Kara J. Cavallo
Partner
– Experienced Tax Certiorari Attorney
Kara J. Cavallo is a Partner at J&G Law, LLP, and a highly skilled Tax Certiorari Attorney with a primary focus on real property tax certiorari, civil litigation, and appellate practice. Kara represents municipalities, assessors, and property owners—both for-profit and nonprofit—in complex tax certiorari proceedings involving property tax exemptions, assessments, and valuation disputes.
A Trusted Tax Certiorari Attorney
Kara has significant experience handling matters involving a broad spectrum of property types, including:
- Condominiums and apartment complexes
- Restaurants, golf courses, and retail malls
- Cannabis and hemp-related businesses
- Assisted and senior living communities and medical facilities
- Commercial, industrial, and manufacturing
- Residential subdivisions
She represents clients in trial and appellate courts across New York, advocating in cases involving property tax exemptions (charitable, religious, agricultural, and business investment), selective assessment and constitutional challenges.
Kara received her Bachelor of Science, magna cum laude, from Arizona State University in 1994 and earned her Juris Doctorate from the University of Arizona College of Law in 1999, where she served as Executive Note Editor of the Arizona Law Review. She began her career clerking at the Arizona Court of Appeals and practicing litigation at Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP in Phoenix before joining J&G in 2004.
Admitted to practice in New York state and federal courts, Kara is an active member of the legal and civic community. She currently serves as Vice President of the Board for the Children’s Rights Society, Inc., and has held leadership roles with the Women’s Bar Association of Orange and Sullivan Counties. She is also a member of the New York State Bar Association’s Real Property Law Section (Condemnation and Certiorari) and the Local and State Government Law Section, as well as an associate member of the New York State Assessors Association and the International Association of Assessing Officers.
Kara frequently lectures on topics including real property tax litigation, property tax exemption law, and appellate advocacy. She has been recognized as a Woman Leader in Law by Martindale-Hubbell, a Super Lawyer, and an Orange County Rising Star.
Areas of Practice
- Tax Certiorari Attorney
- Real Property Taxation and Assessment
- Real Property Tax Exemptions
- Litigation and Appeals
- Appellate and Trial Practice (State and Federal)
- Complex and Multidistrict Litigation
Contact Kara
Bar Admissions
- New York, 2002
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York
- U.S. Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit
Education
- University of Arizona College of Law, Tucson, Arizona
- J.D. – 1999
- Law Review: University of Arizona, College of Law, 1997-1999, Executive Note Editor, 1998-1999
- Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
- B.S. magna cum laude, 1994
- Honors: Dean’s List
- Major: Political Science
- Minor: Spanish
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Board of Trustees, Vision Hudson Valley (2023-2024)
- Chair, Seligmann Art Committee, Vision Hudson Valley (2023-2024)
- Board of Directors, Vice President, Children’s Rights Society, Inc., Orange County, New York
- Women’s Bar Association of Orange and Sullivan Counties, Immediate Past President and Delegate to the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York (2017-2018)
- Women’s Bar Association of Orange and Sullivan Counties, President (2016-2017)
- Women’s Bar Association of Orange and Sullivan Counties, President-Elect and Delegate to the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York (2015-2016)
- Women’s Bar Association of Orange and Sullivan Counties, Treasurer (2014-2015)
- Women’s Bar Association of Orange and Sullivan Counties, Corresponding Secretary (2013-2014)
- Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York, Member
- Women’s Bar Association of Orange and Sullivan Counties, Member
- New York State Bar Association, Member
- New York State Bar Association, Real Property Law Section: Condemnation and Certiorari, Member
- New York State Bar Association, Local and State Governmental Law Section: Taxation, Finance, and Economic Development, Member
- New York State Assessors Association, Associate Member
- International Association of Assessing Officers, Associate Member
Awards and Recognitions
- Hudson Valley Magazine Top Lawyer, 2026
- Community Choice Awards Hudson Valley Finalist - Attorney, 2025
- Orange County Rising Star, Junior League of Orange County, 2024
- Upstate New York Super Lawyers, 2023-2024
- Woman Leader in Law, Martindale-Hubbell, 2023
Classes & Seminars
- Co-presenter with Scott Shedler, IAO, David Roach, IAO and Maggie Alix, New York Association of Towns Annual Meeting and Training School: “Teamwork & Tax Rolls: Mastering the Town Board-Assessor Relationship” (February 17, 2026);
- Co-presenter with Dylan Harris, Esq., 2025 Mid-Hudson Chapter Appraisal Institute, 10th Annual Appraisal Case Studies Seminar: “Recent Developments And Legal Issues Impacting Valuation and Assessment of Utility Properties” (November 12, 2025);
- Co-presenter with Scott Shedler, IAO and Dylan Harris, Esq., New York State Assessors Association Fall Conference: "Legal and Valuation Challenges in Property Tax Assessment Claims" (October, 7, 2025)
- Instructor, 2025 New York Association of Towns Annual Meeting and Training School, continuing legal education course: “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Ethics in Real Property Taxation and Assessment” (February 18, 2025)
- Co-presenter with Scott Shedler, IAO, Dave Barnet, MAI, SRA and Maggie Alix, New York State Association of Towns Annual Meeting and Training School: “Rising Property Values and the Impact Assessments Have on Municipal Finances” (February 17, 2025)
- Co-presenter with Scott Shedler, IAO, 2024 Mid-Hudson Chapter Appraisal Institute, 9th Annual Appraisal Case Studies Seminar: “Real Property Tax Law and Assessment Update” (November 6, 2024)
- Co-presenter with Scott Shedler, IAO, Dylan Harris, Esq., and Adam Sterling, MAI, 2024 New York State Assessors Association Fall Conference: “Understanding Land Valuation and Assessment: Real-Life Examples” and “Property Tax Law Changes and Their Application in the Assessment and Valuation Process” (September 25, 2024)
- Co-presenter with Dylan Harris, Esq., 2023 Dutchess County Bar Association Continuing Legal Education: “Article 7 Refresher and Case Law Update” (April 21, 2023)
- Guest Speaker, Westchester County Chapter, New York State Assessors Association, “Selective Assessment: SCAR and Statute of Limitations” (January 10, 2023)
- Presenter: Women’s Bar Association of Orange and Sullivan Counties Continuing Legal Education: Tax Certiorari 101” (December 7, 2022)
- Guest Speaker, New York State Assessors Association, Webinar Series: “Selective Assessment Recap” (November 2, 2022)
- Instructor, 2022 New York State Assessors Association Annual Conference: “Constitutional Issues Impacting Real Property Taxation and Assessment” (September 21, 2022)
- Co-presenter with John Cappello, 2021 Mid-Hudson Appraisal Institute Case Studies Seminar: “Nuts and Bolts and Recent Developments in Solar, Cannabis and Residential Development” (October 13, 2021)
- Instructor, 2021 New York State Assessors Association Seminar: “Mandatory Real Property Tax Exemptions for Nonprofit Entities” (April 21, 2021)
- Instructor, 2020 New York State Assessors Association Annual Conference: “The Ins and Outs of the Exemption Process” (October 6, 2020)
- Co-presenter with Marissa Logan, Mid-Hudson Chapter of the Appraisal Institute, 5th Annual Appraisal Case Studies Seminar: “Marijuana and Hemp Industry – Impact of Evolving Laws and Regulation on Real Estate” (October 16, 2019)
- Presenter: “Sexual Harassment Prevention Training”
- Co-presenter with Gary Schuster: “Nonprofit 101” (November 2018)
- Guest on the Orange County Chamber of Commerce ‘Chamber Chat’ Radio Program on WTBQ with Gary Schuster: “Nonprofit 101” (August 17, 2018)
- Co-presenter with Hon. Mark C. Dillon, Justice of the Appellate Division, Second Department: “Appellate Practice: Perspectives from the Bench and Bar” (May 24, 2018)
- Presenter, Appraisal Institute, Mid-Hudson Chapter of the Appraisal Institute, 1st Annual Appraisal Case Studies Seminar: “Recent Decisions in Tax Assessment Case Law and What it Means for Appraisers” (October 14, 2015)
- Instructor, 2015 New York State Assessors Association Annual Conference: “Constitutional Issues Affecting Real Property Taxation” (October 6 & 7, 2015)
- Guest Speaker, Meeting of Assessors from Ulster, Sullivan and Orange counties: “Selective Assessment and Other Legal Issues Impacting Real Property Taxation and Assessment” (November 7, 2014)
- Guest speaker, Mid-Hudson Chapter of the Appraisal Institute: “Selective Assessment and Other Legal Issues Impacting Real Property Taxation and Assessment” (September 10, 2014)
Published Works
- The ABA’s Resolution Calling for A Moratorium on Executions: What Jurisdictions Can Do To Ensure that the Death Penalty Is Imposed Responsibly, Arizona Law Review, 40 Ariz L. Rev. 1515, 1998
Partners
