Biography

Tom Tepe has been successful in obtaining significant real estate value reductions throughout Ohio and in several other states. He has obtained significant reductions for property owners of major office complexes, downtown office buildings, retail/commercial developments, large apartment complexes, hotels, and industrial/distribution facilities. For his eminent domain clients, he has also been successful in obtaining compensation for the taking of their properties well in excess of the condemning authorities’ initial offers of compensation.

Tom has successfully represented property owners in numerous eminent domain cases. In one eminent domain case, he obtained an award for a global manufacturing company of over $7,500,000 above the State’s initial offer. In another case, he obtained an award (including statutory interest) for his client, the owner of commercial property containing significant deposits of sand and gravel, from a Lawrence County, Ohio jury in excess of $4 million above the State’s initial offer of compensation. In another case, Tom negotiated a settlement for a property owner prior to the lawsuit being filed in excess of $500,000 above the State’s initial offer of compensation.

Additionally, Tom’s representation of real estate developers covers all facets of a property’s development. He has successfully litigated zoning cases throughout Ohio, as well as Kentucky and Indiana on behalf of local and national developers. Most recently, Tom successfully represented one of the largest landfills in the Country in challenging the constitutionality of zoning classifications as applied to over 400 acres of land to be used to expand the landfill’s footprint.

While an undergraduate at The Ohio State University, he served as an intern to State Senator Richard H. Finan, Senate President.

Tom is a member of the Board of Directors at Keating Muething & Klekamp.

What Clients Say

Tom Tepe from KMK Law is highly knowledgeable in the Real Estate Tax Appeal process. He presented all of the necessary market, property, and real estate tax information for three different estate assets in the state of Ohio for us to make a decision. In every step of the process, from engaging his law firm, to current real estate market conditions and appeal applications with the counties, Tom guided us closely. He was able to explain and articulate the complications or benefits of different scenarios throughout the appeal process. Tom and his team of professionals were quick to respond on my numerous e-mails and phone calls. As a result of Tom’s expertise in the real estate tax appeal process, we were able to secure up to a 40% tax reduction on our property tax bill (for two different tax years) for each of the three properties. -- Stephan Ivanoff, BM Smith & Associates, Inc. Sr. Asset Manager Commercial Portfolio

Representative Work

Successfully obtained a $39 million reduction in value on an office complex in Hamilton County resulting in an estimated tax refund of $708,500

Successfully represented property owner in a real estate tax appeal reducing the property’s value from $33 million to $9.7 million

Successfully reduced the value of a shopping mall located in the Kenwood market from $93.3 million to $70.5 million, resulting in a tax refund of approximately $320,000

Successfully reduced the value of a Downtown Cincinnati Class A office building from $42 million to $28 million; and then from $28 million to $19 million

Successfully reduced the value of Lifestyle Shopping Center in Warren County from $107 million to $86 million, resulting in an approximate tax savings of $440,000

Significantly reduced the value of a former auto plant in Montgomery County from $21.3 million to $4.8 million, producing a tax savings of $430,300

Handled a portfolio of warehouse buildings for an institutional investor in Cuyahoga, Franklin, Hamilton, and Butler Counties

Successfully reduced the value of a Columbus, Ohio full service hotel from $22 million to $10 million

Handled a portfolio of bank branch locations resulting in significant value reductions throughout Southwest Ohio

Successfully reduced the aggregate value of two Montgomery County apartment complexes from $29.9 million to $22 million, producing an aggregate refund of approximately $175,000

Successfully reduced the value of a Downtown Cincinnati office complex from approximately $12.2 million to $4.7 million, resulting in a tax savings of approximately $211,000

Successfully reduced the value of a suburban shopping center from $15.3 million to $6.7 million, resulting in a tax savings of approximately $211,000

Professional and Community Involvement

Village of Terrace Park, Ohio, Mayor

Village of Terrace Park, Ohio, Council Member (2010-2015)

Cincinnati Bar Association

Ohio State Bar Association

NAIOP, Member

Awards & Recognition

Listed in Chambers USA: America's Leading Business Lawyers, 2021-2023

Real Property Law Practitioner of the Year Award, Cincinnati Bar Association, 2019

Leadership Cincinnati, Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, Class XLI

Listed in The Best Lawyers in America, 2011-2025

Named the "Cincinnati Best Lawyers' Land Use and Zoning Law Lawyer of the Year," 2018, 2023

Named the "Cincinnati Best Lawyers' Litigation — Land Use and Zoning Law Lawyer of the Year," 2016, 2023, 2025

Named the "Cincinnati Best Lawyers' Real Estate Litigation Lawyer of the Year," 2013, 2023

Named to Ohio Super Lawyers, 2015-2025

Named to Ohio Rising Stars, 2005-2011

Named to Ohio Leading Lawyers, 2024

Named to Cincy Leading Lawyers, 2018-2024

  • 2023 Tom Tepe Chambers
  • Best Lawyers (Don't Delete)
  • 2025 Best Lawyers Tom Tepe
  • Super Lawyers (Don't Delete)
  • Cincy Leading Lawyers

News & Resources

News

Blogs

Blogs

Blog Posts

Services

Admissions

  • Ohio
  • Kentucky
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio

Education

J.D., Michigan State University College of Law, 1999, magna cum laude, King Fellowship Award

B.A., The Ohio State University, 1995

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