Ellen G. Berkshire

Ellen G. Berkshire is a founding partner in the firm of Verros, Lafakis & Berkshire. She has been practicing law in the area of property taxation since obtaining her JD from Chicago-Kent College of Law in May of 2003. This niche legal practice is complemented by her prior experiences working with large businesses as a telecommunications consultant. She also has a Masters in Information and Communication from Ball State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Indiana University. While in law school, Ellen served as a member of the Moot Court Honor Society successfully competing in several nationwide competitions.

Ms. Berkshire has had the opportunity to represent a wide range of clients throughout the state of Illinois and Michigan from property owners of small businesses to owners and operators of large industrial facilities and power plants. She represents numerous major commercial properties and has a great deal of experience and expertise in appealing the assessments of anchor department stores. She has successfully represented schools and religious organizations to obtain exemptions from ad valorem property taxes. Ms. Berkshire has represented clients before formal and informal administrative boards and tribunals as well as appellate district courts.

Ms. Berkshire enjoys teaching real estate law to assessors through the educational organization, the Illinois Property Assessment Institute. In addition to teaching, she continues to further her education in the realm of property taxation by regularly reading case law and the decisions of administrative agencies and through attending courses designed for both appraisers and attorneys. She is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, the International Association of Assessing Officers, and the Institute for Professionals in Taxation. She is admitted to practice in the State of Illinois and the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.