With the thousands of
condominium and HOA communities built in the last two decades or
so, it was inevitable that The Florida Bar would, and has now
officially, recognized Condominium and Planned Development Law
as an area of the law where practicing attorneys can distinguish
themselves by becoming Board Certified. Board certification
recognizes an attorneys’ special knowledge, skills and
proficiency in an area of law and professionalism and ethics in
practice.
I am very proud to announce
that as of June 1st, 2018 I will be part of the first
ever group of attorneys in the State of Florida to become Board
Certified in Condominium and Planned Development Law. In
fact, I was exempt from the examination having proven that I
have been substantially involved in condominium and planned
development law for a minimum of 20 years, and possess the
necessary character, ethics, and reputation for
professionalism.
In order to even apply for
certification, the applicant must have been engaged in the
practice of condominium and planned development law for at least
5 years immediately preceding the date of application.
The applicant must demonstrate
continuous and substantial involvement in the practice of law,
of which at least 40 percent has been spent in active
participation in condominium and planned development law during
at least 3 of the 5 years immediately preceding the date of
application.
The applicant must demonstrate
substantial practical experience in condominium and planned
development law by providing examples of at least 20 substantive
tasks or services performed on behalf of, or in connection with,
community associations and planned developments, such as:
(1) drafting, reviewing,
interpreting, or revising development and governing documents,
title instruments and reports, title insurance policies,
contracts for sale and purchase, and statutory and
administrative laws, rules, and provisions;
(2) drafting financing
instruments for developers, lenders, investors, or community
associations;
(3) planning and drafting
project legal structures and entities;
(4) dealing with development
funds and associated development documents;
(5) drafting other project
related documents;
(6) serving as an arbitrator or
counsel for a party in an arbitration;
(7) serving as a mediator or
counsel for a party in a mediation;
(8) drafting opinion letters;
(9) serving as legal counsel at
a trial, on appeal, or in administrative hearings;
(10) representing owners,
purchasers, developers, lenders, investors, community
associations, governmental agencies, or political subdivisions
in matters relating to condominium and planned development law;
or
(11) any other activity deemed
appropriate by the condominium and planned development law
certification committee.
The applicant must also
describe, through examples or narrative, the applicant’s law
practice of representing community associations, developers,
lenders, investors, or owners in matters involving condominium
and planned development law during the 5-year period preceding
the date of application. The examples or narrative must include
the approximate number and type of clients the applicant has
represented during the 5-year period.
The number of attorneys
practicing community association law has exploded since I first
started. It’s rewarding that The Florida Bar has recognized
that those attorneys with significant experience and knowledge
of this particular area of the law are entitled to special
recognition through Board Certification. I’m incredibly proud
to have become Board Certified and take incredible pride in the
fact that this area of the law that I devoted my life to and
that I love to teach to all of you, has received the special
recognition it deserves.
