About
Attorneys
PRACTICE AREAS
AT WORK
Sonja R. Johnson is a member of the firm's Real Estate practice group, where she concentrates on tax assessment matters. Actively engaged in the practice of real estate tax law since 1982, she provides experienced, insightful guidance in assessment valuation, tax parcel divisions and consolidations, exemptions, reclassifications, and tax incentives and abatements.
Sonja has extensive experience in reducing real estate taxes for office buildings in Chicago's Central Business District, as well as residential condominiums and cooperatives, shopping centers, industrial complexes, multi-tenant apartment buildings, nursing homes and life-care facilities. She also provides ongoing assessment monitoring services, develops real estate tax estimates for budgetary purposes and assists in the preparation of TIF applications.
Sonja regularly represents clients before the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board, as well as local assessors' offices, review boards and circuit courts throughout Chicago and northeastern Illinois.
IN THE PROFESSION
A member of the Illinois State Bar Association and the Chicago Bar Association, Sonja serves on the CBA's Real Estate Taxation, Finance and Entertainment Committees, and is a past member of its Board of Managers. She is also a member of the Chicago Chapter of Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW).
Committed to ongoing legal education, Sonja is a frequent speaker, panelist and moderator at legal and real estate industry conferences, seminars and other events. She has served on panels discussing "Everything You Want To Know about Real Estate Taxation and More" (CBA) and "Real Estate Tax Reassessment" (Greater O'Hare Association Roundtable). As part of the CBA's continuing legal education seminars and other programs, she has presented lectures on real estate taxation and property tax appeals.
Sonja was named by her peers as an Illinois Super Lawyer in 2005 and has been recognized by the Leading Lawyers Network as a top Illinois lawyer in the area of real estate tax law (2005-2008).
IN THE COMMUNITY
Sonja participates in the Chicago Bar Association's annual Christmas Spirits production and is a member of The Acapellants, an a cappella quartet. She is also an active member of the Hamlin Park Neighborhood Association.
BACKGROUND
DePaul University College of Law
J.D., 1981
Trinity College
B.A., 1978
Sonja is admitted to practice in Illinois and before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
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