Winston & Strawn

Winston & Strawn's Los Angeles office brings serious firepower to property tax disputes in one of the most complex assessment environments in the country. The team handles everything from routine residential overassessments to large-scale commercial portfolio challenges, and they know the Los Angeles County Assessor's office inside and out. That institutional knowledge matters when you're trying to build a persuasive appeal. The firm's tax attorneys don't just file paperwork. They dig into the valuation methodology, identify where the assessor got it wrong, and build a case backed by comparable sales data, income analysis, and expert appraisals. If your assessment doesn't reflect what your property is actually worth, they have the tools and the track record to push back effectively.

Winston & Strawn offers a full range of property tax services for owners of commercial, industrial, and high-value residential properties throughout California. Their attorneys are well-versed in Proposition 13 and its limitations, supplemental assessments, and the base year value transfer rules that trip up a lot of property owners. On the appeals side, the team handles Assessment Appeals Board filings, informal hearings with the assessor, and litigation before the California courts when that's what it takes. They also advise buyers and sellers on the tax implications of real property transfers, including change-of-ownership exclusions and parent-child transfers. For commercial clients, the firm provides ongoing assessment monitoring so nothing slips through the cracks between reassessment cycles. They work with qualified appraisers to develop independent valuations and can represent clients across multiple counties simultaneously. Whether you own a single retail building or a portfolio of industrial properties, the approach is the same: reduce the assessed value to what the evidence actually supports and get you the refund you're owed.

The process starts with a property review. The team pulls the current assessment roll data, reviews the assessor's methodology, and compares the assessed value against recent comparable sales and, where applicable, income data. That initial analysis tells them whether you have a viable appeal and what kind of reduction is realistic. If the numbers support moving forward, they prepare the formal appeal filing and gather supporting evidence. That includes obtaining appraisals, pulling sales comps, and sometimes hiring specialized experts for complex property types. They handle all communication with the assessor's office and represent you at the Assessment Appeals Board hearing. Most appeals in Los Angeles County take 12 to 24 months to resolve, though some settle informally before the hearing date. Throughout that period, the team keeps you updated and advises on any supplemental assessments or other issues that come up. If the board's decision isn't satisfactory, they can advise on your options for further appeal through the courts.

Winston & Strawn's Los Angeles property tax team serves clients throughout Los Angeles County, including downtown LA, Century City, the San Fernando Valley, the South Bay, and the Westside. They also handle matters in Orange County, San Diego County, and other California counties on a case-by-case basis. Commercial and high-value residential clients from across California regularly work with the LA office given the team's depth of experience with large and complex assessments.