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Sean H.
Cook

  • Partner
scook@wnj.com
Detroit
T 313.546.6058
M 248.915.0213
F 248.603.9658

My admin

industries

practices

  • Counsels many businesses on the buy and sell side of acquisitions.
  • Assists businesses with tax issues in a variety of transaction, including choice of entity issues, issuance of incentive ownership to employees, capital formation and cross-border transactions.
  • Assists clients in purchase or sale of businesses, from structuring the deal to handling due diligence, closing and post-closing matters.
  • Lead attorney in several successful acquisitions and divestitures of closely held businesses in a variety of industries which focus on automotive, ancillary waste management and healthcare.
  • Lead attorney in successful sale of Mount Brighton Ski Resort to Vail Resorts in 2012.
  • Lead attorney with restructuring U.S. entities
  • Counsels many businesses on the buy and sell side of acquisitions.
  • Assists businesses with tax issues in a variety of transaction, including choice of entity issues, issuance of incentive ownership to employees, capital formation and cross-border transactions.
  • Assists clients in purchase or sale of businesses, from structuring the deal to handling due diligence, closing and post-closing matters.
  • Lead attorney in several successful acquisitions and divestitures of closely held businesses in a variety of industries which focus on automotive, ancillary waste management and healthcare.
  • Lead attorney in successful sale of Mount Brighton Ski Resort to Vail Resorts in 2012.
  • Lead attorney with restructuring U.S. entities as part of an international restructuring of a global auto supplier.
  • Assisted auto supplier in a joint venture arrangement with another supplier.
  • Structured the post-bankruptcy legal organization for an auto supplier.
  • Represented several business owners in negotiated separation agreements.
  • Engages with individuals to address their estate planning needs.
  • Assists in succession planning, through generation wealth transfers, traditional gifting, family partnerships, recapitalization and other methods.
  • Represents private foundations, assisting with tax or corporate governance issues.
  • Handled several applications for tax-exempt status for new organizations; helped organizations come into compliance and converted a for-profit organization to nonprofit status.
  • Local counsel for national retailer in successful claim for refund of sales tax.
    • “A Practical Approach to the Centralized Partnership Audit Regimen,” Michigan Tax Lawyer, Winter 2018
    • “What’s the Word…’Personal Goodwill’ – 2014 Transfer Tax Cases Recognizing Personal Goodwill,” Michigan Tax Lawyer, Fall 2014
    • “The Rich Poor: Planning for estates under $10,680,000 and Counting (or repurposing the current plan),” ICLE presentation, February 2014
    • “Federal Income Tax Consequences of Same-Sex Couple Marital Status After U.S. v. Windsor and Rev. Rul. 2013-17,” Michigan Tax Lawyer, Fall 2013
    • “Tax Provisions
    • “A Practical Approach to the Centralized Partnership Audit Regimen,” Michigan Tax Lawyer, Winter 2018
    • “What’s the Word…’Personal Goodwill’ – 2014 Transfer Tax Cases Recognizing Personal Goodwill,” Michigan Tax Lawyer, Fall 2014
    • “The Rich Poor: Planning for estates under $10,680,000 and Counting (or repurposing the current plan),” ICLE presentation, February 2014
    • “Federal Income Tax Consequences of Same-Sex Couple Marital Status After U.S. v. Windsor and Rev. Rul. 2013-17,” Michigan Tax Lawyer, Fall 2013
    • “Tax Provisions of Health Care Reform: Whether a Cure or a Catastrophe, It Is Here,” Bloomberg  Law Reports – Health Law, July 2, 2010
    • “Federal Tax Forum,” Michigan Tax Lawyer, Fall 2006
    • “Are Intermediate Sanctions on Tax-Exempt Organizations a Slippery Slope to Termination?,” The Michigan Business Law Journal, Spring 2006
    • “New Like Kind Regulations Highlight Old Planning Opportunities,” Michigan Tax Lawyer, Fourth Quarter 1994
    Image for Sean H. Cook

    Sean H.
    Cook

    • Partner
    scook@wnj.com
    Detroit
    T 313.546.6058
    M 248.915.0213
    F 248.603.9658

    My admin

    Biography|
    Credentials

    industries

    practices

      • “A Practical Approach to the Centralized Partnership Audit Regimen,” Michigan Tax Lawyer, Winter 2018
      • “What’s the Word…’Personal Goodwill’ – 2014 Transfer Tax Cases Recognizing Personal Goodwill,” Michigan Tax Lawyer, Fall 2014
      • “The Rich Poor: Planning for estates under $10,680,000 and Counting (or repurposing the current plan),” ICLE presentation, February 2014
      • “Federal Income Tax Consequences of Same-Sex Couple Marital Status After U.S. v. Windsor and Rev. Rul. 2013-17,” Michigan Tax Lawyer, Fall 2013
      • “Tax Provisions
      • “A Practical Approach to the Centralized Partnership Audit Regimen,” Michigan Tax Lawyer, Winter 2018
      • “What’s the Word…’Personal Goodwill’ – 2014 Transfer Tax Cases Recognizing Personal Goodwill,” Michigan Tax Lawyer, Fall 2014
      • “The Rich Poor: Planning for estates under $10,680,000 and Counting (or repurposing the current plan),” ICLE presentation, February 2014
      • “Federal Income Tax Consequences of Same-Sex Couple Marital Status After U.S. v. Windsor and Rev. Rul. 2013-17,” Michigan Tax Lawyer, Fall 2013
      • “Tax Provisions of Health Care Reform: Whether a Cure or a Catastrophe, It Is Here,” Bloomberg  Law Reports – Health Law, July 2, 2010
      • “Federal Tax Forum,” Michigan Tax Lawyer, Fall 2006
      • “Are Intermediate Sanctions on Tax-Exempt Organizations a Slippery Slope to Termination?,” The Michigan Business Law Journal, Spring 2006
      • “New Like Kind Regulations Highlight Old Planning Opportunities,” Michigan Tax Lawyer, Fourth Quarter 1994