2025 Ones to Watch - Rising Stars: Alyssa Tarnok, Herman Katz LLP

“When our client was faced with a massive Change By Notice assessment increase from the NYC Department of Finance, Alyssa’s hearing prep and hard work helped secure an assessment reduction that generated over $5 million in refunds/savings for the client in that tax year alone.” - Warren Dubitsky, Partner at Herman Katz LLP. 

What recent professional milestone or project are you most proud of, and why? I’m especially proud of a recent settlement with the NYC Tax Commission regarding a new residential condominium. With diligent research and analysis, we were able to show that, although the building’s construction costs were high, market rents could not sustain its property assessment. Our analysis of comparable luxury rental properties in the neighborhood and extensive negotiations saved the building’s residents millions of dollars in the aggregate and made unsold units more enticing to prospective purchasers.

What is your top advice for someone just starting out in your field? Get involved in industry-adjacent networking groups and pro bono opportunities! The real estate industry has many subsectors, which means that, for those just starting out, there is a lot to learn and many people to meet. I’ve found that networking and volunteering can expose you to topics and industry professionals that you may not encounter in a typical workday. I have personally worked with a non-profit legal services organization to assist in local landlord-tenant matters since my 3L year of law school, from which I have attained indelible experience, and which has nicely complemented my career in real property tax.