Richard Cook Email & Phone Number

United States

Rich is a partner in the firm’s Real Estate and Public Finance Division in the Kansas City office. His practice focuses on economic development, government relations, real estate transactions, special district formation, financial services and tax incentives such as tax increment financing and tax abatement. He assisted Cerner Corporation in the site acquisition and development of its planned four million square foot office campus in Kansas City, MO, including zoning and development incentives (TIF, Super-TIF and State Supplemental TIF). He has counseled commercial clients in negotiations with elected officials and municipal staff to secure economic development incentives, zoning and government contracts. He represents clients in a wide variety of complex commercial real estate transactions, including acquisitions and sales, financing and leasing of all major property types, including office buildings, shopping centers, multifamily projects, industrial properties, hotels, resorts and mixed-use projects. He is active in job retention and expansion projects in both Missouri and Kansas. From 2013-2014 he served as chair of the Real Estate Section of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association.

-- Represented commercial clients in extensive negotiations with municipal staff and elected officials regarding economic development incentives, zoning, and government contracting matters such as Women/Minority Business Enterprise compliance-- Successfully presented tax abatement proposals for a multi-family housing and office projects before the Planned Industrial Expansion Authority of Kansas City and the Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority-- Drafted proposed Missouri legislation creating tax credits for green buildings, and designed creative legislative solutions to complex client problems, including several proposed economic development bills and legislative amendments-- Participated in the formation and administration of special taxing districts, such as community improvement districts and transportation development districts-- Successfully negotiated and closed multiple real estate transactions, including property purchases and sales, leasing agreements, easements, and related transactions-- Represented a large banking client in the non-judicial foreclosure of an historic, multi-family, low-income housing project

Doctor Of Law - Jd, Law

Activities and Societies: Law Review Moot Court Business Law Teaching Assistant Judicial Clerkship Externship for Judge James O'Hara.

Business Administration & English

Activities and Societies: Lamda Chi Alpha Phi Beta Kappa

School Of English & American Studies