Posted: Tue., Feb. 4, 1997, 11:00pm PT

B. Hills Bar lauds Cook

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The Beverly Hills Bar Assn. has named Melanie Cook as its entertainment lawyer of the year, making her the first woman to receive the award.

"We selected Melanie because of the tremendous respect she enjoys among her colleagues and her contributions to the entertainment bar," co-chairs of the Bar's Entertainment Section, Nancy Derwin and Jay Spillane, said in a statement.

Cook said she was shocked by the announcement.

"I have admired all the previous recipients of this award," said the 43-year-old attorney and graduate of UCLA's Law School. "I am flattered to be acknowledged in this way by my colleagues."

Past recipients include Bruce Ramer, Bert Fields and Peter Dekom.

Cook's clients include director Tim Burton, actor Ed Harris, Madonna and producer Scott Rudin. Cook is a partner at Bloom, Hergott, Cook, Diemer and Klein in Beverly Hills.

"Anyone who has successfully counseled me and Scott Rudin is both a genius and a saint," producer Barry Sonnenfeld said.

Cook will be presented with the award at the Four Seasons Hotel on March 26 by Susan Westerberg Prager, dean of the UCLA Law School.