Craig R. Cockrell

Craig Cockrell has a specialized practice focused on providing tax and transactional advice to a variety of businesses, municipalities, state agencies, and individuals, including public financing transactions, business start-ups, stock and asset acquisitions, and real estate transactions. He has extensive experience representing businesses and individuals in administrative tax proceedings before the IRS and Arkansas Department of Finance & Administration. In addition, he assists families with preparing and implementing estate and business succession plans and other wealth transfer strategies.

Experience

• Advises buyers and sellers during negotiation, structuring and closing of private business stock and asset acquisitions and real estate transactions.
• Counsels clients regarding the legal, tax and practical aspects of small business start-up and operations, including the formation of partnerships, LLCs, and corporations; preparation of partnership and LLC operating agreements; and the preparation of contracts such as leases, employment agreements, and non-competition agreements.
• Provides tax analysis to municipalities, universities, state agencies and underwriters regarding the tax-exempt aspects of municipal bond financing.
• Assists families with the preparation of simple and complex estate plans, including the preparation of wills and revocable trusts, and implementing tax-advantaged wealth transfer strategies employing irrevocable trusts, private foundations and family holding companies.
• Advises established and start-up non-profit organizations in matters related to incorporation and tax-exemption status.
• Extensive experience representing taxpayers through all levels of state and federal tax examinations and appeals, from individuals and small businesses to large private corporations, focused on a range of issues including individual and corporate income tax, employment tax, and sales and use tax.

Education

• University of Florida School of Law LL.M., Taxation (2011)
• University of Arkansas School of Law J.D. (2010)
• University of Arkansas B.A. in English (2007)

Professional Recognition

• The Best Lawyers in America© 2019: Tax Law
• Mid-South Super Lawyers Rising Star:  (2013, 2017-2018)
• Northwest Arkansas Business Journal 40 Under 40 honoree (2017)

Involvement

• Member, Arkansas Bar Association, Section of Taxation
• Board Member, Junior Achievement of Northwest Arkansas
• Committee Member, Mercy Health Foundation Planned Giving Committee

News & Articles

Firm News

• 29 Mitchell Williams Attorneys Named as 2018 Mid-South Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
• Forty Mitchell Williams Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© 2019 - Six Attorneys Named as Best Lawyers® "Lawyer of the Year"
• Mitchell Williams Attorney Craig Cockrell accepted into the Heart of America Fellows Institute - A Program of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel
• Mitchell Williams Attorney Craig Cockrell Speaks at Association of Fundraising Professional Meeting
• Attorneys Melissa Bandy and Craig Cockrell Elected As Members
• Thirty-one Mitchell Williams Attorneys Named as 2017 Mid-South Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
• Attorney Craig Cockrell Named to Northwest Arkansas Business Journal's Forty Under 40 List

Articles

• Why 2019 Will Be the Year of Opportunity (Zones)
• Impact to Charitable Organizations under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
• What Practitioners Need to Know about the New Partnership Audit Rules
• IRS Identifies Proposed Tax-Exempt Political Subdivision Regulations as Overly Burdensome
• Act 465 of 2017: Sales and Use Tax Exemption for Repair and Replacement of Manufacturing Machinery and Equipment