Ervin Cohen & Jessup LLP

Ervin Cohen & Jessup LLP is a full-service law firm based in Beverly Hills with a broad practice that includes real estate law, tax law, and bankruptcy. The firm has been operating for decades and serves a client base that skews toward high-net-worth individuals, real estate investors, and businesses with complex legal needs. Their property tax work tends to arise in the context of larger real estate transactions, disputes, or restructurings rather than standalone residential appeals. The firm's size and breadth means clients with multifaceted situations, such as a commercial real estate dispute that also involves tax implications, or a bankruptcy that affects property assessments, can get coordinated representation across practice areas. That said, the firm's 3.0 rating is worth noting, and prospective clients should do their own due diligence to understand whether the firm's scale and billing structure are the right fit for their particular situation.

Ervin Cohen & Jessup's property-related tax work typically involves commercial real estate assessment appeals, property tax planning within larger real estate transactions, and tax implications of real estate restructurings or dispositions. Their real estate practice handles acquisitions, development, leasing, and financing, and the tax group can advise on property tax exposure as part of those broader engagements. The firm also handles tax law matters including California property tax planning, like-kind exchange analysis, and the tax treatment of complex real estate structures. For clients going through bankruptcy, the intersection of property assessment values and creditor claims is an area where the firm can draw on both its bankruptcy and real estate tax expertise. Beyond property tax, the firm's tax practice covers business tax planning, entity structuring, and tax controversy for businesses and individuals. The Beverly Hills location reflects the firm's primary client base, and most engagements involve properties or transactions with substantial values. Clients with smaller residential appeals would likely find a more cost-effective fit elsewhere.

Engagements at Ervin Cohen & Jessup typically begin with a scoping conversation to understand the full picture of the client's legal and tax situation. For property tax matters, this means identifying whether the issue is a standalone assessment appeal, part of a transaction, or connected to a broader dispute. The firm assigns teams based on the matter type, drawing on its real estate, tax, and litigation groups as needed. Communication tends to be structured and formal relative to smaller boutique firms, which some clients appreciate and others find less personal. For assessment appeals, the firm follows the standard California process but approaches it with the resources of a full litigation team behind it when the matter warrants. Large commercial appeals that may require formal discovery, expert appraisers, or superior court filings are where the firm's infrastructure adds the most value. Clients should expect billing by the hour at rates consistent with a full-service Beverly Hills firm.

The firm's Beverly Hills office serves clients throughout Los Angeles County and across California for significant matters. Most clients are based in Los Angeles, with particular concentration in the Westside, Beverly Hills, Century City, and greater LA commercial corridors. For institutional real estate clients and businesses with California-wide property portfolios, the firm can handle matters across multiple counties and jurisdictions. Remote representation is available for clients outside the immediate area.