OUR PROFESSIONAL FOCUS

The team at Finkel, Martwick & Colson (FMC) provides clients with over 250 years of combined industry experience. Our taxation lawyers have mastered the assessment process on behalf of our clients. In touch with the growth and success of your business and investments, FMC represents the very highest levels of legal practice.

NORMAN FINKEL
Partner

A former trial attorney and legislative liaison for the US Securities and Exchange Commission, Norman Finkel is one of the founding partners of FMC, and has been practicing law in the Chicago area since 1959. Mr. Finkel has served on many charitable boards including Perspectives Charter School, The Chinese American Service League, as well as the Chicago Bar Association’s Committee on Local Government Taxation and Real Estate Tax.

ROBERT F. MARTWICK, SR.
Partner

A former Assistant States Attorney, Bob Martwick tried over 60 felony jury trials. Mr. Martwick has lectured at DePaul University School of Law, the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, and was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to serve on the Committee on Character and Fitness.

CRAIG J. DONNEWALD
Partner

Craig J. Donnewald joined FMC in 1989 after serving four years as an Assistant State’s Attorney in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. During his time there, Mr. Donnewald worked in the Civil Actions Bureau, handling real estate tax specific objection lawsuits on behalf of the county. He has a high level of expertise in real estate tax matters and is a skilled negotiator. Craig became a partner of the firm in 1996.

ROBERT F. MARTWICK, JR.
Partner

Mr. Martwick joined FMC in 2001 after serving five years as an Assistant State’s Attorney in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. During his time in the State’s Attorney’s Office, Mr. Martwick served four years in the Criminal Prosecutions Bureau. A skilled trial lawyer, Rob also served a year in the Civil Bureau where he handled real estate tax specific objection lawsuits on behalf of the county.

KEITH BRIN
Partner

Keith Brin joined FMC in 2019. Prior to joining FMC, Mr. Brin served as the Chief of Staff of the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission. In addition, Mr. Brin was elected to serve as the Lake County Clerk of the Circuit Court from 2012-2016. Mr. Brin attended Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, where he obtained his Bachelor of Science Degree and a Master’s Degree in Public Health with a specialization in Health Policy and Management. After graduating with highest honors, he returned to Chicago. He received his JD from the Loyola University School of Law, receiving multiple academic awards. He went on to practice law for firms in Chicago for many years, advising all sizes of commercial and entrepreneurial ventures in corporate, litigation, and taxation matters.

SCOTT HELTON
Property tax administrator

Scott Helton joined FMC in 1984 and serves as the firm’s resident property tax and valuation expert. Before joining FMC, Mr. Helton was employed for 10 years at The Cook County Assessor’s Office, where he learned the craft of property tax valuation and the assessment procedure. Mr. Helton is a member of the American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers and the International Association of Assessing Officers.

WILLIAM P. COLSON
In Memoriam

Before joining FMC in 1985, Bill Colson was a partner at Sachnoff, Weaver and Rubenstein, as well as Hynes and Colson. A graduate of Northwestern University School of Law, Mr. Colson has served on the Cook County Assessor’s Tax Policy Forum, and on the Board of Directors of the Southwest Bar Association of Chicago.

MARTHA JANE LAVELLE
Of counsel

Martha Jane Lavelle joined FMC in 1985. Before joining FMC, Ms. Lavelle spent three years at Sachnoff, Weaver & Rubenstein, and was employed for eleven years at the Cook County Assessor’s Office, where she learned both the mechanics and the nuances of the assessment process. This combination of legal and assessment skills makes her an invaluable part of the FMC team.