Property Tax and Litigation Attorney
David B. Wolfe is Co-Managing Partner at Skoloff & Wolfe, P.C., where he focuses his practice on representing taxpayers in significant real estate tax matters and corporate and individual clients in complex civil litigation. He has extensive experience handling all types of commercial property tax appeals, including matters involving hotels, multifamily properties, retail centers, office buildings, industrial facilities, assisted living communities, and skilled nursing facilities. David also advises clients on property tax exemptions, abatements, PILOT agreements, property tax due diligence, and institutional tax projections.
Practice Focus
David regularly handles:
- Commercial property tax appeals
- Real property valuation matters
- Property tax exemptions and abatements
- PILOT (Payment In Lieu of Taxes) agreements
- Property tax due diligence and underwriting
- Institutional tax projections
- Complex commercial litigation
- Real estate development tax planning
His practice includes representing owners of hotels, office buildings, multifamily communities, industrial properties, retail centers, assisted living facilities, skilled nursing facilities, and other large commercial properties.
Experience
David focuses his practice on representing taxpayers in significant real estate tax matters. He also represents corporate and individual clients in complex civil litigation. He has extensive experience in all types of property tax appeals, including hotel, multi-family, retail, office, industrial properties, assisted living and skilled nursing facilities. He frequently counsels clients regarding property tax exemption matters, abatements, and PILOTs. David also routinely performs property tax due diligence and institutional tax projections for institutional clients.
David is proud to have assisted clients in the development and stabilization of several of the transformational projects in New Jersey’s largest two cities, Jersey City and Newark. He represents taxpayers in every county in New Jersey, throughout the North East and significant matters nationally through the firm’s relationship with the National Association of Property Tax Attorneys (NAPTA).
David has obtained billions of dollars of assessment reductions on behalf of his clients, including the following assessment reductions on behalf of his clients:
- Hotel assessment reduced from $421 million to $259 million
- Office assessment reduced from $372 million to $264 million
- Hotel assessment reduced from $188 million to $131 million
- Multifamily assessment reduced from $116 million to $67 million
- Nursing home assessment reduced from $36 million to $10.1 million
- Super-regional mall assessment reduced from $21 million to $8 million
- Power center assessment reduced from $21 million to $13 million*
*All assessments are rounded to the nearest million. Results may vary depending on the facts and legal circumstances of each matter.
Prior to joining Skoloff & Wolfe, P.C., David began his legal career as an associate at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP in New York, where he focused on regulatory investigations, securities litigation, and banking disputes.
David is also a frequent lecturer on commercial property taxation, hotel valuation, and real estate tax appeals. He regularly presents to attorneys, assessors, appraisers, and property owners and has spoken at programs sponsored by NJICLE, Bisnow, the Mid-Atlantic Real Estate Journal, Roundtable & Advisory, and the New Jersey State Bar Association.
In addition, David has been quoted or featured in numerous national publications, including Forbes, GlobeSt.com, MarketWatch, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Law360, and The New York Law Journal.
Professional Leadership and Affiliations
David has held numerous leadership positions within the legal profession, including:
- Board Member, National Association of Property Tax Attorneys (NAPTA)
- Co-Chair, Real Property Tax Practice Committee, New Jersey State Bar Association
- Former Chair, New Jersey State Bar Association Taxation Section
- Former Co-Chair, American Bar Association Diversity & Inclusion 360 Commission
- Former Member, Board of Trustees, American Bar Association
- Former Chair, American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division (130,000+ members)
Recognition and Awards
David has been recognized nationally for his accomplishments in property tax law and commercial real estate, including:
- The Best Lawyers in America®** – Tax Law (including the 2026 edition)
- New Jersey Super Lawyers®** – 12 consecutive years, including 2026
- NJBIZ Law Power List (2025)
- ROI Influencer in Real Estate – recognized for six consecutive years by ROI-NJ
- New Jersey State Bar Association Young Lawyer of the Year
Education and Admissions
- J.D., New York University School of Law
- B.A., Cornell University, with distinction in all subjects
David is admitted to practice law in:
- New Jersey
- New York
- Supreme Court of the United States
Approach and Client Service
David combines sophisticated litigation experience with a practical understanding of commercial real estate. He works closely with property owners, developers, institutional investors, and corporate taxpayers to develop tax strategies that maximize property value and reduce tax liabilities. Whether handling a complex tax appeal, advising on a major acquisition, or counseling clients through development projects, David focuses on delivering practical, business-oriented solutions that produce measurable results.
**Please note that no aspect of advertisements or any other accolade listed have been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. Learn more about the standard methodology for each award listed.
