By Jo Mathis
Legal News
An attorney at Mike Cox Law Firm in Livonia, Jackie Cook grew up near Harbor Beach in Huron County, spending free time time at the lake, showing horses, and playing piano. After graduating from Hillsdale College, she moved to Illinois to attend the Ph.D. quantitative psychology program at the University of Illinois U-C, but a car accident brought her home to support her father as he recovered.
Cook began working for Sanilac County Prosecuting Attorney James V. Young, and her desire to practice law was born. She selected Cooley Law School’s weekend program, so she could help her family while obtaining a law degree. Following her admission to the Michigan Bar, Cook spent a decade litigating with a large international law firm based in Detroit and a large national firm based in Chicago.
Now a partner at the Mike Cox Law Firm, Cook concentrates her practice on business litigation, administrative law, and state and local tax litigation. In addition to her litigation experience, from preparing pleadings at a case’s infancy to resolution through a court decision or settlement, Cook brings a unique perspective by drawing on her experience studying complex tax statutory schemes and complicated tax issues and also reviewing corporate accounting and business records, real estate appraisals, and tax returns.
She represents clients before the Michigan Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Circuit Courts, Court of Claims, and Tax Tribunal.
Cook is a fellow of the American Bar Foundation and has been recognized as a Super Lawyer Rising Star. She is a frequent presenter for the State Bar of Michigan, Michigan Association of CPAs, Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Tax Executives Institute, Michigan Women’s Tax Association, and Council on State Taxation and has published articles in the Michigan Bar Journal and Michigan Tax Lawyer. A Northville resident, Cook recently served as chairperson of the State Bar of Michigan Taxation Section.
What is your proudest moment as a lawyer? As a second-year associate, opposing counsel called after reviewing a motion for summary disposition I drafted in a large case I was expected to lose and conceded that my client won. I’ve sought out opportunities to write summary disposition motions ever since.
What has been your favorite year so far? 2009 when we welcomed my first son into the world.
Favorite local hangouts? Baseball diamonds, basketball gymnasiums, and football fields across metro-Detroit watching my 9- and 10-year-old sons doing what they love the most.
Favorite website? houzz.com.
When you look back into the past, what do you miss most? My mom passed away in 2000, and not a day goes by that she is not missed.
If you could have witnessed any event in history, what would it be? Amelia Earhart’s attempt to fly around the world in 1937.
What’s something you changed your mind about recently? After years of being agnostic, I recently joined the Catholic faith and became a part of the St. Edith community, one of the best decisions I’ve made.
What is one thing you would like to learn to do? I dabble in painting, refinishing, and reupholstering furniture, and I would love to have the time to study and practice to improve on these skills.
What is the best advice you ever received? “Jackie, never let facts get in the way of a great story.”
What purchase of $50 or less has most positively affected your life? A $3 folded map of California my best friend and I bought when we decided on a whim to drive from her home in Phoenix to Los Angeles, along the coast on Highway 1 to San Francisco, and then to Yosemite Park. It was 2002, the week before I started law school, long before we had smartphones.
What are you looking forward to? I’m always looking forward to spending time with my husband and sons on the weekends.
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