Photo of Michael B. ShapiroPhoto of Michael B. Shapiro

Michael B. Shapiro

Of Counsel

Education

University of Michigan Law School, J.D.
  • magna cum laude; Order of the Coif
Kent State University, B.B.A.
  • Accounting
  • summa cum laude

Bar Admissions

  • Michigan

Professional Affiliations

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

Overview
News & Resources
Honors

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 Metropolitan 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

News & Resources

News

Press Releases

Publications

  • The Logical and Proper Determination of the True Cash Value of Big Box Retail Stores
    (July 2015)
     
    The Michigan Assessor (Vol. 56, No. 7)
  • Market Inhibited by Property Tax Problems
    (April 2006)
     
    Midwest Real Estate News
  • Reducing Excessive Hotel Property Taxes
    (October 2005)
     
    Hotel News Resource
  • Understanding Functional Obsolescence Can Reduce Your Property Taxes
    (October 2000)
     
    Corporate Real Estate Executive
  • Big-Box Retailers Beware How Assessors Overvalue Your Property
    (September 2000)
     
    National Real Estate Investor
  • Depreciation: Incurable Functional Obsolescence and Sequence of Deductions
    (July 1983)
     
    Co-author
    The Appraisal Journal

Seminars & Events

  • The Logical (and Proper) Valuation of Big Box Stores, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy’s 34th Annual National Conference for State Tax Judges, 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

Honors

  • The Best Lawyers in America, 1995-2019
    • Recognized in practice area of Litigation - Real Estate
  • Michigan Super Lawyers, 2006-2017
  • DBusiness, Top Lawyers, 2010-2017
  • Leading Lawyers Magazine Michigan, 2017
    • Recognized in practice areas of:
      • Real Estate Law: Tax
      • Tax Law: Business
  • 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