John March

John March is an attorney and shareholder at Smith Gendler in Minneapolis whose practice focuses on property tax litigation. He represents clients in disputes involving commercial property assessments, tax petitions, and related valuation issues. Before joining the firm in 2023, he spent more than three decades as an Assistant Hennepin County Attorney, where he represented assessors and taxing districts in property tax cases and supervised property tax and condemnation matters.

John earned a law degree from William Mitchell College of Law in 1992 and graduated from Augsburg College in 1989. He later earned a Master’s in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College in 2015. His education is complemented by extensive government litigation and military legal experience, providing a foundation for evaluating property valuation disputes, public-sector procedures, evidence, and complex contested matters involving governmental entities and property owners.

John has litigated property tax matters involving a broad range of commercial properties, including shopping centers, central business district and suburban office buildings, corporate headquarters, and other income-producing real estate. His prior county work also included condemnation proceedings, eminent domain matters, adult and juvenile prosecution, child protection, and civil commitment matters. He served as a Judge Advocate with the U.S. Army and remained in the reserves until 2022.

John March brings long public-sector experience to a private practice centered on commercial property tax disputes. His background representing taxing authorities gives him detailed familiarity with assessment procedures, government decision-making, litigation strategy, and valuation evidence. He uses that perspective to help clients analyze tax petitions and contested property matters, while his broader courtroom, condemnation, and military legal experience supports careful advocacy in complex proceedings.

Law Office Affiliations

• Shareholder, Smith Gendler, P.A.
• Member, Minnesota State Bar Association
• Member, Minnesota Association of Assessing Officers (MAAO)

Licensed State

• Minnesota

Education

• U.S. Army War College
  Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies

Awards & Badges