Condo Media - May 2012 - 45

“If you purchase a car, you kick the cases and offer strength we wouldn’t Gary Seidelman, a unit owner and trustee with The Villages at Brookside, tires and lift the hood. But with an even have otherwise.” larger purchase — a condominium — whose location in Bourne, Mass., is All Condominium many people don’t bother to have the nearly an hour’s drive from Politics is Local documents explained to them, so they Goodman’s Dedham office. Goodman helped with the initial formation of the buy, and then find out that there are When you’re in a people-oriented rules and regulations,” Goodman says. homeowners’ association from the business, it helps to have a passion for “And then, if there’s something there developer, and while 210 units have politics — a particular area of interest that wasn’t expected, they act out, as been converted into condominiums, for Lombardi, who was instrumental in though they were taken advantage of.” another 30 are still in the process. the passage of a key piece of legislaOr sometimes there are unit owners “Henry was most significant in worktion: the Rhode Island Super Lien who just don’t think the rules apply to ing with the developer to repair constatute, which helps to protect condothem. Just ask Diane Morlino, a trustee minium associations against losses as a struction issues that resulted in leaky for Tree Top Condominiums of roofs and walls,” Seidelman says. “He result of lender foreclosures on units. Kingston, Mass. One of the units was was very involved in advising us that a “If there are adjustments to collectsettlement was the best way ing fees, we’re there to help to go.” In fact, Goodman steer the legislation — or stop worked closely with the it if necessary,” he says. board’s negotiating team to In addition, all three partners craft a settlement that resultare active in the New England ed in over $1 million in chapter of the Community repairs, as well as a cash setAssociations Institute, which tlement. helps them to stay current in “I was a partner at Price their specialty and also educate Waterhouse Cooper [an others. The firm also maintains international financial advia presence in social media, as sory firm],” Seidelman says, well as a blog on their own “and I appreciate what it website, to keep clients takes to set expectations and informed and share best pracmeet expectations in a costtices. “We’re there to protect Seated, center from left: partners Henry A. Goodman, Esq.; Ellen A. Shapiro, Esq.; and Frank A. Lombardi, Esq. offer both experience and knowledge, supported by a highly skilled staff. effective manner. I give and educate,” Lombardi says. Henry high marks, and “What we want is to make owned by a family of parents who were things better for board members.” that’s the highest compliment anyone hearing impaired and their three hearcan pay a professional.” Goodman agrees. “We are a fixture, Helping clients to avoid the high cost ing children. A provision in the condo- firmly rooted in the legal community,” minium documents prohibited bike of litigation is just one of the ways he says. “Board members come and Goodman, Shapiro & Lombardi strives riding in the parking lot, but, accordgo, but we’re always there for the to help clients deal with budget limita- ing to Morlino, because they were community. We provide continuity.” handicapped, the unit owners believed tions while still answering their legal They also provide extraordinary they were exempted from the rule. needs. “In difficult economic times expertise, combined with caring. “We told them the rule was there to like these, the legal budget is some“What we want is for our clients, prevent injury,” Morlino says, “but times the first thing to get cut,” once they meet us, to stay with us,” they sued us for discrimination. And Shapiro says. “Yet, associations often Lombardi says. “We bring a human we won! With Ellen, we haven’t lost a expect the same quantity and quality touch to our practice, because it all case yet. She always handles it well.” of legal work. We have to be sensitive comes down to people. It’s not an One reason for the success of to budgetary restraints but still give assembly line.” Goodman, Shapiro & Lombardi is the advice as we see it — even if it’s not depth of its staff and the hands-on what the client wants to hear.” For more information about how your approach of its partners. “We have an association can benefit from Goodman, Documented Expertise integrated approach,” Shapiro says. Shapiro & Lombardi’s expertise, call Sometimes those difficulties arise from “We don’t just operate vertically, with (781) 251-9800 in Massachusetts or clients’ not doing the proper due diliour own clients. We also go across (401) 455-0420 in Rhode Island, or gence. state lines, to collaborate on intricate visit www.goshlaw.com.

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Condo Media - May 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Condo Media - May 2012