Focusing on estate planning, business formation, shareholder/ownership disputes and tax law, James “J.V.” Anderton advises clients in a variety of tax-related fields. He also has extensive experience representing entrepreneurs and business start-ups in all phases of the growth cycle, including finding additional financing and capital.

Mr. Anderton was the lead author for an article related to the special allocation of gains between partners in 1031 transactions published by the Journal of Real Estate Taxation in 2010. Mr. Anderton won the 2007 Tax Writing Competition at the Thomas M. Cooley Law School for his article on non-spousal rollovers under the Pension Protection Act of 2006. In March 2012, Mr. Anderton was named one of the “Top 5 Under 35” by the Ingham County Bar Association. Also in 2012, Mr. Anderton was honored with the distinction of being named as one of the “10 Over the Next 10”, an award given to the next generation of business leaders as selected by the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Grand River Connection. He became licensed to practice in Florida in 2013.

Mr. Anderton received his LL.M. in Taxation from Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 2008 and is now an adjunct professor for the school in the LL.M. in Taxation program.   He has spoken on various topics related to estate planning and fiduciary issues (both in the corporate setting and estate/trust administration setting), as well as 1031 tax-deferred exchanges.

Practice Areas:

• Tax Law
• Business and Corporate Law
• Estate Planning and Probate Law
• ERISA
• Real Estate Law
• Health Care Law
• Elder Law & Medicaid Planning

Professional Memberships:

• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, State Bar of Michigan
• Member, The Florida Bar
• Member, Ingham County Bar Association
• Board Member and Treasurer, Ingham County Bar Foundation
• Member, U.S. Tax Court Bar
• Member, Probate & Estate Planning Council for the Probate & Estate Planning Section of the State Bar of Michigan
• Member of Forms Committee of the Probate & Estate Planning Council
• Chair, Tax Committee for the Probate & Estate Planning Section of the State Bar of Michigan
• Tax Pro Bono Committee, State Bar of Michigan (2014-2017)

Recognition & Public Service:

• Contributor, Lexis Nexis forms for Estate Planning and Probate Administration, 2019
• Presenter, “Digging into the Issues of Holding Real Estate in Trust,” 59th Annual Probate & Estate Planning Institute (May/June 2019)
• Best Lawyers in America, Business Organizations, Closely Held Companies, and Family Business Companies, 2018
• SuperLawyers “Rising Star” in Tax Law, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018
• Adjunct Professor, Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School, LL.M. in Taxation Program
• Author, “Closing a Medical Practice in Michigan”, State Bar of Michigan (website publication only), Fall 2014
• “10 Over the Next 10” identifying the next generation of business leaders, Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce and Grand River Connection, 2012
• Author, “Discounts & Trade-Offs – Allowed?” MSAE’s Impact, Volume 29, Number 3, May/June 2012
• Co-Author, “Choice of Entity in Michigan Under The Corporate Income Tax” Michigan Tax Lawyer, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1, Spring 2012
• “Top 5 Under 35” Ingham County Bar Association Young Lawyer Award, March 2012
• “An Overview of Modification to an Operating Agreement for a Limited Liability Company Electing to be Taxed as an S-Corporation” Michigan Tax Lawyer, Volume XXXVII, Issue 3, Fall 2011
• Co-author, “Special Allocations of Gain Between Partners in Section 1031 Transactions” Journal of Real Estate Taxation, Volume 37, Number 2, 1st Quarter 2010 (Thompson/RIA)
• “Nonspouse Rollovers Under the Pension Protection Act of 2006” Michigan Tax Lawyer, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2, Summer 2007
• Winner of Tax Student Writing Award by State Bar of Michigan, 2008
• Co-founder, Member of the Board of Directors, and President of The First Tee of Mid-Michigan, 2007 – Current
• Member of the Advisory Board for the Mid-Michigan Innovation Club for Entrepreneurs, 2010 – 2012
• Co-Presenter of “Managing the Association in Challenging Times” at the annual Law Symposium of the Michigan Society of Association Executives
• Speaker, “Choice of Entity in Michigan” to the Michigan Small Business and Technology Development Center’s FastTrac Program
• Presented “10 Most Common Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make” to the Mid-Michigan Innovation Club for Entrepreneurs
• Panelist on presentation regarding Internal Revenue Code Section 1031 at Michigan Affordable Housing Conference

Education:

• Thomas M. Cooley Law School, LL.M. in Taxation, 2008
• Case Western Reserve University School of Law, J.D., 2004
  (magna cum laude and Order of the Coif)
• Cornell University, B.A., 2001
  Economics and Philosophy