Chapter Officers
Kathy Jo Cook
Kathy Jo Cook is a founding partner of Sheff & Cook, LLC in Boston. Kathy Jo represents individuals and businesses in the trial and appeal of civil cases, including personal injury, wrongful death, medical malpractice, legal malpractice, consumer protection and employment discrimination. She and her firm have obtained numerous multi-million-dollar judgments and settlements on behalf of their clients.
In 1999, Kathy Jo was named by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly as one of the top five "up and coming" attorneys in Massachusetts, and in 2007, she became the third lawyer ever to be inducted into the Lawyers Weekly "Hall of Fame." In 2016, she was named by that same publication as one of the “Top Women of the Law,” and in 2021, she was named to the “Circle of Excellence.” In 2008, Kathy Jo was named as one of the Top 50 Women Lawyers in Massachusetts by Law & Politics Magazine (Best of Boston), and she has been named as a Super Lawyer by that same publication every year since. Since 2020, Kathy Jo has been named as a “Best Lawyer” by Best Lawyers and U.S. News & World Report. Kathy Jo served as the 2019-2020 President of the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys and the 2008-2009 President of the Women’s Bar Association of Massachusetts. She has also served on and chaired boards and committees of other bar associations, including the American Association for Justice, the Massachusetts Bar Association, the Boston Bar Association and Massachusetts Employment Lawyers Association.
Kathy Jo is an honors graduate of Suffolk University Law School and the University of Houston. She is licensed to practice before all state and federal courts in Massachusetts.
Russell X. Pollock
Russ Pollock is a founding shareholder in the law firm of Bergstresser & Pollock PC, a trial practice dedicated to representing plaintiffs in professional liability and other high exposure civil litigation matters. He has represented clients in medical malpractice, legal malpractice, general liability, products liability and motor vehicle liability actions. He has tried numerous cases to verdict in a variety of areas of law. Following law school, Russ began practicing in New York City in 1989 until moving his practice to Boston in 1994.
Russ is a graduate of the State University of New York at Stony Brook, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Mathematics. He received his law degree from Brooklyn Law School. He has been admitted to practice in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey as well as numerous Federal Courts.
Russ is an Associate Member of the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, for which he served as Chapter President in 2017. He is also a member of the American Bar Association, the Massachusetts Bar Association and the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys, for which he has served on the Board of Governors. Russ has also held office with the Town of Sherborn where he was elected to the Sherborn School Committee and appointed to the Sherborn Advisory Committee. Russ is also a volunteer hearing officer for the Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers.
Dana A. Zakarian
Dana Zakarian is a partner at Smith Duggan Buell & Rufo, LLP where his practice includes business litigation, employment law, trade secrets, unfair and deceptive trade practices, construction, antitrust and personal injury. Dana has obtained significant victories for clients both prosecuting and defending these claims. Dana takes pride in providing his clients with the highest level of service while helping them achieve their objectives in a targeted and cost-efficient manner.
Dana has mentored many aspiring trial attorneys throughout his practice and has contributed to continuing legal education courses in the area of trial practice. He also enjoys judging Mock Trial competitions at his alma mater.
Dana has been recognized by peers and voted a Massachusetts Super Lawyer - Rising Star from 2007-2012, in addition to achieving Martindale Hubbell’s AV preeminent rating. Before joining Smith Duggan Buell & Rufo LLP in 2021, Dana practiced at Nystrom, Beckman & Paris, LLP and Goodwin. Dana earned a bachelor’s degree from Tufts University and his J.D. from Boston College Law School in 1998.