Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have experience representing community associations?
Yes, I have over 35 years experience providing counsel to over 1000 associations. From 1980 to 1986 I primarily represented developers. As developer counsel I created community associations and assisted with their operations while under developer control. I joined a large state-wide law firm in 1986 and provided counsel to associations throughout Florida for the next 13 years. As a board certified real estate lawyer I also handled many other real estate matters, including transactional work, lender representation, land-use, foreclosures, and title work. Since 1999, my practice has been primarily focused on two areas: (1) the representation of developers of residential or commercial condominiums or subdivisions, including assistance with the scheme of regulation and preparation of the appropriate documents; and (2) the representation of owner-controlled condominium and homeowner associations.
Do you represent individual owners who have an issue with their community association?
Generally, no, but on occasion I will accept an interesting or challenging issue.
Do you represent cooperatives, mobile home parks, or timeshares?
No.
Are you taking on new condominium or homeowner association clients?
Yes, and because I personally do the work, as discussed more fully below, I only accept a few new clients each year.
What do you offer that other attorneys may not?
Personal prompt service from an experienced attorney recognized as an expert in his field.
Will you actually do the work?
Yes. I have trained and supervised many attorneys over the years and do not believe the best interest of the association client are served by having an associate or paralegal handle their affairs. There is a huge disparity of experience and expertise but only a relatively small difference in hourly rate. I personally act as counsel and make myself readily available via direct phone line and email to promptly and effectively address your legal needs.
You mention board certification, what does that mean?
Board certification is a voluntary program with standards established by the Supreme Court of Florida to identify attorneys who have special knowledge, skills, and proficiency, as well as good character, ethics and a reputation for professionalism in the practice of law. Experience, testing and peer review are key components of certification.
Certification is the highest level of evaluation by The Florida Bar of the competency and experience of attorneys in the 26 areas of law approved for certification by the Supreme Court of Florida. Board certification helps consumers identify specialists in various areas of law. Board certified Florida Bar members are the only Florida attorneys allowed to use the terms Board Certified, Specialist, Expert or B.C.S. for Board Certified Specialist when referring to their legal credentials.
As of June 1, 2017, there were 104,647 persons licensed to practice law in Florida and only 462 attorneys board certified in real estate, which is less than one-half of one percent. Chad has been certified in real estate law since 1994. For more information visit www.FloridaBar.org/certification
Do you require payment of an annual retainer fee?
No, for the benefit of both parties, a simple one-page retainer agreement is signed but there is no retainer fee and either party can terminate the engagement at any time upon written notice.
Why do you co-author the condominium practice manual for the Florida Bar and speak at so many seminars?
There are many reasons. I enjoy the challenge of public speaking. I am honored to be asked to write and speak and choose to give back to the Bar, my law school and its professors, my fellow lawyers, and the community, by accepting such engagements. Writing the practice manual for use by attorneys throughout Florida, and lecturing at advanced seminars sponsored by the Florida Bar and the University of Miami School of Law, forces one to hone their skills for fear of falling short. Additional insights and knowledge are gained in the process. Finally, I enjoy the camaraderie of participating at such endeavors with my peers and benefit immensely by entry into this elite group. If I am puzzled on a unique or complex matter, free input from the best community association lawyers in the State is only a phone call or email away, which is of course a significant benefit to my clients.
Your hourly rate is higher than some attorneys; does that mean you are more expensive?
You get what you pay for. A higher hourly rate reflects the worth of the services based on training, knowledge, experience, reputation and expertise. From a client’s perspective, billing by the hour is the worst scenario. The more inefficient a lawyer: the higher the overall fee. A higher hourly rate may result in fewer overall fees if the attorney takes less time to handle a matter. Having inspected and adjusted the time charged by many associates over the years, I can state with personal knowledge that an experienced lawyer takes less time than an inexperienced lawyer on most matters.
I am worried about engaging a sole practitioner. Who handles work while you are on vacation?
First, active clients are informed in writing not less than 30 days in advance when there will be an absence for more than a few days. With this prior notice, any work can be completed before the departure. Second, many years of living in the country and tending to horses and animals has conditioned me to rise early in the morning, which is a habit I cannot break even when on vacation. As an early riser, there is time most mornings, before the sun rises and others are ready to play, to check phone and email messages. We have recently converted the office to paperless so governing documents, communications and other file materials are available for review remotely. I can review and respond to emergency situations in a timely manner even when on vacation. My personal mobile phone number can also be provided to clients upon request provided there is an understanding it is for emergency use only.
Yes, I have over 35 years experience providing counsel to over 1000 associations. From 1980 to 1986 I primarily represented developers. As developer counsel I created community associations and assisted with their operations while under developer control. I joined a large state-wide law firm in 1986 and provided counsel to associations throughout Florida for the next 13 years. As a board certified real estate lawyer I also handled many other real estate matters, including transactional work, lender representation, land-use, foreclosures, and title work. Since 1999, my practice has been primarily focused on two areas: (1) the representation of developers of residential or commercial condominiums or subdivisions, including assistance with the scheme of regulation and preparation of the appropriate documents; and (2) the representation of owner-controlled condominium and homeowner associations.
Do you represent individual owners who have an issue with their community association?
Generally, no, but on occasion I will accept an interesting or challenging issue.
Do you represent cooperatives, mobile home parks, or timeshares?
No.
Are you taking on new condominium or homeowner association clients?
Yes, and because I personally do the work, as discussed more fully below, I only accept a few new clients each year.
What do you offer that other attorneys may not?
Personal prompt service from an experienced attorney recognized as an expert in his field.
Will you actually do the work?
Yes. I have trained and supervised many attorneys over the years and do not believe the best interest of the association client are served by having an associate or paralegal handle their affairs. There is a huge disparity of experience and expertise but only a relatively small difference in hourly rate. I personally act as counsel and make myself readily available via direct phone line and email to promptly and effectively address your legal needs.
You mention board certification, what does that mean?
Board certification is a voluntary program with standards established by the Supreme Court of Florida to identify attorneys who have special knowledge, skills, and proficiency, as well as good character, ethics and a reputation for professionalism in the practice of law. Experience, testing and peer review are key components of certification.
Certification is the highest level of evaluation by The Florida Bar of the competency and experience of attorneys in the 26 areas of law approved for certification by the Supreme Court of Florida. Board certification helps consumers identify specialists in various areas of law. Board certified Florida Bar members are the only Florida attorneys allowed to use the terms Board Certified, Specialist, Expert or B.C.S. for Board Certified Specialist when referring to their legal credentials.
As of June 1, 2017, there were 104,647 persons licensed to practice law in Florida and only 462 attorneys board certified in real estate, which is less than one-half of one percent. Chad has been certified in real estate law since 1994. For more information visit www.FloridaBar.org/certification
Do you require payment of an annual retainer fee?
No, for the benefit of both parties, a simple one-page retainer agreement is signed but there is no retainer fee and either party can terminate the engagement at any time upon written notice.
Why do you co-author the condominium practice manual for the Florida Bar and speak at so many seminars?
There are many reasons. I enjoy the challenge of public speaking. I am honored to be asked to write and speak and choose to give back to the Bar, my law school and its professors, my fellow lawyers, and the community, by accepting such engagements. Writing the practice manual for use by attorneys throughout Florida, and lecturing at advanced seminars sponsored by the Florida Bar and the University of Miami School of Law, forces one to hone their skills for fear of falling short. Additional insights and knowledge are gained in the process. Finally, I enjoy the camaraderie of participating at such endeavors with my peers and benefit immensely by entry into this elite group. If I am puzzled on a unique or complex matter, free input from the best community association lawyers in the State is only a phone call or email away, which is of course a significant benefit to my clients.
Your hourly rate is higher than some attorneys; does that mean you are more expensive?
You get what you pay for. A higher hourly rate reflects the worth of the services based on training, knowledge, experience, reputation and expertise. From a client’s perspective, billing by the hour is the worst scenario. The more inefficient a lawyer: the higher the overall fee. A higher hourly rate may result in fewer overall fees if the attorney takes less time to handle a matter. Having inspected and adjusted the time charged by many associates over the years, I can state with personal knowledge that an experienced lawyer takes less time than an inexperienced lawyer on most matters.
I am worried about engaging a sole practitioner. Who handles work while you are on vacation?
First, active clients are informed in writing not less than 30 days in advance when there will be an absence for more than a few days. With this prior notice, any work can be completed before the departure. Second, many years of living in the country and tending to horses and animals has conditioned me to rise early in the morning, which is a habit I cannot break even when on vacation. As an early riser, there is time most mornings, before the sun rises and others are ready to play, to check phone and email messages. We have recently converted the office to paperless so governing documents, communications and other file materials are available for review remotely. I can review and respond to emergency situations in a timely manner even when on vacation. My personal mobile phone number can also be provided to clients upon request provided there is an understanding it is for emergency use only.