Lauren Cook is a partner at Lawson Lundell LLP in Vancouver, specializing in regulatory law, administrative law, and commercial litigation. Cook’s practice primarily focuses on environmental law with specific efforts in forestry, mining, clean energy, real estate development, and aquaculture. Through her work Cook frequently advises a variety of clients on environmental compliance, assessments, audits, and due diligence. She is well regarded by the legal community, being listed on Benchmark Litigation’s “40 and Under Hotlist” in 2018. This designation recognizes Cook as a top young lawyer in her litigation field across both Canada and the United States.
Cook received a Honours Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Manitoba in 2004 before attending law school at UBC. Cook obtained her LLB in 2008, receiving many scholarships during her law school career including the Superior Court Judges’ Scholarship, the Panvini Scholarship in Law, and the David Roberts Prize in Legal Writing. In 2008, Cook clerked at the British Columbia Court of Appeal. Following her clerkship, she joined Lawson Lundell LLP as an articling student. Cook has remained at Lawson Lundell since 2009, being named an Associate in 2010 and Partner in 2017. During her career she has appeared before all levels of court in British Columbia as well as the Alberta Court of the Queen’s Bench, the Ontario Court of Justice, and the Ontario Court of Appeal.
Cook plays a significant role in BC’s legal community, both in and outside her legal practice. She frequently contributes to Lawson Lundell LLP’s blog, providing her expertise on a variety of issues pertaining to environmental and regulatory law. Her recent contributions include comments on proposed changes to both the BC Environmental Assessment Act and the Fisheries Act. In February 2019, Cook led a seminar at the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association (CCCA) BC Section meeting entitled, “Hot Calls: Environmental and Workplace Health and Safety Incidents.” Since 2014, Cook has also acted as the Vice President for Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers.