Works at
Sheehan Phinney Bass & Green PA

35 Best Lawyers awards

Sheehan Phinney Bass & Green PA logo

Biography

Bradford "Brad" Cookis head of the firm’s Estate Planningand Probate, Government Relations and Not-for-Profit, Charitable and Religious Institutions Practice Groups. He is a past President of the firm and has practiced with Sheehan Phinney since 1973.

Brad represents many colleges and schools, religious organizations throughout New England, and hospital, nursing home and other charitable and other not-for-profit clients, and practices general corporate law. He writes a regular column, “Cook on Concord,” which appears in the New Hampshire Business Review.

As head of the firm’s Estate Planning and Probate Department, Brad counsels clients on drafting estate plans, planning for management of their affairs during retirement, senior living arrangements, and avoiding or minimizing the need for probate. He supervises the other attorneys and paralegals who handle Estate Planning and trust administration and probate of decedents’ estates from all of the firm’s offices. He is a member of the New Hampshire Estate Planning Council.

Works at
Sheehan Phinney Bass & Green PA

35 Best Lawyers awards

Sheehan Phinney Bass & Green PA logo

Locations

Languages

  • English

Education

  • Cornell University, J.D., graduated 1973
  • University of New Hampshire, B.A

Bar Admissions

  • New Hampshire, State of New Hampshire

Affiliations

  • Young Republicans - President
  • Student Government - President

Client Testimonials

Awards & Focus

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2025 - Nonprofit / Charities Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2021 - Nonprofit / Charities Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2018 - Nonprofit / Charities Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2013 - Nonprofit / Charities Law
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Nonprofit / Charities Law, Manchester (2025)
  • Nonprofit / Charities Law, Manchester (2021)
  • Nonprofit / Charities Law, Manchester (2018)
  • Nonprofit / Charities Law, Manchester (2013)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2027 for work in:
  • Nonprofit / Charities Law
  • Trusts and Estates

Additional Information

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Case History

Cases
  • Representative matters
  • Representing religious groups before the New Hampshire legislature in all matters of concern to them
  • Negotiating labor agreements between faculty/staff and university administration of a private university
  • Advising clients on complex estate planning matters and the appropriate probate or probate avoidance techniques and trust administration
  • Advising a real estate operating company on the sale of a shopping center and doing the regular leasing and regulatory zoning and planning work for it
  • Supervising real estate acquisition, sale and construction matters for a large charitable multi-state entity
  • Negotiating executive compensation agreements for executives of large educational and charitable institutions
  • Forming and providing on-going representation to small to medium-sized businesses
  • Assisting not-for-profit clients with fundraising efforts including negotiating gifts and drafting various kinds of philanthropic giving instruments
  • Providing training on risk management and liability avoidance techniques
  • Probating multi-state complex estates

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