Michael Cooney '83, a partner in the law firm Nixon Peabody LLP, is expanding his practice and will divide his time between Rochester and the firm's office in Washington, D.C. Cooney has worked on concerns including tax-exemption and private foundation status, joint ventures between exempt entities and with for-profit partners, and unrelated business income tax. His practice concentrates on issues related to nonprofit and educational organizations and their corporate governance, fundraising, state regulation and taxation.
Cooney majored in Russian studies and graduated magna cum laude from Hamilton and was a Senior Fellow. He went on to earn his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Virginia. Cooney is chairman of the American board of directors of the World Childhood Foundation, which currently supports over 100 projects to protect children from sexual abuse in 14 countries. He is the former chairman of the board of directors of the Rochester Area Community Foundation.
