Chicago

Focused Expertise in the Taxation of Commercial, Industrial & Investment-Grade Real Estate

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About Our Firm

What We Do

We zealously represent the owners, users and managers of commercial, industrial and investment-grade real estate located within the Chicago megalopolis, with a particular emphasis on Cook County, Illinois.

Excessive local taxation poses a threat to the economic vitality of the Chicago region; and thus, we have developed innovative techniques, cutting-edge software and considerable capabilities in the valuation aspects of property taxation.

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Our Approach

STRATEGIZING, EXECUTING, AND DELIVERING RESULTS

Our team works together with clients to deconstruct their tax assessment, strategize a winning solution and then present our evidence before a government forum, or in court, if necessary.  The assessment techniques employed by Cook County are similar to those employed in the Collar Counties; except the local appeal procedures can be fundamentally different.

Our Lawyers

John P. Fitzgerald

John P. Fitzgerald

Mary Kate Fitzgerald

Mary Kate Fitzgerald

J.P. Fitzgerald

J.P. Fitzgerald

Educational Materials

Recent News

Testimonials

Our property tax bill was increasing year after year. We retained Mary Kate Fitzgerald and she eliminated all of the tax increases. Then she went to court and obtained a sizable refund.

Brian Slater, New City Moving, Chicago

I highly recommend John P Fitzgerald. He runs a first class operation and provides excellent service and support. We have used his services for 30+ years and he has saved our company a significant amount of money in property taxes. John and his team respond immediately to questions.

Jan Schaefer, Waldmann Lighting Co. Wheeling, Illinois

We have worked with Jack Fitzgerald on the acquisition and eventual sale and leaseback of buildings and land in Cook County.  His firm was knowledgeable, professional, and we have been very happy with his advice and the results obtained.  I highly recommend Fitzgerald Law Group for your property tax issues.

Kevin O'Shea, EMS, Cook County

Over the last thirty years the Fitzgerald Law Group has represented me in numerous real estate transactions, specifically related to property tax matters in Illinois. Jack and his team are very knowledgeable and have always delivered results well beyond expectations. You will not find a more diligent and better team of lawyers to handle your property tax matters.

Patrick Gaughan, CEO , APS Grupa LLC Chicago

I switched over to Fitzgerald Law Group after years of ever-escalating property tax bills. Fitzgerald Law Group was able to stabilize the situation and bring predictability back into my budgeting process.  

Joseph Esselman, Penn Real Estate, Inc. Chicago

Thanks for all your help over the years.  I know I’ve asked a ton of questions and you have always taken the time to give me the information I needed.

Lanny Gower , XPO, Portland, Oregon

Mary Kate and Jack have done fantastic work for us and our multi-family development projects in Cook County.   We have worked with them for many years and they consistently achieve very favorable results.  They have always been extremely responsive and available to answer questions.  I would highly recommend using the Fitzgerald Law Group for real estate tax appeal needs.

David Hovey, Jr. President, Optima, Inc

Our Mission

To minimize our client’s property tax obligations in an ethical, transparent and cost-effective manner.

Success Stories

A Class 6b previously turned down for renewal twice!

The owner of a former 6b industrial building, represented by another firm, was twice turned down for a 6b renewal by the village board. Fitzgerald Law Group took over the case and was able to get the village board to approve the 6b renewal application.

Cook County Manufacturer Builds Addition without the 6b Tax Incentive

An established manufacturer needed more space. The owner considered obtaining a 6b tax incentive for the addition or even relocating to another county. After a careful analysis, the decision was to skip the autocratic regulatory oversight and build without the tax incentive. The result is that is that the current tax psf is among the lowest in Proviso township. The business currently employs 175 employees on three shifts.

Over $85,000 in tax dollars saved

A 22 year old industrial building in Wheeling Township.

A tax reduction of $2.3 Million

On a luxury apartment complex in Streeterville neighborhood of Chicago.

Over $14.7 Million in Tax Slashed

An office building in the Chicago Loop.

$8.2 Million in Tax Saved

A luxury apartment complex in the Lake View neighborhood of Chicago.

Over $7.1 Million Saved

A luxury apartment complex in the Streeterville neighborhood of Chicago.

$340,000 Saved

An omitted assessment was unfairly levied against a commercial building located in the northwest suburbs of Cook County.

Over $3.4 Million Saved

A pre-developed land site prepared for a mega-development in Chicago’s North Branch Corridor.

$19.5 Million in Property Tax Saved

A state-of-the-art data center located in downtown Chicago.

Over $2.2 Million Saved & Refunded

Pre-developed land prepared for a mega-development in the South Loop. Fitzgerald Law Group was the fourth consecutive law firm to undertake this case and was the only law firm to obtain relief for the client.

A Tax Reduction of over $ 7,000,000 and Manufacturing Jobs Created

An industrial complex located on the southeast side, that in terms of square footage, is the largest recipient of a class 6b tax incentive in Chicago. Through a series of incentive applications,  the economics of the property shifted and this formerly abandoned facility was transformed into a modern manufacturing plant creating 130 jobs. Additional tax savings were obtained via assessment challenges before various Cook County assessment agencies and in the Circuit Court of Cook County.

Plus Thousands Of Other Cases, You Get The Point

The Real Deal magazine calls the game and names the best of the best property tax lawyers in Chicago, including our own Mary Kate Fitzgerald.

If you are not using one of these lawyers, there is a good chance that you aren’t doing everything that can be done to minimize that tax bill.

Incidentally, the lawyers featured in this story are all friends.

Cook County Tax Incentive Rail Service

Bears megaproject bill has serious ramifications for Illinois property taxpayers

The Illinois House passed a bill allowing developers of projects costing $100 million or more to lock in property tax rates for 25 years. Supporters say it encourages investment, while critics warn it could reduce local tax revenue by extending benefits to ordinary commercial developments.

Here’s why the proposal could be a boon for developers — and a risk for local governments.