Overview
Joe is a fourth generation lawyer. His family has a long tradition of practicing law ranging from service in the district attorney's office and in the JAG Corps, to representing tax, corporate, and real estate clients at all levels in the community. Joe has kept that tradition going for more than 25 years.
Clients value Joe’s creativity. They know he will think differently about their issues and find solutions that are outside their realm of experience. He has a background in economics and accounting. His first job out of law school was doing tax accounting at an international professional services firm. The tax perspective and marketing skills he learned at that first job continue to shape his approach to client service today.
Joe advises clients on complex sales and acquisitions of companies, real estate transactions and financings, and sophisticated tax planning. He routinely works with clients in structuring their investment entities and offerings as well as developing or acquiring real estate and business assets. He helps clients develop and finance numerous high profile retail, industrial and multi-family developments in Wisconsin and across the country including zoning and other entitlement issues. He has extensive experience with tax increment financing, new market tax credits, bond financing, historic tax credits, tenancies in common, installment sales, and Section 1031 exchanges.
Joe works with clients in real estate, food and beverage, education, construction, manufacturing, and other general business areas. His clients include investment groups, developers and businesses who add value and jobs to their communities as well as non-profits devoted to educating and supporting children.
Outside the office Joe is a board member for the Milwaukee Chapter of Ducks Unlimited. He is also a board member of the Milwaukee Torrent, a professional soccer team. Joe is a soccer coach for both kids and adults with more than twenty years of coaching experience. He is also a supporter of the Women's Care Center in Milwaukee as well as Unbound, an international charity that supports children in poverty.
Experience
Membership & Involvement
- Amundsen Davis Executive Committee
- Member: NAIOP; International Council of Shopping Centers; Commercial Association of Realtors
- Wisconsin State Bar: Member, Real Property Probate and Trust Section, Past Chair
Honors
- Selected to The Best Lawyers in America© in Corporate Law: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
- Selected to The Best Lawyers in America© in Real Estate Law: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
- Selected to The Best Lawyers in America© in Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships): 2021, 2022, 2023
- Selected to Wisconsin Law Journal Leader in the Law: 2018
- Listed as M Magazine Best Lawyers: 2013
- Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent™ rated
- Selected to the Wisconsin Super Lawyers "Rising Stars" List: 2007
- Selected to the Wisconsin Super Lawyers list: 2013, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
- Listed as American Lawyer Media and Martindale Hubbell's Top Rated Lawyer in Banking & Finance Law: 2013
- Listed in Chambers USA as a leader in Real Estate Law: 2022, 2023
Resources & Insights
Alerts
Speaking Engagements
Blog Posts
Firm News
- Amundsen Davis's Real Estate Team and Attorney Joseph Tierney Recognized by Chambers USA for 2023Amundsen Davis's Real Estate Team and Attorney Joseph Tierney Recognized by Chambers USA for 2023
Amundsen Davis's Real Estate Team and Joe Tierney have been recognized by Chambers USA in the area of Real Estate Law for 2023.
- Amundsen Davis Attorneys Included in the 2022 Wisconsin Super Lawyers and Rising Stars ListAmundsen Davis Attorneys Included in the 2022 Wisconsin Super Lawyers and Rising Stars List
Amundsen Davis is pleased to announce the inclusion of 22 attorneys on the 2022 Wisconsin Super Lawyers® and 2022 Wisconsin Rising Stars lists.
- Inflation is Back, Should You Consider Consumer Price Index (CPI) Rent Increases in Your Leases?Inflation is Back, Should You Consider Consumer Price Index (CPI) Rent Increases in Your Leases?
The Consumer Price Index (or CPI) is a set of indexes generated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) that measures “the prices paid by urban consumers for a representative basket of goods and services.” Historically, CPI has been used in commercial real estate leases and ground leases “escalation clauses” or “index clauses” in an attempt to fairly increase (or even decrease) the rent required to be paid by a tenant to correspond with changes in national or regional inflation.
Services
Education
University of Wisconsin Law School, J.D., 1995
Marquette University, B.S., 1992, with honors
Admissions
- Wisconsin