Skip to Main Content
Overview

Clients depend on Smitha to solve their most difficult tax challenges, including property tax, sales and use tax, franchise and income tax, and unclaimed property audits.

Smitha is a problem-solver and relishes the opportunity to partner with clients to get contested tax matters across the finish line. Alongside her legal practice, Smitha is the leader of the firm’s Tax Practice group firmwide, where she works closely with the firm’s partners to staff cases and ensure clients’ tax needs are met.

She frequently takes on a first point-of-legal-contact role, representing clients in a variety of areas, including property tax, sales and use tax, franchise and income tax, unclaimed property audits, and related real estate matters such as eminent domain, commercial leasing, acquisitions, zoning, and land use issues.

During her 20+ years of practice, Smitha has worked with businesses, healthcare entities, governmental entities, nonprofit organizations, and high-net-worth individuals.

In addition to her work with taxpayers, Smitha has served as counsel for several Wisconsin-based government entities in matters such as tax disputes, development, and eminent domain. She has significant trial experience and effectively leverages litigation to advance business objectives. Smitha has conducted jury trials in both state and federal courts and has presented oral arguments before the Wisconsin Supreme Court and the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.

Industry

Services

Recognition

  • The Best Lawyers in America®
    • Construction Law, 2021-2026
    • Litigation - Real Estate, 2021-2026
    • Real Estate Law, 2021-2026
  • Milwaukee Biz Times 2020 “Notable Women in Law”

Education

  • J.D., Washington University in St. Louis School of Law
  • B.A., Washington University in St. Louis

Admissions

  • Wisconsin
  • Illinois
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
  • U.S. Tax Court

Professional Memberships and Certifications

  • Commercial Real Estate Development Association (NAIOP)
  • State Bar of Wisconsin
  • State Bar of Wisconsin, Taxation Law Section, Vice Chair
  • Wisconsin Public Policy Forum, Economic Development Committee
  • Wisconsin State and Local Tax Club
  • Milwaukee Bar Association, Real Property Section, past Co-Chair
  • National Association of Property Tax Attorneys (NAPTA)
2025 Pro Bono Contributor
Experience
  • Counsel for multiple Wisconsin hospitals and corporations on property tax disputes.
  • Counsel for numerous major counties and municipalities on real-estate related matters, including land use, acquisition, permitting, eminent domain, blight and zoning.
  • Defense counsel for a county on the validity of its imposition of a sales and use tax ordinance.
  • Successfully obtained judgment in favor of a religious organization client in an eminent domain challenge that was unanimously upheld by the Court of Appeals.
  • Litigated and resolved multiple eminent domain and property taxation matters on behalf of landowners and taxpayers.
  • Represented healthcare providers and corporations in the resolution of several multi-million dollar construction defect claims prior to trial.
  • Counsel for numerous construction companies related to construction contracting and construction disputes.
Case Studies
Microsoft Corporation

Our team assisted Microsoft in the construction of a $1 billion data center on a 315-acre parcel of land in Wisconsin.

Legal Updates | July 21, 2025
Missouri Eliminates Tax on Capital Gains
News Releases | July 27, 2022
Smitha Chintamaneni Joins Husch Blackwell's Milwaukee Office

Husch Blackwell is pleased to announce that Smitha Chintamaneni has joined the firm’s Financial Services & Capital Markets industry group as a partner in the firm’s Milwaukee office.

Community Leadership
  • University School of Milwaukee, Alumni Association Board, President