Unmatched Record of Success

Harold J. Hicks joined the firm in 1989 and is a passionate advocate for clients seeking property tax relief. Harry has practiced across all parts of the real estate tax appeal process in Cook and the surrounding collar counties. He has significant experience in obtaining tax deeds and tax injunctions through the judicial process. He also has worked extensively in tax parcel division and consolidation, exemption, reclassification and tax incentive matters.

Harry’s experience in contesting property tax assessments is broad and extensive. He has prosecuted tax appeals for numerous major commercial properties such as office buildings, hotels and shopping centers as well as industrial properties, apartment buildings and condominium associations.

In addition to his real estate tax litigation work, Harry has practiced general civil litigation at both the trial and appellate levels. Harry has been a sought after speaker at multiple conferences across the country sponsored by the International Association of Assessing Officers. His topics range from recent developments in procedural law to attorney representation of full-service hotels. For many years, Harry also served as an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law (formerly The John Marshall Law School) teaching Public Finance.

Kevin joined the firm in 2024 after having practiced for over twenty years at a boutique litigation firm in Chicago.  He has handled complex, commercial litigation in state and federal courts, in cases involving contracts, securities, consumer fraud and class action litigation.  Kevin’s successes include a recent win in Lake County Circuit Court in a property tax objection case, after a multi-day trial.

Kevin has been named to Illinois Super Lawyers for Business Litigation and recognized by his peers as one of the Leading Lawyers in Illinois for Commercial Litigation and Civil Appellate Law, honors earned by less than 5% of all practicing lawyers in the state.

Kevin has also authored the “State Practice: Illinois’ Class Action Statute” and “Procedural Aspects of Shareholder Derivative Suits in Illinois” chapters in Class Actions (Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 2024), as well as “Special Considerations in a Class Action” in Illinois Civil Discovery Practice (IICLE 2017).

Gretchen M. Kubasik joined the firm in 2021 and brings a unique blend of experience from legal, architecture and construction management of major high-rise buildings. Gretchen concentrates in ad valorem real estate tax appeals, particularly judicial appeals, and qualifying properties for real estate Tax Incentive status. Previously, Gretchen was an associate attorney at several Chicago law firms that focused on fields of land use and construction laws.

Prior to practicing law, Gretchen had worked with two local prominent construction management firms that focused on various commercial high-rise projects. This experience provided her with a broad understanding of these types of commercial real estate properties.

In addition to practicing law, Gretchen has been serving as an Adjunct Professor at Loyola University School of Law, Chicago since 2009 teaching courses in construction law and land use, including historic preservation.  

Vincent J. “Bud” Getzendanner has been practicing law since 1966. In 1982, Bud co-founded Madigan & Getzendanner and served as its managing partner for over 40 years. As Of Counsel for the firm beginning in 2023, Bud continues to bring his strategic skills and in-depth experience to clients. He also offers valuable insights and works closely with the firm’s lawyers and other professionals.

Bud began his legal career in private practice as a litigator contesting ad valorem real estate tax assessments as well as other general litigation. He litigated a wide variety of cases, including class actions at the trial and appellate levels. In several instances he also served as a Court appointed guardian and/or trustee, including administering a large national class action involving millions of claimants.

Over the past three decades, Bud has practiced almost exclusively in real estate taxation, successfully prosecuting judicial appeals resulting in substantial tax refunds to clients. He also has taken a lead role in successfully defending property owners against underassessment complaints brought by local taxing districts.

Earlier in his career, Bud served as a law clerk to an Illinois Supreme Court Justice from 1966 to 1968 and as a Commissioner of the Illinois Industrial Commission from 1969 to 1972.

Thomas K. Gillespie has more than 20 years of property valuation experience.  Starting as a commercial valuation analyst in the Cook County Assessor’s Office, he worked there for nearly 14 years ultimately serving as the Manager to the Chief Deputy of Valuation. While at the Assessor’s Office, Tom valued a variety of Industrial/Commercial properties with a concentration on the largest and most valuable properties in Cook County.

Tom joined the firm as a lead analyst in 2016, with a primary focus on multi-family apartment buildings, industrial properties, hotels, office buildings, shopping centers and condominium associations.

In addition to his work analyzing these properties, Tom has handled a significant number of tax parcel divisions and consolidations, applications for Cook County Incentive Programs and assisting clients with tax forecasts for future purchases and developments.

Before joining the firm, Al Sarro worked at the Cook County Assessor’s Office for more than 31 years as a Director of Residential Valuations. He ultimately served as the Director of Special Properties and through his tenure, he valued a wide variety of residential and condominium properties.

Today, Al focuses his work in ad valorem real estate tax appeals, handling a range of matters including residential, condominiums and multi-family apartment buildings.

Al is a Certified Illinois Assessing Officer (C.I.A.O.). He also holds a Certificate of Designation (A.A.S.) from the International Association of Assessing Officers.  He has significant experience with the various Cook County Incentive Programs and assisting clients with tax forecasts for future purchases and developments.

Timothy D. Stanner has more than 10 year of property valuation experience. In that time, Mr. Stanner has worked as an analyst with a focus on multi-family apartment buildings, industrial properties, hotels, office buildings, shopping centers and condominium associations.

Additionally, Mr. Stanner has been the lead analyst for the Chicagoland collar counties of DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will. Mr. Stanner handles appeal workflow, data-gathering/analytics, and document preparation in order to ensure that our clients’ properties are being fairly evaluated and assessed.