Douglas J. Shiell

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Doug Shiell has decades of experience working on property tax valuation appeals for a variety of large multi-tenant commercial properties. In 1987, together with Ben Smith and John Gendler, he helped start the firm. The goal was to focus exclusively on property tax appeals and to become the premier tax appeal law firm in Minnesota.

Doug has represented clients with regard to numerous owner-user properties, particularly corporate headquarters, banks, medical clinics and grocery stores. He has also successfully represented clients on property tax valuations for many investment properties, including suburban and downtown office buildings, regional and specialty retail centers and industrial buildings.

Doug has litigated valuation cases that resulted in significant reductions in the valuation of large suburban office buildings, a downtown hotel and apartment buildings. His has also litigated on behalf of clients in constitutional cases that involved assessment-sales ratio studies and classification of apartments. He has successfully argued for his clients on statutory cases relating to tax appeal standing and retroactive application of the law. He has also been involved in successful mediation.

Doug's professional activities include lecturing for the Minnesota Multi-Housing Association, the Institute of Real Estate Management, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, Minnesota State Bar Association, National Business Institute and Greater Minneapolis BOMA. He has also authored articles on property taxes for the Minnesota Real Estate Journal.

Doug graduated from the University of Minnesota Law School, cum laude, in 1981. After graduation, he worked for a general law firm, primarily in the areas of business, litigation and tax appeals.

Bar Association Memberships:

• • Hennepin County Bar Association
  • Minnesota State Bar Association

Professional Association Memberships:

• • National Association of Industrial and Office Parks
  • Minnesota Shopping Center Association
  • Greater Minneapolis Building Owners and Managers Association
  • Minnesota Association of Assessing Officer