James F. Anderton, V (“J.V.”) is a shareholder of Loomis, Ewert, Parsley David & Gotting, P.C. in Lansing, where he works in a variety of tax-related fields with entrepreneurs and business owners. Born and raised in Lansing, Anderton studied economics and philosophy at Cornell University.
After graduating magna cum laude and order of the coif from Case Western Reserve University School of Law, Anderton returned to Lansing to start his practice. Shortly after his return, he started working on his LL.M. in tax from Thomas M. Cooley Law School.
Anderton is now an adjunct professor in Cooley’s tax LL.M. program. He has been named a “Rising Star” in tax law, one of the Top 5 attorneys under 35 by the Ingham County Bar Association, and one of the “10 Over the Next Ten” by the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Anderton and his wife, Sarah, have a son, James VI (“Jase”), and a pug, Lola. He is also involved with The First Tee of Mid-Michigan, which he co-founded and currently serves as the President of the Board. Anderton is also a board member of Downtown Lansing, Inc.
By Jo Mathis
Legal News
Residence: Lansing.
What is your most treasured material possession? They aren’t mine, but my mom’s family’s cottage on Crystal Lake and Dad’s house on Walloon Lake.
What advice do you have for someone considering law school? Make sure you want to practice law. It is a lot of work and money just to delay the “real world” for a few years.
Favorite local hangouts: Sycamore Learning Center, pretty much any golf course, and Spartan Stadium on Saturday afternoons in the fall.
Favorite websites: cnn.com; espn.com; football365.com; arsenalnewswire.com (or any other site about Arsenal FC news/gossip).
What is your happiest childhood memory? Time with family and friends at the lakes.
Why did you become a lawyer? Watching Jack Davis help my father with various situations over the course of 15-plus years.
What would surprise people about your job? That I get a lot of enjoyment and satisfaction out of what I do.
What do you wish someone would invent? “Beaming” – as in “Beam me up Scotty” – so I could immediately be at a destination.
What has been your favorite year so far? I try to live in the present, so this year.
What is your most typical mood? I don’t have one. It will vary from stone cold serious, to extreme sarcasm, to playful and goofy depending on what is going on.
Favorite beverage: Ice water at 32.1 degrees.
Who is on your guest list for the ideal dinner party? Friends and family. Or if a famous/historical figure, Socrates (and an interpreter).
If you could trade places with someone for a day, who would that be? I’d like to think I could help make the world a safer place if I switched with Putin for a day.
What’s the most awe-inspiring place you’ve ever been? Arriving into Istanbul, Turkey by boat in the morning.
What is your proudest moment as a lawyer? Any time a client says “Thank you.” Then you know you helped someone.
How did you earn your first dollar? Probably mowing a lawn or painting a dock during the summer. But my first “real” job was in a record store—remember those?— during high school. Awesome job for a kid like me to have.
Who inspires you, and why? Entrepreneurs. They act on their ideas and try to create something and solve problems for people. They are an energetic, passionate group, and deserve support.
What do you do to relax? Play golf, work out, read, watch Arsenal on TV, or spend time with friends and family at a lake.
How would you describe your home? Happy and welcoming.
What word do you overuse? According to my wife, “Umm.” I would have said “Fair enough.”
What is one thing you would like to learn to do? It’s a long list. Let’s go with reading people as well by email/text as I do in person.
What is something most people don't know about you? I read two newspapers—and I do mean papers—before I go to work in the morning.
What is the best advice you ever received? “Just do your best.” Something both my parents told me repeatedly. They also made it very clear that to do less than my best was totally unacceptable.
If you can help it, where will you never return? A traffic jam (see “beaming” above).
What do you drive? Chevy Volt.
What would you drive if money were no object? If money were no object, I’d have someone drive me around. I don’t care about the type of car, so long as it is a GM.
Favorite place to spend money: Education, golf courses or on MSU football tickets.
What is your motto? These aren’t really mottos, but if I can answer them both “yes” every day I’ll sleep well, even if I don’t sleep for long: “Did you do something to improve yourself today?” “Did you do your best on what you did today?”
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