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- Deborah C. Tomczyk
Deborah Tomczyk is a shareholder in Reinhart’s Real Estate Practice, chair of the firm’s Development Group and a member of the Board of Directors. She previously chaired the firm’s Real Estate Practice. Debby’s deep understanding of both business and politics helps her effectively counsel clients in all aspects of real estate development, from structuring deals to financing to permitting, and everything in between, to ensure projects are successful.
She has extensive experience negotiating incentives with local and state governments and is known for her collaborative, win/win methods. She also handles issues related to annexation, zoning, land use, eminent domain, licensing, tax incremental financing and other special financing districts. Debby works closely with developers, municipalities, businesses, individuals and taxing jurisdictions to help shape the landscape of our region, and her deep commitment to the success of those projects has been a hallmark of her practice.
Her clients are mostly, but not exclusively, based in Wisconsin and are involved in all types of industrial, retail, office and mixed-use projects. Debby is dedicated to assisting business owners in building better lives for themselves, their families, their employees and their clients, all while improving the communities in which they operate.
Debby heads the Finance Council of her local parish, speaks often to community groups and professional organizations, and enjoys politics and golf.
Education
- J.D., magna cum laude, University of Wisconsin Law School; Order of the Coif
- B.A., magna cum laude, Smith College; Phi Beta Kappa
Bar Admissions
Wisconsin
- Regularly represents developers, end users and anchors of retail, office, industrial and mixed-use sites
- Obtains annexation, comprehensive planning, zoning, land divisions, environmental permits and tax incentives
- Interfaces with local legislative bodies and state and federal agencies, including numerous municipal authorities, Wisconsin Departments of Administration, Natural Resources, Transportation, Revenue and Professional Services, State Historical Society, Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Department of Interior
Honors
- Milwaukee Business Journal "2025 Power Players"
- Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business (2009-present)
- Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” (Land Use and Zoning Law, 2023 and 2017; Real Estate, 2015)
- Best Lawyers in America (Land Use and Zoning Law; Real Estate Law)
- Wisconsin Law Journal “Woman in the Law” (2015)
- Power Book: The Milwaukee Area’s Most Influential People, The Milwaukee Business Journal (2013)
- Midwest Real Estate News Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame (2021)
- Milwaukee Business Journal “40 Under 40” Award; Hall of Fame Inductee
- Wisconsin Top Rated Lawyer Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rated
- Awarded the Professional Services Leadership Award by Wisconsin Commercial Real Estate Women (WCREW) in 2007
- State Bar of Wisconsin
- Milwaukee Repertory Theater (Board Member)
- State Bar of Wisconsin Real Property Probate and Trust Section (former chair)
- WCREW (former President)
- National CREW Network (former National Delegate)
- NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association, Wisconsin Chapter (former Board Member and Chair of Public Affairs Committee)
News & Insights
Debby Tomczyk to Share Insights on TIF at 2025 WEDA Governor’s Conference
Webinars & Presentations
Reinhart Aids in Creation of New Hispanic Equity Fund
Press Releases
- But for’ TIF: Lessons from the Past, Vision for the Future (February 2025)
- Table of Experts, “Building in Change,” Milwaukee Business Journal (January 2020)
- Quoted “Slow-growth city no more: Milwaukee CRE activity soaring,” Midwest Real Estate News ( September 2018)
- Quoted “The big attraction for companies, residents? Midwest downtowns,” Midwest Real Estate News (March 2018)