Crane & Norcross expands real estate tax team

Crane and Norcross, LLC, a Chicago-based real estate tax law firms, has appointed veteran attorney James P. Boyle to serve as the firm’s managing partner. The firm has also hired prominent real estate tax attorney Thomas J. Boyle as a partner, bringing over 50 years of collective experience and the brothers’ industry-leading capabilities together for the first time.

The firm is also expanding its diverse talent profile with the addition of former Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney Jeffrey B. Engstrom. The three new hires join Michael E. Crane, Christopher D. Shouldice, Frederick J. Wrenn and Kristen Farrell in rounding out the firm’s deep experience in the field of real estate tax matters.

“We are excited about the outstanding lawyers who have joined our team. We look forward to beginning the next exciting chapter of the firm I co-founded over 40 years ago,” said partner Michael Crane. “Jim and Tom represent a new era of leadership, and by adding Jeff to our talented team we will continue to deliver on our commitment of unmatched service, legal representation and results for our clients for years to come.”

“I am honored to lead this firm of talented lawyers and our tremendous support team. We will continue our firm’s tradition of outstanding performance for our clients,” said Jim Boyle who has been with Crane and Norcross since 2001, primarily representing clients in real estate taxation cases and real estate transactions. “I am thrilled to be working with my brother. I have always respected Tom’s tremendous legal practice, as well as his ethics and commitment. This partnership allows us to combine our extensive career experiences and our core values to best serve our clients.”

Tom Boyle has built a nearly 30-year career of representing commercial, industrial and residential property owners in challenging their property tax assessments. He attains substantial tax savings for clients through tax assessment appeals, property tax exemptions, state and local property tax incentives, local government tax finance and related litigation. Tom Boyle began his career as an Assistant State’s Attorney in the Real Estate Tax Division of the Cook County State’s Attorney Office. He went on to develop his practice representing clients on both a local and national level. Tom Boyle led the first successful real estate tax-related class action in Illinois, where he secured a $14 million judgment on behalf of 23,256 taxpayers in a ruling that was affirmed by the Appellate Court and the Illinois Supreme Court. Most recently, he served as a partner at Thompson Coburn LLP.

“I am delighted at the opportunity to partner with Jim and all of the talented attorneys and staff at the firm,” said Tom Boyle. “Crane and Norcross has always been considered a preeminent law firm in the real estate tax field, and I look forward to joining their legacy of providing clients with the highest degree of service.”

Engstrom began his legal career at the Cook County Treasurer’s Office where he acquired in-depth knowledge on the intricacies of the Illinois Property Tax Code. In 2014, he joined the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office in the Real Estate Tax Litigation Unit. In his five years as an Assistant State’s Attorney, Engstrom settled thousands of tax objection cases while successfully defending the Board of Review before the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board.

“As the real estate tax landscape across Illinois evolves and increases in complexity, we are being proactive and adding these skilled legal professionals with expert knowledge,” said Jim Boyle. “We offer a tremendous value proposition to our clients.”

Crane and Norcross, LLC was founded over 40 years ago. The firm maintains its exceptional reputation by ensuring its attorneys have dedicated support staff in order to provide the highest quality of legal service. Clients range from publicly held companies with national properties to family-owned businesses with local interests.