Vero Beach, FL 772-231-4440

Melbourne, FL 321-984-2700

Coral Gables, FL 305-443-5020

Ryan P Cook

Ryan P. Cook

Associate

Ryan Cook joined the firm in 2023 and focuses his practice on estate planning, tax law, charitable planning, asset protection, and probate and trust administration. Ryan grew up in Palm Bay, Florida and is happy to be back in Central Florida. In the summer of 2022, Ryan was employed by Rossway Swan as a law clerk, and then resumed his employment as an attorney at the firm in 2023, after completing his education.

After a two-year volunteer mission in Russia, Ryan achieved his Bachelor of Arts in English at Brigham Young University–Idaho in 2018 with a minor in Russian. He then attended law school at the University of Florida Levin College of Law where he graduated sixth in his class with his Juris Doctorate, cum laude, and also graduated with his Master of Laws in Taxation from the University of Florida Levin College of Law the same year.

During his law school career, Ryan served as the Executive Managing Editor of the Journal of Law and Public Policy, and he also published an article on probate issues in Florida. He participated in the University of Florida Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic, settling tax disputes with the IRS. Ryan also clerked for the Eighth Circuit Court of Florida over family law, probate administration, and probate litigation cases.

Education

  • Brigham Young University—Idaho, B.A., 2018
  • University of Florida Levin College of Law, J.D., cum laude, 2022
  • University of Florida Levin College of Law, LL.M., 2022

Publications

  • Ryan Cook, Note, Splitting Heirs: How Heirs’ Property Continues the Legacy of Challenges to the Accumulation of Wealth for Black Americans, 32 UF J. L. & Pub. Pol’y, 573 (2022).

Community Involvement and Miscellaneous

  • University of Florida Journal of Law and Public Policy, 2020-2022; Editorial Board 2021-2022
  • University of Florida Law Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic, Fall 2022

Bridging a Tradition of Excellence

Bar Admissions

  • Florida, 1970

Education

  • The College of William & Mary, A.B., 1964
  • University of Florida, J.D., with Honors, 1969

Professional Associations

  • Indian River County Bar Association, President, 1981
  • American Bar Association, Real Estate Editor of Law Notes, 1976-1980
  • The Florida Bar, Board of Legal Specialization & Education
  • Florida Academy of Hospital Attorneys, President, 1978-1979
  • Florida Bar Certified Real Estate Lawyer
  • Indian River Real Property Council, Board of Directors

Awards and Honors

  • Pinnacle Award, 2013
  • Member of Order of the Coif
  • VNA & Hospice Foundation’s Chairman’s Award, 2016

Community Involvement

  • Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute Foundation, Inc., Board of Directors
  • Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice Foundation, Board of Directors
  • Environmental Learning Center, Board of Trustees
  • Indian River Real Property Council, Board of Directors

Miscellaneous

  • Executive Editor, University of Florida Law Review, 1968-1969
  • Law Clerk, US District Court, Southern District of Florida, 1970
  • Counsel to Indian River Medical Center
  • Counsel to Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute Foundation, Inc.
  • First Lieutenant, United States Army, 1965-1967