Best Lawyers in America for Community Association Law
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Lenore Brakefield is a partner at Woodward, Pires & Lombardo, P.A., where she focuses her practice on civil and commercial litigation, including construction litigation matters. She also represents clients in local government law, code enforcement proceedings, community association law, real estate matters, and contract and transactional work, providing practical and results-oriented legal guidance across a broad range of issues. A Naples native, Lenore earned her Juris Doctor, cum laude ...
Na Lan is a Director at Damon Key and brings to the firm a unique combination of capabilities and experience in the areas of condominium and community association law, immigration, business and real property transactions, and dispute resolution for Mandarin-speaking investors and business owners. Born and raised in China, she is fluent in both Mandarin Chinese and English. Ms. Lan once again was selected by her peers for inclusion in the 2025 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America® for he...
Fredrick Krietzman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Community Association Law. Fredrick, who practices law in Minneapolis, Minnesota, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Fredrick is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Charles D. (Chuck) Brecker principally represents residential and commercial real estate builders and developers, as well as investors and joint venturers, in acquiring, financing, developing, constructing, selling and leasing residential, commercial, and mixed-use projects, many of which consist of vast acreage and vertical mixed-use towers. In addition, Chuck has extensive experience in the creation of condominium and homeowners' communities, hotel and office condominiums, and has handled r...
With a national reputation only exceeded by his regional stature, Steven L. Sugarman is widely considered the premier practitioner of community association law in Pennsylvania. Steve was the founding principal of the esteemed community association law firm, Steven L. Sugarman & Associates, and its merger with Gawthrop Greenwood in August 2023 created one of the largest law firms supporting homeowners associations (HOAs), planned communities, condominium associations and cooperatives in Pe...
Jay Cusimano is a managing partner with Kaman & Cusimano LLC in Cleveland, Ohio, where his practice focuses on Community Association Law and Real Estate Law. In 2005, Jay became the second attorney from Ohio to be accepted into the national College of Community Association Lawyers. In 2013, he was selected by his peers for inclusion in the 20th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America for his work in Real Estate Law and Community Association Law, and he has received this peer recognition ea...
Allen began his career as a traditional litigator focused on business and real estate disputes. Over time, his practice has expanded to include clients from a variety of markets with a variety of needs. Litigation and dispute resolution remain essential parts of his daily practice, but he also enjoys advising clients on a broad range of general legal, business, regulatory, and practical matters, craving the opportunity to serve as a trusted advisor. His unique and varied journey through the p...
Michael Klemm is a partner in the real estate group of Hellmuth & Johnson. He is an MSBA Certified Real Property Law Specialist and has repeatedly been recognized as a “Rising Star” by Mpls.St.Paul Magazine and Twin Cities Business. Michael has represented and advised a wide range of clients, including cities, developers, builders, lenders, businesses, individuals, and associations. He has extensive experience in complex real estate transactions, including acquisition, disposi...
Chad Johnson is a founding partner of Hellmuth & Johnson, and serves as the firm’s Managing Partner. He founded Hellmuth & Johnson after just two years of practice, growing the firm on the strength of its loyal clients and experienced attorneys to become one of the 20 largest law firms in Minnesota. Chad represents a broad range of businesses, corporations, limited liability entities and individuals in pursuit of their business, real estate and transaction goals. He is admitted ...
As a founding partner of Hellmuth & Johnson, David has been creating strategic advantages for clients since the firm’s inception. He works with a diverse group of small, medium, and large businesses, financial institutions, non profit entities and individuals, primarily assisting in matters involving real estate, corporations, collection/creditor remedies, banking and financial, and business matters. David also represents a significant number of condominium and townhouse association...
Sam leads the Real Estate practice. His experience includes all aspects of commercial real estate and community association matters. He regularly assists commercial and residential developers in the acquisition, subdivision, development, zoning, and sale of real property, including the formation of complex, mixed-use planned communities, commercial and residential condominiums, and multi-tenant commercial projects. Additionally, Sam represents purchasers and lenders with regard to the evaluat...
As leader of the Community Associations practice, Adam advises community association and country club/yacht club boards and members regarding corporate governance, procedural requirements, governing document amendments, fiduciary duties, inspection right, collection issues, and rule adoption and enforcement. He also has experience preparing all components of community association, country club, and yacht club entity formation, including articles of incorporation, bylaws, committee charters, o...
Phillip Joseph co-chairs Ball Janik LLP’s construction litigation practice, which is growing in national reach and prominence. He is a commercial litigator whose primary focus is construction and real estate litigation, including design and construction disputes, construction defect, general counsel for community associations, purchase/sale disputes, real estate disputes, commercial landlord/tenant, and collections. Mr. Joseph has received the AV® Preeminent™ Rating from Marti...
Mark J. Woodward is the Managing Partner of Woodward, Pires & Lombardo, P.A., serving clients in Naples and Marco Island, Florida. He is double Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Real Estate Law and in Condominium and Planned Development Law. Mark has practiced law in Florida for more than 40 years. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Florida and his Juris Doctor from Stetson University College of Law. Mark’s practice focuses on Community Associati...
Justin's practice experience includes a wide variety of residential and commercial real estate matters, including the representation of sellers and buyers in the negotiation and preparation of purchase agreements, construction agreements, and loan agreements, and the representation of landlords and tenants in the negotiation and preparation of leases. He assists residential and commercial developers in connection with the acquisition, financing, development, subdivision, zoning, leasing, and ...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.