The Community Association Practice Group at Cranfill Sumner assists property owners associations, their boards, and their members with a variety of legal issues.  We also represent these associations when disputes arise.  Our attorneys regularly counsel boards of directors on proper governance and best practices in operations of their associations. Additionally, our attorneys counsel and provide training for management companies and other entities who manage property associations.

Our services include:

  • Litigation: Breach of fiduciary duty; declaratory judgment actions (regarding the rights and responsibilities of parties), construction defect claims; claims of lien; foreclosure proceedings; contract disputes; trespass claims; property damage claims; and commercial litigation, including D & O claims.
  • Property Owner Disputes: Disputes over dues increases, architectural requirements, declaration violations, and collections, among other issues.
  • Governance, Trainings, and Communications: Attend board and association meetings, hearings; draft responses to board or management company questions; provide counsel on parliamentary procedures; provide guidance for boards and memberships as to governing documents or specific issues.
  • Contracts: Draft, review, and negotiate contractual agreements between associations and developers, property owners and other vendors.
  • Association Documentation: Work with boards to draft and review documentation, policies, and procedures; prepare association declarations, articles of incorporation, by-laws, as well as related amendments; assist with interpretation of covenants and declarations; and providing legal opinions and counsel.
  • Collections: Claims of lien; foreclosure proceedings; notices for assessments and unpaid fines; validity and imposition of fines, suspension of privileges; filing Proof of Claims and other documents as may be required in cases involving bankruptcy.

The Firm is a member of the Community Associations Institute, and active in the North Carolina Chapter.  The attorneys in the Community Associations Practice Group are experienced attorneys in other complementary practice groups in the firm, including Employment Law, Business Law, Construction, Professional Liability, and Insurance Law and Coverage.

For more information on our Community Associations Law Practice, contact Jennifer Welch (Raleigh) or Melody Jolly (Wilmington).


Most Recent Posts

  News

Stephanie Romano Joins Cranfill Sumner LLP

Cranfill Sumner LLP today announced that Stephanie Romano has joined the firm’s Wilmington office as an associate attorney. She focuses her practice in professional liability, community association law, and personal injury.… Read More

  News

Rebecca Knudson Joins Cranfill Sumner Wilmington Office

Rebecca Knudsen

Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) announced today that Rebecca Knudson has joined the firm’s Wilmington office as an Of Counsel Attorney. Knudson will focus her practice on construction law, civil litigation, business law, professional liability, and community association law. … Read More

  News

Cranfill Sumner Launches Community Association Law Practice Group

New craftsman style row houses

Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) has launched the Community Association Law Practice Group. Already heavily involved in the area, Cranfill Sumner has now officially formed this new practice group to better serve its clients statewide. The practice group is led by Chair Regan Toups and Vice Chair Scott Dunnagan.… Read More