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Overview

Clients depend on Smitha to solve their most difficult tax and real estate-related challenges, including property tax, sales and use tax, franchise and income tax, unclaimed property audits, eminent domain issues, and complex real estate transactions.

Smitha is a problem-solver and relishes the opportunity to partner with clients to get contested tax matters and difficult, complex real estate projects across the finish line. 

She frequently takes on a first-point-of-legal-contact role in her client relationships, representing clients across a broad array of areas, including property tax, sales and use tax, franchise and income tax, unclaimed property audits, eminent domain disputes, commercial leasing, acquisitions, and zoning and land use.

In the course of her 20 years of practice, Smitha has worked with clients that have included businesses, healthcare entities, governmental entities, nonprofit organizations, and high-net-worth individuals.

In addition to her work for taxpayers, Smitha acted as counsel for several Wisconsin-based government entities related to tax disputes, development, and eminent domain.

In addition to her transactional practices, Smitha has notable trial experience and understands how to use litigation as a tool to achieve business goals. She has handled matters—including jury trials—in state and federal courts and oral arguments in front of the Wisconsin Supreme Court and the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.

Industry

Services

Recognition

  • The Best Lawyers in America®
    • Construction Law, 2021-2025
    • Litigation - Real Estate, 2021-2025
    • Real Estate Law, 2021-2025
  • 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)
2024 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.

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