Overview

We have earned a reputation as aggressive, thorough and well prepared in real estate tax negotiations and trials, due to our excellent trial skills and extensive "hands-on" experience in the real estate industry. In settlement negotiations, a county attorney once remarked that our "settlement presentation was more impressive than most other trial presentations." Our experience in the courtroom is unmatched, and our results consistently exceed our clients' expectations.

We will review your assessor's market value and provide an initial preliminary analysis at no cost or obligation. If you decide to challenge the assessor's estimated market value, we will then pursue your reduction through negotiation and trial. We have successfully handled cases on a variety of fee arrangements: contingent (percentage) fee arrangements, regular hourly rates, and combinations of the two.

Our highly qualified team of property tax attorneys includes several Certified Real Property Law Specialists and a former chief tax litigator for the Minnesota Department of Revenue. We are backed by the support of the broad knowledge and experience of the firm's full service Litigation and Real Estate Groups.

Department Stores and Shopping Centers

We represent many Big Box Retailers, national retailers and major shopping center developers and managers, and have obtained reductions in value in excess of several million dollars each year for major retail facilities.

Office Buildings

We have generated real estate tax savings as high as seven figure amounts for our clients, reducing the taxable value by as much as 70% for properties in both the Minneapolis and St. Paul central business districts and in the greater metro area.

Environmentally Contaminated Properties

We are nationally recognized for our cutting-edge work in cases where the market value of the subject property is adversely affected by petroleum derivatives, asbestos, PCBs, landfills, and other contaminants.

Medical Office Buildings

We have developed considerable expertise in the valuation of medical office buildings resulting in substantial reductions for our clients.

Industrial and Manufacturing Properties

We have regular experience with large and not-so-large industrial properties, and have achieved tax reductions for our clients reducing the estimated market value by millions of dollars, including newer facilities.

Office Warehouse and Office Showroom Facilities

We have achieved value reductions in excess of $3 million per year.

Development Sites

We have achieved tax reductions of more than 50% on unimproved parcels.

Apartment Buildings

Even in a rising market we achieved annual reductions in market value of several million dollars on apartment complexes, in some instances reducing taxes by more than 50%.

Grain Elevators

We have achieved reductions in appeals of grain elevators exceeding 30%.

Bank Properties

We have successfully represented several major banks in trial and in negotiations involving their branch bank and other bank properties.

Bios

Primary Attorneys

Judy S. Engel, Co-Chair
Jennifer A. Kitchak
Thomas R. Muck
Steven J. Quam
Christopher A. Stafford
Laura J. Wanger
Thomas R. Wilhelmy, Co-Chair

Supporting Attorneys

Joseph G. Springer
Masha Yevzelman

Other Professionals

April L. White