Ad Valorem Tax and Real Property Valuation

Gates & Adams has distinguished itself in the ad valorem tax field, representing industrial and commercial taxpayers, as well as taxing authorities, throughout New York State. The firm has counted amount its clients several Fortune 500 companies as well as some of the largest towns and school districts in Western New York.

With attorneys who have practiced in this arena for more than 30 years, Gates & Adams is well versed in the procedures and timetables required to preserve and effectively present ad valorem tax protests to assessors, boards of assessment review and the courts. Our attorneys have spent years advising taxing authorities about the procedural and substantive tools available to them to avoid, resolve, and where necessary, defend or prosecute property tax disputes. Gates & Adams routinely represents clients in these capacities throughout New York State.

Real property valuation work requires not only the necessary legal skills but also the help of qualified appraisers and other professionals. In this regard Gates & Adams has developed a network of valuation experts with regional, national and even international experience who enable us to bring the right skills to each client's case.

Often we can achieve the results our client's desire through negotiation or through active participation before administrative assessment review boards. But when litigation is necessary our real property tax practitioners have been both creative and effective, as exemplified by a civil rights suit we brought on behalf of one Fortune 500 taxpayer, or by a RICO action we recently brought on behalf of one of New York's largest towns, both of which led to favorable settlements. Samples of our work in this area in the reported cases may be seen on our Litigation Services page.

Gates & Adams' combination of valuation and litigation experience also enables the firm to represent participants in other kinds of disputes involving property value. In the past these have included condemnations, estate disputes and corporate dissolutions.