Christopher Cook, 2019 Leaders in Law

Building a lasting foundation

Leaning on his past to help strengthen the community’s future

Christopher Cook uses his life experience to bring a global perspective to his practice. Photo by Pete Grady

As part of his work with the transactions group at Hawley Troxell in Boise, Christopher Cook assists in business deals that are often at the forefront of helping new businesses start, or helping existing businesses grow. That kind of work — making deals that have lasting effects on the community — appeals to him.

“With the real estate and corporate transactions we’re doing at Hawley Troxell, we’re really building Idaho,” Cook says. “We are at the forefront, and helping secure and strengthen the foundation of the state I grew up in, so that’s fun and exciting for the future.”

Cook is an associate attorney at Hawley Troxell. He holds a special interest in corporate, business and environmental law and hopes to continue his career in those areas.

Born to an American father and Italian mother, Cook’s early years were spent in both Idaho and Tuscany before his family settled in Ketchum, where his mother still runs her restaurant, Cristina’s. Cook is a dual citizen of the U.S. and Italy and speaks fluent Italian.

His background gives him a global outlook, he says, one that helps him professionally when he has to relate to people of different cultures when working with and representing them in the business world.

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“It’s important to visualize and appreciate the bigger picture,” Cook says. “I think it’s essential to have a global and cooperative perspective, especially in today’s market when there is so much interest in Idaho, both foreign and domestic.”

Cook holds undergraduate degrees in finance and international business from the University of Colorado Boulder. After earning his law degree from DePaul University College of Law in Chicago, Cook practiced law in Illinois for several years before returning to Boise to take a position at Hawley Troxell in 2017.

Cook is a responsive lawyer and has the will to succeed, says Nicholas Miller, managing partner at Hawley Troxell. Cook is thorough and works to understand his cases, Miller adds.

While associate attorneys can sometimes be too shy and not ask enough questions, Cook makes sure he never leaves Miller’s office until he fully understands an issue. He is also prompt with his work, intelligent and treats others with respect, Miller says.

Outside of work, Cook’s nonprofit service includes acting as a board member for the Idaho Foundation for Parks and Lands. He is also a wilderness first responder, which allows him to lead school trips as a volunteer for the Riverstone International School in Boise.