Edmund D. Cooke, Jr. practices in the areas of labor and employment law, including Diversity Compliance, Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action advice and counsel. He counsels and represents employers regarding employment issues such as Title VII (sex, race, and other discrimination), The Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the Fair Labor Standards Act.

He served for more than eight years as Counsel to committees of the U.S. House of Representatives. In his various capacities, he consulted with bi-partisan and bicameral congressional committees and legislative staff, leading the oversight of all federal agencies that impacted employment discrimination and civil rights policy and regulation. He also served as Chief Legislative Assistant to Congressman Harold Washington.

Prior to his tenure with the U.S. Congress, he argued cases in the various U.S. Courts of Appeals on behalf of the Appellate Court Division of the National Labor Relations Board. He served as Special Assistant to the Vice Chair, and subsequently as Deputy Director of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s Office of Field Services. He subsequently practiced as an associate with a major U.S. law firm and, more recently, as a partner and equity partner with several major U.S. law firms. He currently practices with Cooke Chevalier PLLC, a boutique general practice firm.

From 2000 to 2005, he served as a member of a court appointed seven member task force designated to oversee Coca-Cola, Inc.’s compliance with a consent decree resolving a lawsuit alleging race discrimination at the company.

Mr. Cooke holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Kent State University, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan Law School. He also has a Master’s degree in International Public Policy (MIPP) from Johns Hopkins University’s Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies. He is a former Captain in the U.S. Air Force.