Butzel Adds Commercial Litigation Attorney

TROY, Mich. – Ashley Fernandez Cook, a commercial litigation attorney, recently joined Butzel as an associate in the firm’s Troy office. Her practice focuses on commercial litigation, with a specialty in automotive and intellectual property disputes. Drawing on her background as in-house counsel and a law firm associate, Cook understands the challenges clients face from multiple perspectives and is committed to providing solutions that are both legally sound and business focused.

Prior to joining Butzel, Cook served as Vice President of Corporate Development and Legal Counsel for an automotive engineering firm. In that role, she managed complex design-and-build projects from inception to completion, overseeing contracts, account operations, and client relationships while ensuring efficient execution and client satisfaction.

Before her in-house role, Cook practiced at a large Michigan-based law firm, where she represented clients in a wide range of intellectual property, data privacy, and commercial litigation matters in state and federal courts. Her work also included preparing trademark applications and managing portfolios at the state and federal levels.

Cook earned a J.D. from The George Washington University Law School, where she served on the Editorial Board of The George Washington International Law Review. She is a graduate of Michigan State University, where she earned a B.A., with Honor, in Political Science Pre-Law and Journalism, with a minor in Law, Justice, and Public Policy and a concentration in International Reporting.

In addition to her private-sector work, Cook gained government and judicial experience through internships with the Federal Trade Commission, Office of International Affairs; the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan; the 52-4 District Court; the Executive Office of the Governor of Michigan; and the Michigan Supreme Court.