Thomas Jaconetty Chicago

Thomas A. Jaconetty since 1985 has presented papers or moderated programs at 150 real estate tax seminars in 30 cities across U.S. and Canada, sponsored by some 20 professional organizations.  He has authored 20 articles for State Tax Notes, Illinois State Bar (ISBA) Tax Trends, Assessment Journal, Commerce Clearinghouse, Lorman Education, Journal of Property Tax Management, Illinois Bar Journal, Chicago Bar Record, and Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (IICLE). 

As a nearly 40-year member of the International Association of Assessing Officers, Mr. Jaconetty edited/contributed to its contaminated property and subsidized housing anthologies, advised the technical standards group on the IAAO contamination standard, and received its Donahoo and “Most Valuable Member” Awards.  He served 28 years (10 as Chair) on its Legal Committee (presenting dozens of annual case law updates) and was inducted into IAAO’s inaugural class of Fellows. As a member of the National Conference of State Tax Judges (1996-2012), he was Chair and its “Tax Judge of the Year”.  His biography has appeared regularly in Who’s Who in American Law, Who’s Who in America, and Who’s Who in the World, and was honored with its “Life-Time Achievement Award” and Millennium Magazine profile in 2020.

Mr. Jaconetty is 20-year General Editor and co-author of two chapters in the IICLE State and Local Taxation Handbook.  As a 34-year ISBA State and Local Taxation Council member, he sat on 6 Civic Federation or other real property task forces.  Mr. Jaconetty has taught as an Adjunct Professor at John Marshall Law School, Faculty Associate for Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, and guest lecturer at DePaul University College of Law and the University of Illinois.

He retired in 2018 after 38 years of public service with the Cook County Board of Review, (in roles as Deputy, Court-appointed, Chief Deputy, and First Assistant Commissioner), and then Cook County Assessor (as Deputy Assessor of Valuation and Appeals responsible for 1.85 million real estate parcels). A 19-year judge/student mentor for Chicago History Day and 23-year grade school history lecturer, Mr. Jaconetty regularly judges Northwestern, ABA/National Appellate Advocacy, and other moot court competitions. He also served 14 years on a high school board of directors and since 2017 on his high school alumni board.  He is involved in a variety of civic and charitable activities.

Mr. Jaconetty is active in 5 bar associations. He practices in Chicago, focusing on real estate transactions and valuation, and election law, with widespread experience in legal research, complex property valuation theory and methodology, appellate brief writing and advocacy, and witness preparation.