Don Rubin has worked in the field of property taxation for more than 45 years, first as an assessor, then as a real estate appraiser, and finally as an attorney for the past 40 years. He represents the owners of commercial, industrial and large residential developments throughout Illinois. Don is a partner at Golan Christie Taglia where he heads its Property Tax Group.
Major appellate court cases that Don has won include Lee County Board of Review vs. the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board, 278 Ill. App.3d 711, in which he successfully represented the Woodhaven Lakes Homeowners Association, comprised of more than 2400 condominium mobile home sites, against an attempt by the local assessor to assess the improvements as real estate. The appellate court found that the mobile homes situated upon these sites were not subject to taxation as real property. In the case of Cook County Board of Review v. the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board, 403 Ill. App.3d 139, Don successfully represented the owners of 124 unsold residential condominium buildings in the Crestwood Condominium Development that were not being uniformly assessed when compared to other buildings in the same development that had been sold as individual units, and for far higher values. Refunds were ordered to the owners for excessive taxes paid over a 3-year period.
Don founded and served as the first President of the Illinois Property Tax Lawyers Association, a group comprised of private law firms dedicated to ensuring fair and equitable property tax laws in Illinois. IPTLA members work with local and state taxing officials on legislation and rules that impact every property taxpayer in the state. With his GCT partner, Jim Chipman, Don co-authored a chapter on Practice and Procedures before the Illinois Property Tax Board, which was included in the 2020 ICLE Handbook on Real Property Taxation. Don has been a speaker/moderator before many groups including the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM), the International Association of Assessment Officials (IAAO), and the ISBA’s State & Local Taxation Section Council on various topics relating to property tax assessment law and practice. He has also authored more than 30 articles available on LinkedIn.
Don has recently been reappointed to the Illinois State Bar Association's State & Local Taxation Section Council for 2021.
Don has served on the Board of Youth Outreach Services for the past 28-years. YOS provides social service assistance and counseling to troubled youth and their families throughout the west and northwest sides of Chicago, and the near west suburbs. In conjunction with YOS, the City of Chicago and the Cook County Assessor's Office, Don’s firm Golan Christie Taglia participated in 2018 and 2019 summer jobs placement programs for kids drawn from economically challenged Chicago neighborhoods served by YOS. In all, the firm has assisted in placing approximately 65 of these teens into paying jobs over the past 2-years, including approximately 40 with the Cook County Assessor's Office, thanks to the cooperation of the Assessor and his caring staff. These placements also include classes in financial responsibility and provide mentoring assistance as well. Upon successfully completing this jobs program, each participant receives a certificate of recommendation from their employer, which can then be used when applying for employment in the future. The program has been so successful in instilling a sense of pride and confidence in these teens that it has been renewed for 2021 and has been successful in placing 75 teens in summer jobs in the post-Covid era.
EDUCATION
John Marshall Law School, J.D., Chicago
University of Illinois, B.A., Chicago
BAR ADMISSIONS
Illinois, 1980
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
IAAO – International Associate of Assessment Officers
Illinois Bar Foundation, Gold Fellow
Illinois Property Tax Lawyers Association – Founding Member, First President. This Association has been successful in drafting, sponsoring and successfully obtaining revisions of the Illinois Property Tax Code, as well as local county board of review rules throughout the state.
Illinois State Bar Association - Member State and Local Taxation Section Council (2005 to 2016), Chair (2012), Speaker/Moderator at numerous CLE seminars (2005-2016)
International Association of Assessing Officers
ISBA State & Local Taxation Section Council
UIC/John Marshall Law School Alumni Advisory Board AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale Hubbell
HONORS & AWARDS
Illinois SuperLawyer since 2005
10-year Gold Fellow of the Illinois Bar Foundation, which supports 29 legal assistance organizations throughout Illinois
Rated "the highest possible AV rating in both Legal Ability and Ethical Standards reflecting the confidential opinions of members of the Bar and Judiciary” in Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Youth Outreach Services, a not-for-profit social service agency serving at risk children and families in the Chicago area since 1959, Board Member and Board President, 1994-2017
Founder of Operation Welcome Homes, a not-for-profit group providing free vacations to military personnel returning from war zones, to allow them to relax, decompress and spend valuable time with their families.
LATEST NEWS & INSIGHTS FROM Donald T. Rubin
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March 14, 2023 News
The six-figure reduction was secured after the client’s proposed assessed value of their property increased after demolishing an industrial building.
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February 22, 2022 News
The Illinois State Bar Association will feature Donald T. Rubin in an upcoming webinar as he discusses professional development, avoiding common pitfalls and maintaining civility as part of its “SALT’s Through the Legal Looking Glass Series” on Wednesday, February 23 at 11 am CT.
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August 17, 2021 News
2020 was a difficult year. The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the economy across all industries, especially real estate. As the lockdown extended well beyond initial expectations, commercial lending became virtually impossible to obtain given the instability of the market and lack of forecast ability. As a result, we saw a number of commercial real estate deals delayed indefinitely and eventually terminated. On the leasing side, we had tenants defaulting on their leases and asserting force majeure as a means of temporary rent relief. But, as 2020 dragged on and we learned to navigate the unprecedented time, we finally started to see a light at the end of the tunnel as we moved into 2021.
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July 2, 2021 News
The final 2020 multiplier for Cook County taxpayers was released and it will have a major impact on Illinois taxpayers.
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June 2, 2021 Events
This panel presentation updates your knowledge of the Property Tax Appeal Board (PTAB), including its history as a “poor person’s court,” the Cook County expansion, who they are and what they decide, filing with the PTAB, and interveners and increases.
Read More - All News & Insights From Donald T. Rubin >>