Kimberly (Cook) Davis, Esq.
South 1992
Kimberly Cook Davis, Esq., is a commercial attorney for U.S. Steel Corp. in Dallas.
Prior to her move to Dallas, she served as general counsel for Clayco, Inc., a large construction and design firm in St. Louis, Mo.
At Clayco, she drafted, negotiated, and reviewed contracts totaling more than $5 billion and managed over $50 million worth of construction and insurance-related claims.
Davis also was involved in the practice of contract, construction and employment law, as well as establishing and implementing diversity initiatives at Clayco. Under her direction, the company’s diversity program received awards for excellence in diversity efforts, mentorship programs, and significantly increasing minority subcontractor participation.
Davis began her career as entry-level counsel for the May Department Stores Company where she practiced in real estate, labor, corporate, litigation and operations.
In 2007, the St. Louis Business Journal named Davis as one of St. Louis’ 25 Most Influential Business Women and one of the city’s Top 40 Under 40 Professionals. In addition, she was identified as a “Distinguished Business Leader” by Who’s Who in Black St. Louis in 2006. The St. Louis American newspaper featured her in an article entitled “Nailing Down the Legal Side of Big Construction.”
While in St. Louis, she volunteered countless hours in Parkway and Pattonville School Districts, serving as a role model and mentor for students and worked with teachers who wanted to gain better perspective on racism and how it impacts students. Additionally, she was a truancy court judge, a guardian ad litem, president of Youth on the Move-New Sunny Mount Missionary Baptist Church, vice president of the board of directors of St. Martin’s Child Center, board member of the Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Club, a volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House, and election day roving attorney.
She is a focused, committed and self-motivated person who remains appreciative of teachers at South High, South Middle and Barretts Elementary who encouraged her to try new things. Her school experience made her less afraid of failure and more inclined to stretch her horizons.
“Parkway gave me an opportunity to think globally about what I wanted to be,” she says. “I always felt that there were no limitations on what I could do. I felt like I had been prepared to think outside the box.”
Davis earned her B.A. in business administration at the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1997 on full academic scholarship, and her J.D. at the University’s School of Law in 2001. She was trained as a civil mediator at the Washington University School of Law and is licensed to practice law in the state of Missouri.
Davis lives with her husband and newborn son in Dallas.