Legal Forum 2022

  • Registration Closed
Duration: 12 Hours over 4 days
CE Credits: 12
8 Law Firms
4 Q&A sessions 
Hot Legal Topics to include:
  1. New Federal Mortgage Requirements: Impact on Community Associations
  2. Dealing with Election Issues: Annual Meetings
  3. Violations, Hearings, and Enforcement: Fine Tuning Procedures and Novel Approaches in a Changing Landscape
  4. You Know Your Percentage of Interest. Why Doesn't the Assessor?
  5. Unit Owners Coming up Short?  Legal Considerations and Remedies for Association Boards
  6. Cover Your "Ass(ets)!"
  7. Managing the Manager's Potential Liabilities
  8. Legal aspects of funding and executing large association capital projects

Kerry Bartell

KSN

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

Kovitz Shifrin Nesbit

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.

David Bloomberg

Chuhak & Tecson

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.

Eliot Schencker

Chuhak & Tecson, P.C.

As a senior counsel in the firm’s Condominium & Common Interest Community Association practice group, Eliot focuses his practice on representing condominium associations, common interest communities and housing cooperatives in a variety of litigation and arbitration matters, including declaration enforcement actions, construction defect claims, contract and easements disputes, consumer fraud, municipal code violations, mixed use development disputes, developer financial liability and collections. He also advises clients on numerous transactional matters, including contract review and documentation, declaration and bylaw amendments, rules review and updates, and the interpretation of governing documents and the Illinois Condominium Property Act. Prior to entering the world of private practice, Eliot served as an assistant attorney general with the Illinois Attorney General’s Chicago office, where he handled an array of civil matter involving state agencies, officials and employees.

Some highlights of Eliot’s extensive legal career include:
 

  • Authoring motions for summary judgment in a case which were granted in plaintiff’s favor, resulting in judgment amounts in excess of $7 million.
  • Successfully enforcing a reciprocal easement agreement in a four-day trial in the Circuit Court of Cook County on behalf of a residential condominium association.
  • Negotiating a settlement of construction defect lawsuit of approximately $1 million on behalf of condominium client.
  • Successfully bringing actions against unit owners for violating an association’s governing documents, resulting in compliance plus payment of association’s court costs and attorney’s fees.
  • Successfully negotiating a favorable settlement for a corporate client who had been sued as a result of a former property manager’s embezzlement of funds during a mediation.
  • Prosecuting hundreds of forcible entry and detainer lawsuits in Cook, DuPage and Lake Counties on behalf of Condominium and Townhome Associations.

Eliot believes the key to client service is being as attentive and responsive as possible to client needs and requests. He prefers taking a respectful, yet straightforward approach when communicating with clients in order to set their expectations and make sure they have an understanding of where things stand with their respective matters through every step of the process. Eliot also believes in informing clients of all their options and advising them on the best approach, providing them the knowledge and efficiency to make the best decisions to achieve their goals.

Always eager for opportunities to continue learning and expanding his professional skills, Eliot is an active member of the Chicago Bar Association Condominium Law Subcommittee where he garners practical approaches to tackle some of his clients’ most complex needs. He also routinely attends seminars on condominium and common interest community association law, including the Community Associations Institute’s annual Law Seminar, which provides a forum to discuss emerging trends and legislative issues important to the practice of community association law.

When Eliot is not in the office, he enjoys playing tennis and spending quality time with his family, including being an avid spectator at his children’s sporting and music events.

Elizabeth Thompson

Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr. LLP

Elizabeth focuses her practice on counseling community associations both in litigation and on day-to-day operational issues. Elizabeth’s litigation experience includes litigating constitutional claims, administrative review actions, government investigations, and business litigation, such as preliminary and permanent injunctions, declaratory judgments, insurance issues, breach of fiduciary duty claims, and

James Stevens

Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr. LLP

Jamie Stevens advises community associations on a range of issues related to their daily business operations, serving as their general 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 them with 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 contract, dispute, and business concerns they 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

Aside from his role as counselor, Jamie relies on his familiarity with 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 and preparing documentation to establish and develop condominium properties. He also assists with distressed property redevelopment, financing and receivership actions to resolve properties in crisis.

Nicholas Jordan

Worsek & Vihon LLP

NICK JORDAN joined Worsek & Vihon in 2018 after almost twenty years of government service. Mr. Jordan started his career as an intern and later a staff member in the office of a United States Senator, handling constituent service issues relating to various federal agencies. He continued assisting individuals as a Director of District Operations and later as District Director for a member of the U.S. House Representatives in the suburbs of Chicago.

Mr. Jordan served as the First Assistant Commissioner to Commissioner Michael Cabonargi at the Cook County Board of Review, where he supervised a team of analysts that reviewed the assessment appeals of approximately 400,000 parcels annually. As First Assistant, Mr. Jordan was responsible for the assessment decisions on the most complex commercial and industrial properties in Cook County. Prior to joining the Board of Review, he served on the staffs of a United States Senator and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Mr. Jordan graduated from The John Marshall Law School and obtained his
undergraduate degree from Northwestern University.

Matthew Panuish

Worsek & Vihon LLP

MATTHEW E. PANUSH joined Worsek and Vihon in 2011 as a senior analyst after spending over ten years in a similar role at the Cook County Board of Review. Matt was the head analyst for all condominium and residential properties during his tenure at the Board. He also adjudicated appeals of commercial, industrial and income-producing properties. Matt served as the spokesman for three different commissioners, conducting over 400 “outreach” seminars to assist and educate taxpayers how to challenge their assessments if they were overvalued and not equitably assessed. He continues to fight for fair assessments while servicing the firm’s 700+ association clients throughout Cook County. Matt has written several articles for various trade publications on the topic of association tax assessment appeals and has been honored to speak on different panel discussions concerning the benefits of appealing the assessed values of associations. Matt enjoys the game of golf and, despite living on the South side, is a life-long (and no longer suffering) Cubs fan.

Jay Rock

Rock Fusco & Connelly, LLC

Mr. Rock is a founding member of the firm and concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial litigation, real estate matters and municipal litigation. He represents individuals and corporate clients in a wide variety of litigation matters including commercial disputes, labor / employment law, construction litigation, real estate taxation. Mr. Rock handles all aspects of real estate matters: acquisition, disposition, leasing, tax incentives and real estate tax abatement. Mr. Rock advises and represents municipalities and governmental agencies in various issues including civil rights defense, labor and employment, eminent domain, and tax increment financing. Mr. Rock also represents condominium associations and its board members regarding various issues related to the Illinois Condominium Property Act.

Mr. Rock has significant experience in complex, high-stakes litigation matters and has taken many cases to verdict and defended successful verdicts at the appellate level. Mr. Rock is a member of the Federal Trial Bar and has successfully represented clients in hearings, bench trials and jury trials in both State and Federal Courts as well as before various administrative tribunals.

Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Rock was an Assistant State’s Attorney with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. Mr. Rock authored dozens of appeals on behalf of the People of the State of Illinois and prosecuted hundreds of misdemeanor and felony cases in both bench and jury trials.

In addition to his professional duties, Mr. Rock was a member of the Alumni Board of Governors for his alma mater, Loyola University School of Law for two terms, from 2011 to 2017. Additionally, Mr. Rock participates in the mentor program at Loyola University School of Law and has served as a coach to the mock trial and moot court teams at Loyola.  He is a former member of the Chicago Bar Association’s Judicial Evaluation Committee and has served as a mentor to young lawyers through the Illinois State Bar Association.

Mr. Rock is active with GiGi’s Playhouse, Inc. a not-for-profit network of Down Syndrome awareness and educational centers that provide resources, specialized teaching, and support to individuals with Down Syndrome, their families and the community.  Mr. Rock was also on the Board of Trustees for the Village of Clarendon Hills Police Pension Board. Mr. Rock is also a lifelong Cubs fan – but isn’t a hater and enjoys watching the Sox as well.

Mr. Rock has been named a “Super Lawyer” by Law and Politics Magazine and was honored by the Law Bulletin Publishing Company by being named one of the “40 Attorneys Under 40 in Illinois to Watch.”

Maxwell Kling

Rock Fusco & Connelly, LLC

Maxwell Kling is an associate at Rock Fusco & Connelly and focuses his practice in the areas of commercial litigation and real estate matters. Maxwell represents individuals and corporate clients in a wide variety of complex litigation matters including construction liability, contract disputes, mechanics liens, labor/employment disputes, Landlord/Tenant disputes, intellectual property, general tort and product liability, corporate disputes, and appeals. Over the course of his career, he has handled all facets of litigation at the state, federal, administrative, and municipal levels, including various forms of alternative dispute resolution, and appeals.

In addition to litigation, Maxwell advises and represents small business owners, property developers, and landowners in real estate matters such as land use and zoning, real estate taxation and commercial/industrial real estate tax incentives. Maxwell advises and represents clients through the process of securing Class 6b, Class 7, Class 8, and Class C real estate tax incentives in Cook County. He also represents and advises clients with map amendments, variances, subdivisions, planned unit developments, annexation, and other land use matters throughout Northern Illinois.

As a law student at Northern Illinois University College of Law, Maxwell was named to the Dean’s List multiple semesters, served on the Executive Board of the University’s Delta Theta Phi Legal Fraternity, competed on the external mock trial team, and studied abroad in France. In May of 2017, Maxwell graduated from Northern Illinois University College of Law, cum laude. Prior to attending Law School, Maxwell completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse, where he received his degree in Political Science in 2013.

Position

  • Associate

Area of Practice

  • Commercial Litigation
  • Construction Liability
  • Mechanics Liens
  • Labor/Employment Litigation
  • General Tort and Product Liability
  • Real Estate Tax Appeals
  • Real Estate Tax Incentives
  • Land Use
  • Municipal Law
  • Administrative Law

Bar Admissions

  • Illinois, 2017

Education

  • Northern Illinois University College of Law, DeKalb, Illinois Juris Doctor
  • University of Wisconsin – La Crosse, La Crosse, Wisconsin Bachelor of Science

Affiliations

  • Illinois State Bar Association
  • Chicago Bar Association
  • American Bar Association

Gabriella Comstock

Keough & Moody, P.C.

 

 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.

Dawn Moody

Keough & Moody, P.C.

 

 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

Keith Jones

Keay & Costello, PC

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.

Benjamin Rooney

Keay & Costello, PC

Benjamin J. Rooney is a shareholder with Keay & Costello., and has been with the firm since 2012. Ben’s practice focuses on civil and commercial litigation, with an emphasis on those issues involving the representation of community associations, co-ops, and other corporations. He has a variety of experience representing clients, including:

  • Negotiating and drafting of contracts with employees, independent contractors, and vendors;
  • Drafting governing documents, including declarations, bylaws, rules and regulations, and resolutions;
  • Defending claims relating to age, race, sex, national origin and disability discrimination;
  • Defending claims brought under the Fair Labor Standards Act and Illinois wage and hour laws; and
  • Bringing actions on behalf of community associations to enforce covenants and collect assessments.

Ben regularly represents clients involved in litigation before courts in Cook and surrounding counties, as well as the Illinois Department of Labor, the Illinois Department of Human Rights, and the Illinois Department of Public Health. He also frequently attends community association meetings to advise boards on issues ranging from corporate governance to disputes with owners.

After graduating with a Political Science degree from Iowa State University, he attended DePaul College of Law where he earned his Juris Doctorate. Ben is licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, as well as the State of Minnesota. He is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, DuPage County Bar Association, and Kane County Bar Association.

Michael C. Kim

SFBBG LLC

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).

Community Associations Institute - Illinois Chapter would like to thank the program sponsors for their generous support

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Key:

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Step 1 Pre-Program Survey
2 Questions
2 Questions We appreciate your feedback
Step 2: Day 1 Legal Forum
03/08/2022 at 8:30 AM (CST)  |  Recorded On: 03/08/2022
03/08/2022 at 8:30 AM (CST)  |  Recorded On: 03/08/2022 Session I: 8:30am - 9:45am Title: New Federal Mortgage Requirements: Impact on Community Associations Presenting Firm: Kovitz Shifrin Nesbit Q&A with Attorneys: 9:55am - 10:25am Session II: 10:35am - 11:50am Title: Dealing with Election Issues: Annual Meetings Presenting Firm: Chuhak & Tecson
Step 3: Day 2 Legal Forum
03/10/2022 at 8:30 AM (CST)  |  Recorded On: 03/10/2022
03/10/2022 at 8:30 AM (CST)  |  Recorded On: 03/10/2022 Session I: 8:30am - 9:45am Title: Violations, Hearings, and Enforcement: Fine Tuning Procedures and Novel Approaches in a Changing Landscape Presenting Firm: Saul E-Wing Arnstein & Lehr Q&A with Attorneys: 9:55am - 10:25am Session II: 10:35am - 11:50am Title: You Know Your Percentage of Interest. Why Doesn't The Assessor? Presenting Firm: Worsek & Vihon
Step 4: Day 3 Legal Forum
03/15/2022 at 8:30 AM (CDT)  |  Recorded On: 03/15/2022
03/15/2022 at 8:30 AM (CDT)  |  Recorded On: 03/15/2022 Session 1: 8:30am – 9:45am Title: Unit Owners Coming up Short? Legal Considerations and Remedies for Association Boards Presented by: Rock Fusco & Connelly Q&A with Attorneys: 9:55am – 10:25am Session 2: 10:35am – 11:50am Title: Cover Your "Ass(ets)!" Presented by: Keough & Moody
Step 5: Day 4 Legal Forum
03/17/2022 at 8:30 AM (CDT)  |  Recorded On: 03/17/2022
03/17/2022 at 8:30 AM (CDT)  |  Recorded On: 03/17/2022 Session 1: 8:30am – 9:45am Title: Manager Liability Issues and Prevention: Deals with breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty and Manager Licensing Statute Presented by: SFBBG Q&A with Attorneys: 9:55am – 10:25am Session 2: 10:35am – 11:50am Title: Legal aspects of funding and executing large association capital projects Presented by: Keay & Costello
Step 6: Complete the Survey: Legal Forum 2022
15 Questions
Step 7: Legal Forum Certificate
Live and Archive Viewing: 12.00 CE Credits credits and certificate available
Live and Archive Viewing: 12.00 CE Credits credits and certificate available