Cristin Duffy

Cristin Duffy is an attorney at Crane and Norcross where her practice focuses on real estate tax litigation. She represents a wide range of commercial, industrial, and residential clients before the Assessor, Boards of Review, Circuit Court of Cook County, State of Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board (PTAB), and the Illinois Appellate Court.

Cristin began her career as Cook County State’s Attorney. For the first 14 years of her career, she represented victims of crime and pursued offenders in the criminal trial division. She tried hundreds of traffic, domestic violence, and felony bench and jury trials.

In 2009, she was recruited to handle complex civil matters including various real estate and municipal tax, FOIA and 2nd Amendment litigation. Specifically, she pursued an outstanding high-profile Amusement tax case, and following a trial and appeal, brought in $9 million dollars owed to the taxpayers of Cook County. Cristin was the first chair on a FOIA case which strengthened the ongoing investigation exception for FOIA cases and she defended the County’s firearm and ammunition tax. During her career, she tried hundreds of criminal and civil bench and jury trials, wrote numerous briefs, and argued in the Appellate Court 14 times.

Previously, as the deputy supervisor of the Real Estate Tax Litigation Division, she maintained a full caseload and supervised other attorneys while representing Cook County agencies. She defended the indemnity fund, tax injunction matters, specific objection lawsuits, tax rate objections, and PTAB appeals. She also chaired the Training and Professional Development Committee for the Civil Division. Cristin routinely presents at the CBA, ISBA, WPTA, and the Appraisal Institute.

Cristin volunteers and supports local schools as well as Hephzibah House (Auxiliary Board Member), Beyond Hunger, Ronald McDonald House, Misericordia, Ignite, and Special Olympics. She also volunteers with Women Everywhere (Chair of Education Day), Lawyers in the Classroom, Chicago Volunteer Legal Services as a GAL for minors, and as a mentor with the Diversity Scholarship Foundation. Recently, she was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to serve as member of the ARDC Hearing Board.