Overview

Michael Shapiro is a real estate tax appeals attorney who successfully counsels commercial and industrial clients and business owners in state and local taxation matters. With more than 40 years of experience, Michael frequently lectures on property tax assessment matters. He has delivered presentations for the Georgetown University Law Center's Institute on State and Local Taxation, the Annual Conference of the Institute of Property Taxation, the Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE), the State Bar of Michigan’s Real Estate Section, the National Association of Accountants, the Michigan State Chamber of Commerce, the Detroit Bar Association, the Michigan Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and other professional organizations.

  • Possesses particular experience in ad valorem taxation, including counseling, tax planning, and trial and appellate representation
  • Guides clients' mergers, diversifications, investments, acquisitions, and restructuring, both within the state of Michigan and in other jurisdictions

Services

Credentials

Education

Admissions

Recognition

Awards

  • The Best Lawyers in America, 1995-2025
    • Recognized in practice area of Litigation - Real Estate
  • Michigan Super Lawyers, 2006-2019
  • DBusiness, Top Lawyers, 2010-2017
  • Law Bulletin Media
    • Leading Lawyers, Real Estate Law: Tax, 2017, 2023-2024
    • Leading Lawyers, Tax Law: Business, 2017, 2023-2024
  • The American Lawyer Magazine, Top Rated Lawyer in Taxation Law, 2013
  • Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated 
  • Beta Alpha Psi
  • Pi Sigma Alpha
  • Beta Gamma Sigma

Professional & Community Involvement

  • Institute of Property Taxation, 1986-present
  • Michigan Senate Citizens Property Tax Commission, 1986-1987
  • State Bar of Michigan
    • Business Law Section
    • Taxation Section
  • American Property Tax Counsel, Firm Representative

News & Insights

News

Events

  • The Logical (and Proper) Valuation of Big Box Stores
    Event | Denver, CO | September 18-20, 2014 | | Presenter
  • Property Tax Assessment, State and Local Taxation, Georgetown University Law Center's Institute, Lecturer
  • Property Tax Assessment, Institute of Property Taxation Annual Conference, Lecturer
  • Property Tax Assessment, Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Lecturer
  • Property Tax Assessment, State Bar of Michigan, Real Property Law Section, Lecturer
  • Property Tax Assessment, National Association of Accountants, Lecturer
  • Property Tax Assessment, Michigan State Chamber of Commerce, Lecturer
  • Property Tax Assessment, Detroit Bar Association, Lecturer
  • Property Tax Assessment, Michigan Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Lecturer
  • Property Tax Assessment, American Property Tax Counsel, Lecturer

Publications

  • Publication | The Michigan Assessor (Vol. 56, No. 7) |
  • Market Inhibited by Property Tax Problems
    Publication | Midwest Real Estate News |
  • Reducing Excessive Hotel Property Taxes
    Publication | Hotel News Resource |
  • Understanding Functional Obsolescence Can Reduce Your Property Taxes
    Publication | Corporate Real Estate Executive |
  • Big-Box Retailers Beware How Assessors Overvalue Your Property
    Publication | National Real Estate Investor |
  • Depreciation: Incurable Functional Obsolescence and Sequence of Deductions
    Publication | The Appraisal Journal |
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