, the creation of fiduciary duties in limited partners,… Show more Drafted pleadings, motions, pretrial memoranda and a notice of temporary injunction that was served via e-mail to “mirror” sites on the Web. Researched issues such as copyrights in “open-source” code which exist in violation of the original author’s copyrights, exposure to single or multiple statutory damages under the Federal Copyright Act for copying a computer program’s graphics, trade secrets misappropriation, unfair business practices, the creation of fiduciary duties in limited partners, and the enjoinment of and intervention by non-parties. Show less

Researched and wrote bench memoranda on civil and criminal issues.

Developed and implemented community awareness and publicity campaigns for state-wide and local crisis services organization. Trained and supervised volunteer speakers in the speakers’ bureau, self-defense instructors, and victim advocates. Presented public education programs and training for medical and legal professionals. Wrote articles for media and represented the organization in the media. Instructed self-defense classes. Provided individual counseling for abuse survivors and their… Show more Developed and implemented community awareness and publicity campaigns for state-wide and local crisis services organization. Trained and supervised volunteer speakers in the speakers’ bureau, self-defense instructors, and victim advocates. Presented public education programs and training for medical and legal professionals. Wrote articles for media and represented the organization in the media. Instructed self-defense classes. Provided individual counseling for abuse survivors and their significant others. Advocated for victims in a variety of medical and legal settings. Facilitated abuse survivor support groups. Show less

Trained volunteer victim-advocates and supervised domestic violence and sexual abuse hotlines. Advocated for victims in a variety of medical and legal settings. Provided individual counseling for abuse survivors and their significant others and facilitated support groups. Staffed the women’s shelter and assisted victims in securing public assistance.