Chicago

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

Spectacular results for our clients!

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About Our Firm

Company

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

We have developed innovative techniques, cutting-edge software and considerable capabilities in the valuation aspects of property taxation; resulting in exceptional assessment levels for our clients.

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Our Lawyers

John P. Fitzgerald

John P. Fitzgerald

Mary Kate Fitzgerald

Mary Kathleen Fitzgerald

J.P. Fitzgerald

J.P. Fitzgerald

What We Do

Recent News

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.

You Get The Point

Accolades

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

  • Bears megaproject bill has serious ramifications for Illinois property taxpayers

    By Sam Lounsberry The Illinois House passed a bill allowing developers of projects costing $100 million or more to enter a payment in lieu of taxes program, locking in a tax rate for 25 years. Critics argue this threshold is too low, potentially benefiting many standard commercial developments and depriving local governments of tax revenue. The bill aims to provide tax certainty for developers, but some believe it should be reserved for truly transformative projects. Here’s why this week’s changes to proposal could be a bonanza for real estate developers — and a risk to local governments Developers in Chicago should be licking their chops. Tweaks to the so-called megaprojects bill passed by the Illinois House this week to keep the NFL’s Bears in the state will have consequences for real estate investment and how it’s taxed for a generation, reaching well beyond stadiums. Without changes it could be a windfall for builders who’d save significantly on even the most standard commercial real estate projects. Some of the state’s top property tax professionals are expressing concerns the bill, if turned into law, will rob local governments of far more taxable real estate value than is necessary to achieve the goals of the policy — namely keeping the Bears in Illinois and easing the path forward for other massive development visions. This is because the bill as now constructed would make property developments consisting of $100 million or more in investment eligible for the payment in lieu of taxes program the Bears are pushing for in order to get certainty on their property tax costs for the next several decades. That’s down from a previously contemplated floor of $500 million. The way it would work is developers would negotiate with municipal leaders an annual tax payment based on a [...]