Legal Forum 2025 - No $5 Donation - Live Webinar

Keith concentrates his practice in therepresentation of condominium and common interest community associations, aswell as the areas of general civil and commercial law.  He has extensive experience in preparing andamending association governing documents, including declarations, bylaws andrules and regulations as well as the enforcement of same.  Keith also provides guidance to association clientson a wide range of general corporate matters, such as corporate governance,maintenance/repair questions, and board actions.  He is also familiar with the FHA requirementsapplicable to condominium associations and has assisted numerous condominiumswith applying for FHA certification and re-certification through the HRAPprocess. 

Since graduating Magna Cum Laudefrom Northern Illinois University College of Law in 2006, Keith has been withCostello Sury & Rooney, P.C. where he is currently a senior counsel.  He received a Bachelor of Arts in Economicsfrom DePauw University in 2000.  Keith isa member of the Illinois State Bar Association. He has made presentations at events for CAI-Illinois, ACTHA, andmultiple Chicago Bar Association committees, and previously served as aco-chair of the CAI-Illinois Legal Forum/Conference Education Committee.  In addition to Illinois, Keith is alsolicensed to practice law in the State of Texas.

Libby F. Vassmer is a shareholder of Costello Sury & Rooney in Oakbrook Terrace Illinois. Ms. Vassmer has been licensed to practice law in the state of Illinois since 2015 and the state of Indiana since 2022. Her practice is focused on the representation of condominium and common interest communities, cooperatives, as well as general civil practice. With her extensive experience in the collections arena, Ms. Vassmer has helped guide a multitude of associations towards reduced delinquencies and improved fiscal status. Ms. Vassmer frequently appears before courts in Cook County and the collar counties as well as northwest Indiana on behalf of associations. Additionally, Ms. Vassmer provides general counsel guidance to associations on issues such as corporate governance, violation/enforcement issues and contract review. Ms. Vassmer obtained her Juris Doctorate from The John Marshall Law School and received her undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Kerry Bartell is a principal with KSN and has been practicing with the firm for over 20 years. She concentrates her practice representing condominium, homeowner (HOA), and townhome community associations. Kerry provides guidance on general matters relating to associations, as well as counseling the board of directors for an association on corporate actions, contracts, dispute resolution and other issues relating to the association as a corporation.

Pamela Park focuses her practice on representing condominium, homeowner (HOA), and townhome community associations. Pamela is one of KSN's senior litigators, concentrating in the defense of discrimination actions. She has successfully handled numerous complaints on the federal, state, and local levels.

James “Jamie” Stevens is a Partner at Burke, Warren, MacKay & Serritella, P.C. He is a member of the Firm’s Condominium & Community Associations practice group. Jamie regularly advises community associations on a range of issues related to their daily business operations, serving as their go-to legal advisor. In his work with the leaders of condominium and other common interest communities on governing documents, finances, litigation, and transactional issues, Jamie provides valuable perspective and broad knowledge in their legal matters. His experience includes drafting easements, bylaws and declarations, advising on developer turnover matters and assessment collection, interpreting governing documents, and counseling on the variety of contracts, disputes, and business concerns his clients face. In litigation, Jamie represents associations in covenant interpretation and enforcement matters and defends associations against various claims, drawing from broad on-the-ground experience with associations in their life cycles. In addition to his role as counselor, Jamie relies on his knowledge of the Illinois Condominium Property Act and Common Interest Community Association Act to assist clients in transactional matters such as deconversion sales of entire properties, lending transactions in the community association marketplace, and development of condominium and common interest properties. His experience includes drafting and negotiating purchase and sale agreements, as well as preparing documentation to establish and develop condominium properties. He also assists with distressed property redevelopment, financing, and receivership actions to resolve properties in crisis.

Matthew Goldberg is Partner at Burke, Warren, MacKay & Serritella, P.C. Matthew is a member of the Firm's Condominium & Community Associations practice group and concentrates his practice in the areas of condominium law, real estate, litigation, and collections.

Matthew is an experienced association attorney representing condominium associations, master associations, cooperatives, and common interest communities. He provides advice on governance
issues, declaration and rule enforcement, assessment collection strategies, and foreclosures. Creative solutions and outside-the-box thinking are hallmarks that have resulted in exceptional
results for his clients. Matthew has lectured on many issues involving associations. He is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, the Chicago Bar Association, and the Community Associations Institute – Illinois Chapter. Matthew is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, the Chicago Bar Association, and the Community Associations Institute – Illinois Chapter.

 Areas of Practice

Dawn, a principal with Keough & Moody, P.C., joined the firm in 2000 (then known as Knuckles & Jagel), where she started as a law clerk and then, as an attorney. Dawn concentrates her practice on the representation of community associations. In that regard, she assists boards in all areas of association governance, including drafting and amending governing documents, providing legal opinions, reviewing policies for compliance with applicable laws, and reviewing contracts. Dawn strives to provide proactive and practical advice to her clients.

Education and Admissions

Dawn received her J.D. degree, with honors, from Chicago Kent College of Law. She received her undergraduate degree, cum laude, from North Central College in Naperville. Dawn was a member of the History Honor Society at North Central College and was a recipient of the CALI Award of Excellence in Criminal Procedure at Chicago Kent College of Law.

Dawn is admitted to practice law in all state courts in the State of Illinois and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. She is also a member of the Illinois State Bar Association.

Industry Involvement

Dawn presents and writes for the firm, as well as industry groups, such as CAI-Illinois' Chapter, Condo Lifestyles, and Association of Condominium Townhome and Homeowners Association (“ACTHA”). She has also presented at the CAI National Law Seminar. In addition, Dawn has contributed to IICLE's ("Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education") book related to Condominium Law

 Areas of Practice

Gabriella, a principal with Keough & Moody, P.C., joined the firm in 1996 and began her representation of community associations. Gabriella is primarily responsible for litigation related to community associations, which varies from breach of contract to seeking declaratory and/or injunctive relief. Gabriella’s practice also concentrates on representing community associations in non-litigation related matters, which includes providing Boards of Directors with opinion letters, drafting amendments to the Association’s governing documents and drafting rules and regulations. She provides all areas of legal counsel to community associations within the Chicagoland area.

Education and Admissions

Gabriella received her J.D. from Loyola University of Chicago School of Law after graduating Cum Laude from Loyola University of Chicago. Gabriella is admitted to practice law in all state courts in the State of Illinois. She is also admitted to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Gabriella is a member of the Federal Trial Bar, the Illinois State Bar Association, Chicago Bar Association, and DuPage County Bar Association.

Gabriella was admitted to the College of Community Association Lawyers (CCAL). CCAL is a prestigious group of attorneys practicing community association law in the United States. Approximately 200 attorneys have been granted membership in the College.

Industry Involvement

Gabriella was the co-chair for the Chicago Bar Association’s Condominium Subcommittee from 2015 -2022. Gabriella also presents and writes for other industry groups including MCD Media, and Condo Lifestyles. Gabriella has been involved in CAI-Illinois' Chapter. In the past, she was the co-chair of several Committees. Gabriella also contributes written articles for CAI's Common Interest Magazine and speaks at various CAI Chapter Programs, including her presentations at various Legal Forums and trade shows. For the past seven (7) years, she has served as a member of the Planning Committee for the CAI National Law Seminar. She has also presented at the CAI National Law Seminar, including as recently as in February 2024, and in 2023. Since 2020, Gabriella has been a member of the CAI CCAL Amicus Curiae Committee. Finally, Gabriella has contributed to IICLE's ("Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education") book related to Condominium Law. She has also presented for IICLE and the National Business Institute ("NBI") on issues related to community associations, as part of the continuing education they offer for Illinois attorneys.

Laura Marinelli is a partner in and leader of the Community Association Group of Levenfeld Pearlstein. She has extensive experience representing condominium associations and common interest community associations in complex litigation matters involving various injunctive and equitable remedies, as well as covenant enforcement, developer issues, mixed use property disputes, and breach of fiduciary duty matters.

Laura advises community associations on issues related to the association's governing documents, the Illinois Condominium Property Act, and the Illinois Common Interest Community Association Act. She also helps associations resolve issues with homeowners, developers, and city/county agencies. She helps associations collect unpaid assessments and represents associations during foreclosure proceedings.

She also assists with board meetings, membership meetings, board elections, and rule violation hearings. She also has extensive experience in general and commercial litigation. She has represented entities and individuals in complex litigation matters in both state and federal court from inception through both bench and jury trials, as well as on appeal. Laura’s litigation experience includes numerous matters seeking equitable relief, including temporary restraining orders as well as preliminary and permanent injunctions.

Her litigation experience includes matters relating to non-compete agreements, probate disputes, partnership agreements, breach of contract, and real estate matters. Laura also represents clients in matters involving violations of Fair Housing laws before both the Illinois Department of Human Rights and the Chicago Commission on Human Relations.

Laura was a 2019 Fellow for the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, was named as a Leading Lawyer for Real Estate Law: Associations and Condominiums in 2018 and 2019, and was named to the Illinois SuperLawyers Rising Stars list from 2011-2015.

Adam is an associate in the Community Association Group. He helps cooperative, condominium, and homeowners associations navigate a variety of legal, financial and commercial issues. Whether attending board meetings and offering common sense solutions to governance challenges; reviewing, negotiating and modifying various agreements; or advising his association clients on enforcement of governing documents, Adam is a pragmatic, trusted advisor with a patient and fair approach to problem-solving.

Prior to joining Levenfeld Pearlstein, Adam worked at a New York boutique real estate firm where he offered practical, comprehensive legal advice to community associations. Treating each of his clients as unique, Adam takes a holistic approach to advising community associations. He focuses his practice onreviewing, negotiating and modifying governing documents, lease agreements, policy documents and commercial contracts. Adam’s clients usually request his attendance at monthly board meetings, where his level head and industry acumen prove instrumental in effective policy-making and business planning.

Adam was presented with the Minister Gloria Jean Fowler Angel Award in his final year at Emory University School of Law, which recognizes one student who embodies the kindness and grace of former Emory employee Gloria Jean Fowler.

Of Counsel/SFBBG LLC, Mike received his undergraduate degree (Political Science Major) from the University of Hawaii (Manoa Campus. Honolulu, HI) and his law degree from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law (Chicago, IL).  He is licensed to practice in Illinois and its courts, and also before various federal courts, including the U.S. District Court (Northern District, IL) (both General and Trial Bar), the Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court.

His practice is focused on community association law, construction law, real estate law and civil litigation.  He has practiced law for over 40 years.  He has personally handled a wide and diverse range of transactions and litigation for all types of community associations, developers, lenders, insurance companies and homeowners.  He has served as an expert witness on association legal issues.

As an adjunct professor with the John Marshall Law School, he taught at the School’s Graduate Program in Real Estate Law on condominium, cooperative and common interest community law.  Mike co-authored the Historical and Practice Notes to the Illinois Condominium Property Act, has long been active in legislative efforts involving the Act and has written extensively on condominium law and issues, including articles published by the John Marshall Law School, Community Associations Institute (CAI) (both National and Illinois) and the Association of Condominium, Townhome and Homeowners Associations (ACTHA).

Mike has taught numerous times at CAI-National’s prestigious Community Association Law Seminar, has spoken at CAI National Conferences, has taught other attorneys at the Law Education Institute, National Business Institute and Lorman Education Services seminars, and has lectured for the Chicago Bar Association, the Illinois CPA Society, and the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education.  He has participated in webinars on rule enforcement for HOA Leader and reserve funds for The Cooperator.

He has served on the Board of Governors of the CAI College of Community Association Lawyers, of which he is a charter member; the College was established to recognize distinguished service to community association law and commitment to highest ethical and professional standards.

He also served as President of CAI-Illinois, during which time he encouraged use of alternative dispute resolution for community associations.  Mike has served as Chair of the Real Property Law Committee of the Chicago Bar Association as well as its Condominium Law Subcommittee and also as Chair of the Condominium Committee of the Illinois State Bar Association Real Estate Law Section Council.  He is a member of the American Bar Association and its Real Property Law Section. 

His pro bono activities have included work to develop affordable condominiums for low income families with Uptown Habitat for Humanity and work as General Counsel to the Association of Sheridan Condo Co-op Owners (ASCO).

Joan Berg, a Partner with Schoenberg Finkel Beederman Bell Glazer LLC, received her undergraduate degree (Chemistry) from Loyola University of Chicago and her law degree from IIT – Chicago Kent College of Law. She is licensed to practice in Illinois and its courts, including the U.S District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Joan services clients in commercial real estate, lending, and corporate transactions. Her experience continues to be recognized as an Illinois Leading Lawyer, and within the Leading Lawyer Top 100 Women in Real Estate. Joan’s experience spans community association representation, as well as commercial real estate construction, development, land use, acquisition, disposition, and leasing.

In her community association work, Joan has represented developers, lenders, and community associations. Her construction and development experience include industrial, manufacturing, multi-family, and single family development in Illinois, New York, and California. She is often called upon to consult on complex air rights and title matters. Her land use knowledge adds depth to analyses with clients.

Joan represents lenders and borrowers with respect to asset-based and real estate-based financing. Leasing is another component of Joan’s real estate transaction experience. She regularly represents landlords and tenants in office, industrial, and retail leasing environments.

Providing general corporate representation for her clients is another aspect of Joan’s practice. She is counsel for her real estate developer and investor clients, as well as small and mid-sized businesses. In addition, Joan provides counsel to various non-profit and religious organizations. She provides counsel to a Christian denomination in the administration of its seminary, and its publishing endeavors. Joan is Co-Legal Advisor for the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago, a six-state region of the Greek Orthodox Church. In addition, she is a member of the Legal Committee for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

Kevin Hirzel is the Managing Member of Hirzel Law, PLC, a 17-attorney community association law firm which serves clients throughout Michigan and Illinois. The firm has offices in Chicago, Downers Grove, and Skokie. Mr. Hirzel focuses on condominium law, homeowners association law, and real estate law. He is a Fellow in the College of Community Association Lawyers (CCAL), a distinction held by fewer than 200 attorneys nationwide. Mr. Hirzel serves on the CCAL National Board of Governors and is a former member of the Community Associations Institute (CAI) Board of Trustees, and its Governmental Affairs & Public Policy Committee. He has twice won the Best Manuscript Award at the CAI National Law Seminar and has been recognized by Best Lawyers, Leading Lawyers, and Super Lawyers. 

An accomplished author, Mr. Hirzel has published articles on community association law in CAI’s Common Ground Magazine and the Washington Post. He is also the author of Hirzel’s Handbook: How to Operate a Michigan Condo or HOA (First and Second Editions) and Hirzel’s Handbook: How to Operate an Illinois Condo or HOA, all available on Amazon.com. Mr. Hirzel has been featured as a legal expert on community association issues by numerous national and local media outlets, including CBS, CNBC, Fox News, Fox Business News, NPR, Newsmax, the Wall Street Journal, and others. His interviews have also appeared on programs such as the Dan Abrams Show (SiriusXM Radio), Dr. Drew Midday Live (KABC Radio), and the Law & Crime Network. A dynamic speaker, Mr. Hirzel frequently lectures on community association law at state and national conferences, sharing his expertise with a broad audience.

Jeremy Fernando is an association attorney with Hirzel Law, PLC. He graduated from Texas A&M University with honors where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts in History. Mr. Fernando earned his Juris Doctorate from Marquette University Law School where he was a member of the Marquette Law Review and graduated cum laude. During law school, Mr. Fernando was heavily involved with the Marquette Volunteer Legal Clinic and the Expungement and Pardon Clinic. Prior to joining Hirzel Law, PLC, Mr. Fernando was an associate attorney at Greenberg Traurig, LLP where he focused his practice on private placement financings, project financings, credit tenant lease financings, and other types of secured and unsecured lending transactions. His international experience includes transactions in the Netherlands, England, Ireland, Australia, and Germany.

At Hirzel Law, PLC, Mr. Fernando concentrates his practice in community association law, condominium law, and real estate law. He focuses on drafting and amending condominium bylaws, master deeds, declarations, deed restrictions, covenants and easements for numerous community associations.  He is also responsible for drafting opinion letters on community association issues and attending community association meetings. Mr. Fernando has served 2 years on the Board of Directors for her own condominium association in Chicago, Illinois. This first-hand experience as a Member and Director, in addition to being a Community Association Attorney, allows him to relate well to the many challenges that Community Association Boards face each day.

David J. Bloomberg is a Principal at Chuhak & Tecson, P. C. and both leader of the firm’s condominium and community association practice group and co-leader of the Litigation practice group. David focuses his practice on products liability litigation, commercial litigation and condominium and common interest community association law.