Atty. Thomas J. McNulty
Tom is a litigator who represents property taxpayers throughout the country, ensuring their tax liabilities are secured at the lowest level allowable under the law. He represents clients spanning numerous industries, ranging in size and complexity from those with large, sophisticated real estate portfolios to those with just one building critical to their operations.
Profile Summary
About Thomas J. McNulty at a glance
Thomas J. McNulty is a real estate and estate litigation attorney based in Chicago, Illinois, practicing at Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP. Admitted to practice in Illinois, Illinois State Bar Association and New Jersey, New Jersey State Bar Association. Educated at Rutgers University–Camden (J.D., 1976) and University of Notre Dame (B.S., 1973). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Real Estate (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Real Estate Law (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice: (2026). Serands clients in Chicago, IL and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- Tom is a litigator who represents property taxpayers throughout the country, ensuring their tax liabilities are secured at the lowest level allowable under the law
- He represents clients spanning numerous industries, ranging in size and complexity from those with large, sophisticated real estate portfolios to those with just one building critical to their operations
- Tom sets his clients’ expectations regarding measurable results in every property tax appeal
- Before filing, he provides a detailed plan to each client describing the objectives of the appeal, all risks associated with the chosen strategy and a strong target for the resulting tax liability supported by the available evidence
- This approach enables each client to ask important questions, add significant contributions to the strategy and ultimately make a well-informed business decision before proceeding
- When the appeal is concluded, clients can easily compare the predicted outcome with the actual results
- Having previously worked for the Cook County Attorney’s Office, he understands the need to use professional but aggressive tactics when litigating property tax matters and interacting effectively with municipalities and tax assessors
- Convincing assessors that they made a mistake in calculating tax owed can be challenging, but Tom’s experience working on the other side helps him appreciate the complex factors being considered by opposing counsel in every appeal
- Tom is a former Chair and member of the Executive Board of the Civic Federation of Chicago, a nonpartisan research organization that promotes efficiency in government
- In addition, Tom served as president of the Chicago Low-Income Housing Trust Fund from its inception in 1989 until just recently, and currently serves as chair of its Allocations Committee
- The Trust Fund oversees rental assistance programs that meet the permanent housing needs of Chicago’s poorest residents by giving grants to building owners and developers who agree to reduce rents to accommodate very low-income residents
- He currently lectures at Chicago-Kent Law School on Illinois real estate tax issues as part of the Masters in Taxation program
- He has also authored numerous articles regarding assessment ratio cases and the assessment and valuation of utility properties
- In 2019, Tom received the Bernard L. Barnard Outstanding Technical Essay Award from the International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO)
- Since 2010, Tom has been recognized as a leader in The Best Lawyers in America in “Litigation—Real Estate/Real Estate Law, Special Focus: Tax.” His peers also selected him for inclusion in the 2005- 2006 and 2013-2019 editions of Illinois Super Lawyer in “Tax: Business.”
Practice Areas Explained
Thomas J. McNulty's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Thomas J. McNulty handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Real estate attorneys handle home purchases, sales, commercial transactions, title disputes, and landlord-tenant matters.
Thomas J. McNulty is one of 316,149 real estate attorneys indexed nationally. Browse real estate attorneys in Illinois →
Thomas J. McNulty is one of 20,023 estate litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse estate litigation attorneys in Illinois →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in Illinois
Practicing law in Illinois. Legal matters in Illinois are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Chicago are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Illinois state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Illinois brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Illinois courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Looking for additional Illinois attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Chicago or all attorneys in Illinois.
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