GARY H. SMITH - Key Persons
With over fifty years' experience as a practicing attorney, Alan Kovitz concentrates in commercial real estate, financing, loan transactions, corporate law, and estate planning. He assists clients with a variety of real estate transactions, including the negotiation, sale, purchase, and leasing of multi-million dollar commercial and multi-family real estate properties.
Alan has represented private individuals, closely held businesses and publicly-traded companies in numerous transactions. He also represents clients in the purchase and sale of businesses, including the structuring of these transactions.
Among Alan's many strengths as an attorney is his ability to build lasting relationships with his clients and to help them navigate the myriad of issues faced by business owners. He is also a seasoned negotiator. In addition to his broad transactional practice, Alan has also served as an arbitrator in the Cook County, Illinois arbitration program. He has received an AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell; their highest peer rating for ethical standards and professional ability.
Job Titles:
- Principal
- Member of the Illinois Property Tax Lawyers Association
KSN attorney Anthony Lewis has concentrated his practice in the area of property tax and assessment law since 2014. With a primary focus on Chicago and Cook County, Anthony represents a wide array of clients ranging from small business owners to international corporations in ad valorem property tax assessment appeals for commercial, industrial, hotel, mixed-use, condominium and apartment buildings.
As a part of the KSN property tax appeals department, Anthony effectively handles appeals at the Assessor and Board of Review that significantly reduce KSN's clients' property tax burdens. He also diligently litigates cases at both the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board and Circuit Court of Cook County with successful appeals resulting in tens of millions of dollars in tax refunds.
With years of experience in an often-daunting Illinois property tax system, Anthony researches and reviews clients' property characteristics and utilization to identify misclassifications or errors in the County records leading to substantial tax savings from correcting these issues. In addition, Anthony analyzes property owners' tax liabilities and helps them plan the impact of current and future property use.
Anthony is a member of the Illinois Property Tax Lawyers Association (IPTLA) and the Illinois Bar Association. He is also a member of the Chicago Bar Association's Real Estate Taxation Committee and the Assessment and Appeals Subcommittee. A passionate advocate to advancing equal access to justice, Anthony also currently serves as the Vice Chair on the Young Professionals Board for the Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI).
Attorney Bethany Wedmore focuses her practice on the representation of condominium, homeowner (HOA), and townhome community associations.
Bethany uses her previous industry experiences working on litigation and transactional legal matters involving corporate, environmental, and real estate law to work efficiently on behalf of her clients while also ensuring that they are receiving the best possible service and outcomes.
Prior to joining KSN, Bethany worked in the Chancery Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County where she gained experience conducting legal research and drafting bench briefs for mortgage foreclosure cases. Bethany earned her Juris Doctorate from University of Illinois Chicago School of Law, with a concentration in Sustainability which focuses on real estate and environmental law.
She attended the Ohio Valley University for undergraduate studies, where she dual majored in Energy Management and Production Engineering and Business Administration.
Bonnie Varner has been practicing in real estate litigation since her admission to the Illinois Bar in 2014. She maintained her own practice in Landlord/Tenant law for several years before focusing on Landlord-side litigation for a private firm in 2020 and joining the KSN team in 2022.
She has expertise in landlord/tenant law, the various landlord/tenant statues that govern Cook County and its individual municipalities, building court cases, breach of contract, and chancery litigation matters.
Bonnie enjoys a good reputation among her colleagues, the clients she has served, and the judges she practices in front of. She is a member of the ILCBA and the Illinois Creditors Bar. Bonnie enjoys maintaining her relationship with her Moot Court board from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law and often volunteers as a judge in their competitions.
Bonnie received her undergraduate degree from Hampshire College and is a graduate of the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law.
Chad Souders is a Principal Attorney and has been practicing with KSN since joining the law firm in 2007. Chad focuses his efforts in civil and commercial litigation, eviction actions, covenant and rule enforcement, the collection of damages and fees, and other disputes.
Chad will usually be found in court fighting for his clients in the areas of collection matters, evictions, landlord/tenant disputes, and breaches of contracts.
Chad takes pride in focusing on his clients' needs. He will actively listen to their requests and quickly adapt to find timely solutions. Being a self-motivated attorney has allowed Chad to prevail on behalf of numerous clients, ensuring they are receiving monies lawfully owed to them.
Chad received his undergraduate degree in Social Science from Mt. St. Clare College. He went on to receive his law degree with a certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution from Hamline University School of Law where he was a recipient of the Thurgood Marshall scholarship.
Christopher Ralph's practice focuses on the representation of condominium, homeowner (HOA), and townhome community associations in both the prosecution and defense of lawsuits. He also has extensive background in general insurance defense.
Christopher excels at advising clients on litigation strategies and reducing complex legal matters to understandable terms. He has skillfully represented clients though all phases of litigation including mediation, arbitration, bench and jury trials. Additionally, he has successfully handled a wide variety of matters, ranging from multi-million-dollar construction defect cases to defense of individual board members in breach of fiduciary duty lawsuits.
Christopher is licensed to practice law in Illinois and is a member of the Federal Bar. Further, he is an active member of the American Bar Association, the Chicago Bar Association, the Small Business Advocacy Council, and the Community Associations Institute (CAI). Christopher joined Kovitz Shifrin Nesbit in 2009 has been a practicing attorney since 2003.
Job Titles:
- Tenant Law & Tax Appeals Attorney Directory
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Member of the Florida Bar
Attorney Cory Kravit concentrates his practice in the areas of community association law, collection, litigation, landlord/tenant disputes, and real estate transactions.
Cory has extensive experience representing condominium, homeowner (HOA), and townhome community associations. He advises board members and property managers on day-to-day matters including community policies, rule enforcement, contract drafting/review, dispute resolution, assessment collections, commercial litigation, and more.
Cory has been recognized by Martindale-Hubbell as an AV Preeminent rated lawyer with the highest level of professional excellence and Super Lawyers magazine as a Florida Rising Star (2013-2020). Inclusion in this listing is limited to less than 2.5% of lawyers under 40 years of age in the State of Florida.
In 2001, Cory's testimony before members of the United States House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee regarding the misuse of Social Security numbers on university campuses led to nationwide attention of student identity theft issues and the University of Florida completely revamping its student identification database system. Excerpts from Cory's testimony were published in "Identity Theft: How to Protect Your Name, Your Credit and Your Vital Information…and What to Do When Someone Hijacks Any of These."
Cory served on the City of Boynton Beach Planning and Development Advisory Board and as the Past-President of the Palm Beach County Gator Club which was recently recognized as one of the Most Outstanding Gator Clubs, in part, for raising over $250,000 in scholarships for graduating high school seniors from Palm Beach County, Florida.
Cory attended the University of Florida and received his bachelor's degree in political science with honors. After an internship with former Congressman E. Clay Shaw, he earned his Juris Doctor degree from Stetson University College of Law. At the University of Florida, Cory was a member of Florida Blue Key and was awarded the William G. Cross Leadership Award. At Stetson University, Cory was awarded the Student Bar Association Student of the Year Award and the William F. Blews Pro Bono Service Award for his commitment to the Youth Court program.
Cory is a member of the Florida Bar, the District of Columbia Bar, and the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
David Savitt concentrates his practice on the representation of condominium, homeowner (HOA), and townhome community associations.
Throughout his career, David has attained litigation experience in complex liability cases. He has managed litigation strategy by composing dispositive motions, motions to compel, and responsive pleadings. He also managed all stages of discovery during appearances at state and federal court mandated status hearings.
David graduated from the Chicago Kent College of Law in 2015. During law school, he served as a judicial extern for the Honorable Elizabeth Budzinski, Circuit Court of Cook County, in Chicago, IL. David then worked as a Legal Intern and Associate General Counsel for PRM Realty Group, LLC.
David has served as a law clerk for Rush University Medical Center. He has also volunteered at the Cabrini Green Legal Aid.
David was recognized in the 2024 edition of Illinois Super Lawyers magazine as an Illinois Rising Star. Inclusion in this listing is limited to less than 2.5% of lawyers under 40 years of age in the State of Illinois.
Job Titles:
- Principal
- Principal / Litigation, Illinois
Jason Orth joined Kovitz Shifrin Nesbit as a senior litigator in 2001. He concentrates his practice in the area of commercial litigation. He prides himself on preparing for every case in a highly diligent manner in order to secure a successful result.
Jason has handled developer litigation, construction defect litigation, mechanics lien foreclosures, covenant enforcement, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and other issues affecting condominium, homeowner (HOA), and townhome community associations. Additionally, his practice also encompasses disputes arising under the Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Jason is active in his community, serving as a football coach, baseball coach, and Cub Scouts Den Leader. Additionally, he has served as a director for the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of McHenry County.
Jason received his undergraduate degree from Purdue University and is a graduate of the DePaul University College of Law.
Jessica Ryan joined Kovitz Shifrin Nesbit in 2001 and became a principal of the firm in 2011. As head of the Landlord/Tenant Department, she has extensive experience in assisting landlords and property managers with rental property issues, including: evictions, building code violations, construction defect litigation, disputes (third party, tenant, vendor), and lease/contract review to confirm compliance with state statutes and local ordinances.
Jessica has a wide-range of experience in landlord/tenant litigation and is well-versed in the Chicago Residential Landlord Tenant Ordinance (RLTO) as well as the Cook County Residential Tenant and Landlord Ordinance (RTLO).
Jessica also assists condominium, homeowner (HOA), and townhome associations with forcible entry and detainer issues, covenant and rule enforcement, and collection of damages and fees. In addition, she has successfully argued before the Second District Appellate Court and prevailed over Motions brought in the Illinois Supreme Court.
Jessica is a frequent speaker at industry tradeshows and community seminars. She regularly contributes articles to local and national publications addressing relevant and timely landlord/tenant issues. She currently serves on the Chicagoland Apartment Association (CAA) Board of Directors and acts as local counsel to the National Apartment Association.
"Breaking Down the Cook County Tenant Landlord Ordinance (RTLO)" - KSN attorney Jessica Ryan discusses the Cook County Tenant Landlord Ordinance (RTLO). She reviews best practices and steps that need to be taken by landlords and property managers in order to be compliant with the new 2021 ordinance. Jessica discusses proper lease terms, liability concerns, and more.
A practicing attorney since 1978, John Bickley III concentrates his practice on the representation of condominium, homeowner (HOA), and townhome community associations. Additionally, he handles civil litigation and personal injury.
John takes pride in keeping his clients out of court, and - when court is unavoidable - in preventing them from being successfully sued. He believes that to be an effective attorney, one must empathize with the client, and that requires understanding the totality of the client's circumstances, not just their legal predicament.
John has served as Assistant Attorney General of the State of Illinois. He attained the rank of Major in the United States Marine Corps where he served as Chief Defense Counsel and Chief Trial Counsel. Further, Bickley has been a lecturer/instructor in Condo & HOA Law at Harper Community College and Joliet Junior College. He also holds the position of Chairman of the Hawthorn Woods Environmental Committee.
John has received an AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell; their highest peer rating for ethical standards and professional ability.
Jonathan Crowell focuses his practice on the representation of condominium, homeowner, and townhome community associations. He also practices in the area of transactional real estate, specifically, commercial property acquisitions and dispositions, with an emphasis in Section 15 condominium deconversions at KSN.
Jonathan's ambition for real estate law allows him to passionately and effectively serve clients in both Illinois and Indiana. His work experience in multiple areas of real estate law along with his educational experience puts him in a unique position to assist clients with a broad range of issues.
Prior to joining KSN as an Attorney, Jonathan was a Law Clerk in multiple KSN departments. As a clerk, he gained experience in the Condominium, Section 15, Litigation, Collections, Tax, and Housing/Employment departments. Jonathan also gained residential real estate transactions and zoning experience during his time as a clerk at Kolpak, Lerner and Grcic.
Jonathan earned his Juris Doctorate from UIC School of Law and attended Arizona State University for undergraduate studies, where he majored in Political Science.
While attending UIC School of Law, Jonathan worked at the Community Enterprise and Solidarity Economy Clinic where he assisted clients in organizing their businesses that were focused on real estate developments. He also received the Order of John Marshall and Moot Court Honors Council awards while attending law school.
Jordan is among the industry's best known and highly respected Common Interest Community Association (condominium, townhome, homeowner, Master) law attorneys. Over the years, he has counseled thousands of associations through every imaginable legal scenario. He has mentored dozens of attorneys, including several who practice at KSN today.
Jordan is among the most widely published attorneys in his field, with numerous articles, newspaper columns, and two books to his credit. Additionally, he is a fellow of the CAI (Community Associations Institute) College of Community Association Attorneys, a charter member of Leading Lawyers, and a charter member of Super Lawyers (Illinois, named on the Super Lawyers list for over 10 consecutive years).
Joshua Weinstein concentrates his practice in real estate and corporate law as they relate to condominium, homeowner (HOA), and townhome community associations along with cooperatives (co-ops).
He has counseled numerous clients on association operation and management, including: review and drafting of by-laws, declarations, service agreements, dispute resolution, liability concerns, collections, foreclosures, property tax delinquency issues, and property tax assessment appeals.
Joshua takes pride in his straightforward approach to counseling clients towards effective resolutions to association problems. His creative strategies have helped secure favorable outcomes for numerous associations, and he constantly strives to successfully and efficiently guide his clients through every issue, from the most routine to the most complex.
Joshua received his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is a graduate of the Chicago-Kent College of Law. He joined KSN in 2010, working as a full-time law clerk while attending law school, before joining the firm as an attorney in 2015.
"When I had to evict a tenant, Julie Jacobson was with me every step of the way. Evicting a tenant is difficult, and I was highly stressed out about it. Not only did Julie win the case, but I was so grateful for her patience, guidance and understanding throughout the process. She is great at what she does, and she went above and beyond to be sure that I always felt supported. If you're seeking an attorney who cares and will be attentive to your needs, I highly recommend Julie."
Julie Jacobson joined Kovitz Shifrin Nesbit in 2001 as a litigator, focusing on representing condominium, homeowner (HOA), and townhome community associations.
She has handled a significant number of collection matters, evictions, landlord/tenant disputes, and breach of contract cases. Julie thrives in the courtroom, logging thousands of hours in Cook and collar county courts.
Julie has taught seminars and led roundtable discussions on trial preparation, rent collection, and other aspects of community association law. She is a frequent speaker at industry tradeshows and community seminars. Additionally, Julie has written articles outlining offers practical strategies for addressing an Association's financial situations and the collection of past due assessments.
Julie has been recognized by the Illinois Super Lawyers magazine as an Illinois "Rising Star". Inclusion in this listing is limited to less than 2.5% of lawyers under 40 years of age in the State of Illinois.
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Chairman
- Principal
- Member of the Firm
Attorney Kelly Elmore is a Principal at KSN who advises condominium, homeowner (HOA), and townhome community associations on all aspects of corporate law including: association contracts, amendments to declarations and by-laws, covenant violations/rule enforcement, the architectural review process, the special assessment process, board elections, assessment collection, foreclosures and bankruptcy issues, developer turnover, construction defect disputes, and contract review.
Kelly is also a member of the firm's Litigation Department. As an active trial lawyer for over seventeen (17) years, Kelly focused on representing and defending condominium, homeowner (HOA), and townhome community associations in various court actions ranging from state court to federal court. Kelly has represented condominium, townhome, and homeowner associations in cases brought against Board members for breach of fiduciary duty and violation of state law from owners. Kelly has also represented community associations in cases against developers for defective construction. Additionally, she prosecutes covenant and rule violations on behalf of associations, enforces the payment of assessments, and represents Associations in various housing discrimination matters.
Kelly is the Chair of the firm's Deconversion Department and advises condominium associations on the complex process of condominium termination or deconversion ("Section 15 sale"). In this process, a buyer or developer purchases a condominium property and removes the property from the provisions of the condominium regime, often converting the property into apartment rentals. Considered by many in the industry to be the leading authority in the deconversion process, Kelly is a regular guest speaker and panelist for various industry lectures, seminars and panel discussions. Notably, Kelly has recently been featured in a number of leading Chicago publications on this topic, including the Chicago Tribune, Crain's Chicago Business, the Chicago Gazette, and The Real Deal. Kelly has been a frequent lecturer for Strafford Publications on the topic of deconversions throughout 2022-2023.
Job Titles:
- Principal
- Principal With the Law Firm of Kovitz Shifrin Nesbit
"I worked with Kerry on behalf of the community association I was the manager of for a number of years. She was always easy to communicate with and quick to respond to any problems or issues that came up for the association and if her vast knowledge base didn't answer my question then she knew where to direct me to find out. Great to work with, couldn't recommend her more!"
Kerry Bartell is a principal with the law firm of Kovitz Shifrin Nesbit 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.
Kerry conducts seminars and webinars on community association law for homeowners, property managers and community associations in the Chicagoland area. She is a frequent speaker at industry tradeshows and has written numerous articles featured in publications such as the Chicago Tribune, Common Interest, and The Chicagoland Cooperator.
Kerry is also actively involved with Community Association Institute (CAI), where she served on the Board for six years and as Illinois Chapter President for two years. She currently serves on the Chapter Speaker Training and Volunteer Committees.
Kerry received her undergraduate degree from Northwestern University and is a graduate of the Chicago-Kent College of Law.
Kevin Cruz concentrates his practice on the representation of condominium, homeowner (HOA), and townhome community associations. He handles housing discrimination matters, building code violation matters, and general litigation.
Throughout his career, Kevin has gained trial and litigation experience through mediation, arbitration, bench, and jury trials. He has experience in family law, consumer protection, housing law, probate law, general civil litigation, immigration law, and real estate transactions.
Kevin served as President of the Asian-Pacific-American Law Students Association and Vice President of the Fair Housing Law Association while attending law school. After graduation, he was the Clinical Attorney Fellow and Supervising Attorney at The John Marshall Law School Fair Housing Legal Clinic where he mentored student interns about Fair Housing Laws, Fair Lending Laws, and Civil Litigation.
Kevin is also a member of the Illinois chapter of the Community Association Institute (CAI), Illinois State Bar Association, Filipino-American Lawyer's Association Member, and the Chicago Attorney Motorcyclists Association.
Kevin earned his Juris Doctorate from The University of Illinois Chicago School of Law and attended Benedictine University for undergraduate studies, where he majored in Pre-Law Studies.
Attorney Kevin Kennedy concentrates his practice in the areas of community association law, collection, litigation, landlord/tenant disputes, and real estate transactions.
Kevin has extensive experience representing condominium, homeowner (HOA), and townhome community associations. He advises board members and property managers on day-to-day matters including community policies, rule enforcement, contract drafting/review, dispute resolution, assessment collections, foreclosure litigation, and more.
Kevin is a Board Member of the House of Blue Hope; an international aid organization which houses, feeds, clothes, and cares for at-risk children in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. House of Blue Hope provides these children the opportunity to "overcome poverty through education" by enrolling them in school and tutoring programs and providing for their health care. Kevin currently serves as House of Blue Hope's VP of Fundraising.
Kevin attended the University of Miami as an undergraduate, receiving his bachelor's degree in English Literature, with honors. During his time at the University of Miami, Kevin was involved in campus life, serving as a Senator on the Student Government, Vice President of his fraternity, and a board member of numerous campus service organizations. Kevin then attended Nova Southeastern University, where he received his Juris Doctor degree. Kevin was invited to become a member of the Moot Court Honor Society and participated in moot court competitions in Florida and New York.
Kevin is a member of the Florida Bar and the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
Laura Boggioni has been practicing law since her admission to the Illinois Bar in 2009. She has extensive experience in assisting landlords and property managers with rental property issues including evictions, subsidized housing, litigation, and local ordinances.
Laura has a wide range of experience in landlord/tenant law and is well-versed in the Chicago Residential Landlord Tenant Ordinance (RLTO) along with the Cook County Residential Tenant and Landlord Ordinance (RTLO).
Prior to joining KSN, Laura worked at the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) for four years. She handled lease compliance, addressed Housing Choice Voucher Program issues, and represented CHA in eviction proceedings.
Laura has worked at various Chicagoland law firms, focusing on landlord/tenant disputes and litigation. She has also volunteered for various legal aid organizations, assisting with numerous issues (criminal, consumer law, family law, incarceration).
Laura received her undergraduate degree from Indiana University and is a graduate of The University of Toledo College of Law.
Attorney Mallory S. Teich (Goldsmith) focuses her practice on community associations, collections, and real estate transactions. Mallory utilizes a results-driven approach to effectively meet her clients' legal needs.
Mallory provides guidance on legal issues related to condominium, homeowner (HOA), and townhome community associations. She advises board members and property managers on day-to-day matters including community policies, rule enforcement, contract review, dispute resolution, assessment collections, and more.
Mallory has successfully handled numerous commercial and residential real estate closings from intake through closing and policy issuance. It is no surprise that many of Mallory's clients return to re-engage her services, confident in her ability to provide them with knowledgeable and effective legal representation.
Mallory is admitted to practice law in multiple jurisdictions including being licensed to practice law by the Florida State Bar, the New York State Bar, the New Jersey State Bar, and the Virginia State Bar. She also licensed to practice before the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
Prior to joining KSN, Mallory worked at a south Florida law firm where she drafted complaints, reviewed contracts, and conducted court hearings. During and after law school, Mallory was a legal intern and extern. She conducted legal research, drafted memos, and gathered information for court decisions.
Mallory earned her Juris Doctorate from Hofstra University School of Law. She attended Emory University for undergraduate studies where she majored in History.
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Member of CAI Illinois
- Member of the Women 's Bar Association of Illinois
Melissa Noland concentrates her practice on the representation of condominium, homeowner (HOA), and townhome community associations in Illinois and Indiana.
Melissa advises her clients on all aspects of corporate law including: association contracts, amendments to declarations and by-laws, covenant violations/rule enforcement, the Indiana grievance process, the architectural review process, approval of annual budgets and the special assessment process, board elections, assessment collection, developer turnover matters, and assists Illinois condominium associations working with developers in Section 15 condominium deconversions. Melissa also prosecutes covenant and rule violations on behalf of associations and enforces the payment of assessments.
Her experience in multiple areas of association law, along with being a resident of Northwest Indiana, puts Melissa in a unique position to assist clients in both Illinois and Indiana with a broad range of issues.
Melissa is a member of CAI Illinois and CAI Indiana and serves as the Vice-Chair for the Golf Committee for CAI Indiana (2025-2026).
Melissa is also a member of the Women's Bar Association of Illinois.
Melissa received her undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado and is a graduate of the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law.
"I have worked with several attorneys and departments over the years within KSN. I have always received prompt, professional responses. Michael Kreibich is the attorney on the majority of my association client's and is always available to provide his professional opinion when asked of, review a dec/rule, or provide guidance regarding new law that affects the communities we manage."
In 2006, Michael Kreibich joined Kovitz Shifrin Nesbit's litigation department, where he advised and guided association clients through the resolution of disputes and issues with unit owners, developers, subcontractors, service providers, and other vendors. During that time, Michael successfully represented numerous clients through all phases of litigation, including mediation, arbitration, and both bench and jury trials.
In 2011, Michael transitioned into the firm's Community Association Department where he now advises condominium, homeowner (HOA), and townhome community associations clients on a variety of major and day-to-day issues. He uses his extensive litigation background to assist association clients through the difficult disputes and decisions they inevitably face.
Prior to joining Kovitz Shifrin Nesbit, Michael practiced in the area of insurance defense litigation, defending insureds in hundreds of lawsuits and obtaining countless favorable outcomes for his clients.
During law school, Michael served as a Judicial Law Clerk for the Honorable Judge Brigid Mary McGrath in the Law Division, Jury Trials section at the Daley Center in Chicago. During that time, he assisted with the proceedings of several large jury trials resulting in verdicts of over $10 million each.
Michael received his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin - Madison and is a graduate of the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law.
KSN attorney Michael O'Malley focuses his practice in the area of property tax assessment appeals.
Neha Parikh has extensive experience with condominium, homeowner (HOA), and townhome community association governance, including: declaration and rule enforcement, violation hearings, assessment collection, and forcible entry and detainer actions. She represents community associations at administrative hearings on building code violations, in foreclosure actions, and in landlord/tenant disputes.
Neha has also handled diverse litigation matters including actions for injunctive and declaratory relief, as well as a variety of contract and enforcement claims. She is experienced in handling all aspects of the governance and litigation process from legal drafting to oral argument, negotiating settlement agreements and presenting evidence at trial.
Neha joined Kovitz Shifrin Nesbit in 2010. She was previously employed at two Chicagoland law firms where she handled contract disputes and other commercial litigation matters. Neha has also worked in-house for a Fortune 100 insurance company where she assisted with the defense of insurers and gained experience in a variety of insurance defense related litigation matters.
Nicholas Landi focuses his practice on the representation of condominium, homeowner (HOA), and townhome community associations in both the prosecution and defense of lawsuits.
Nick has been a practicing attorney since 2018. Throughout his career, Nick has gained litigation experience in the federal court system. He has previously managed large volumes of federal consumer bankruptcy cases throughout Illinois. Nick has handled all aspects of litigation including confirmation hearings, contested motions, and attending Section 341 hearings with the United States and Local Bankruptcy Trustees.
During law school and after graduation, Nick volunteered with World Relief Chicago. He worked pro bono on citizenship cases, assisting immigrants that otherwise would not have been able to afford legal assistance.
Nick earned his Juris Doctorate from The University of Illinois Chicago School of Law and attended University of Missouri for undergraduate studies where he majored in Business Administration.
"KSN has been great to work with over this past year. Our THOA works directly with KSN and we've had only a positive experience so far. Specifically with Omar. He is very knowledgeable, responsive, and very patient throughout our first year as an association. I highly recommend working with KSN."
Omar Malik concentrates his practice on the representation of condominium, homeowner (HOA), and townhome community associations. Thorough and very detail-oriented, Omar utilizes his litigation background to assist association clients through difficult disputes and legal concerns. He has represented clients through all phases of litigation including mediation, arbitration, and bench trials.
Omar assists condominium associations in working with developers in the complex process of condominium deconversion (or condominium conversion), involving the process whereby a developer converts a condominium building into an apartment building.
A comment from an association board member regarding a condominium deconversion managed by Omar: "I am super impressed at [KSN's] abilities to navigate everything we encountered during this process. I was sure the whole thing was dead…You guys are like an elite highly specialized Seal Team Six of lawyers going after the toughest most dangerous tasks in the world. [KSN] made it happen and for that we are super grateful."
Since 2016, Omar has also been a member of the Chicago Bar Association Real Property Law - Condominium Law Subcommittee; a strong and influential group that discusses developments in Association law and helps to guide legislation. In 2022, Omar was elected co-chair of the subcommittee.
Prior to joining Kovitz Shifrin Nesbit, Omar worked for a Chicago law firm, practicing in the areas of commercial litigation, employment/labor law, and trademark law. Additionally, Omar served as a legal intern for Judge Maria Espinosa-Dennis of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida.
Omar earned his law degree from The University of Miami School of Law. Before attending law school, he received his Bachelor's Degree in Accounting from The George Washington University School of Business.
Pamela Park focuses her practice on representing condominium, homeowner (HOA), and townhome community associations.
Pamela is one of the firm's senior litigators, concentrating in the defense of discrimination actions. She has successfully handled numerous complaints on the Federal, State and Local levels including the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Illinois Department of Human Rights, the State of Illinois Human Rights Commission, the Cook County Commission on Human Rights, and the City of Chicago Commission on Human Relations.
Additionally, Pamela has conducted several seminars on the Federal Fair Housing Act and has written several articles on associations' responsibilities to comply with accessibility standards.
Attorney Rachel Oliver focuses her practice on the representation of condominium, homeowner (HOA), and townhome community associations.
Rachel leverages her past industry experience to serve her clients effectively, ensuring that they are receiving the best possible service and outcomes.
Prior to joining KSN, Rachel dedicated years of practice in legal compliance, ethics counsel, training programs, compliance policies, litigation, and risk analysis. She has extensive experience conducting legal research and interpretation to offer successful counsel to her clients.
Rachel earned her Juris Doctorate from Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology. She attended Shaw University for undergraduate studies where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations.
Robert Kogen was the first associate Kovitz Shifrin Nesbit ever hired directly out of law school. Equipped with a quick legal mind and a tireless work ethic, he quickly worked his way up to Principal.
Today, Robert is one of the firm's senior most association lawyers, providing practical advice and solutions to guide condominium, homeowner (HOA), and townhome community associations through virtually every imaginable legal scenario.
Robert has been a member of the firm's Executive Committee since and serves as the firm's Managing Principal (2013-present). In these roles, he has been integrally involved with the firm's strategic development and advancement. Additionally, Robert has served as legal counsel for the Association of Condominium, Townhouse, and Homeowners Associations (ACTHA). He has also authored materials on the subject of association law and is a frequent speaker at association law tradeshows.
Robert received his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois at Champaign Urbana and is a graduate of the DePaul University College of Law. He joined Kovitz Shifrin Nesbit in 1992.
Robert Nesbit is among the Midwest's most visible and highly respected condominium, homeowner (HOA), and townhome community association law attorneys and industry thought leaders.
Robert is a seasoned business strategist at Kovitz Shifrin Nesbit and has been instrumental to the firm's growth and success for over a decade. He has directed many of the firm's association law innovations including litigation insurance for condominium, homeowner, and townhome communities. Robert also pioneered the use of monthly retainers programs to provide affordable legal assistance to associations.
Practicing law since 1984, Robert has extensive experience advising and consulting with association boards of directors and property managers on a wide range of matters including drafting and reviewing by-laws and declarations and service agreements.
Robert is a frequent lecturer on issues of concern to community associations and has authored numerous articles on condominium & homeowner association law. He has been a member of Kovitz Shifrin Nesbit's Executive Committee and served as the Chairman of the firm's Condominium and Homeowner Association Practice Group.
Job Titles:
- Principal
- Member of the Community Associations Institute
Since joining Kovitz Shifrin Nesbit in 1990, Ronald Kapustka has concentrated his practice representing community associations (condominium, homeowner, and townhome), association collections, civil litigation, and real estate property tax appeals.
Ronald is a member of the Community Associations Institute (CAI, Wisconsin chapter) and practices before the Cook County Assessor's Office, the Cook County Board of Review, and the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board.
Attorney Sabina Arutyunyan focuses her practice on the representation of condominium, homeowner (HOA), and townhome community associations.
Fluent in Russian, Sabina has used her previous industry experiences to work efficiently on behalf of her clients while also ensuring that they are receiving the best possible service and outcomes.
While in law school, Sabina was a law clerk for a United States Bankruptcy Trustee where she worked on Chapter 7 bankruptcies.
Following her clerking experience, Sabina was a Legal Intern in the tax/accounting and real estate law sectors. During that time, she attained experience with tax research and compliance, deeds and titles, land surveys, zoning issues, closing documents, and annual reports filings.
Sabina earned her Juris Doctorate from DePaul University College of Law. She attended Marquette University for undergraduate studies where she double majored in Psychology as well as Criminology and Law Studies.
Sarah Hopkins focuses her practice on the representation of condominium, homeowner, and townhome community associations.
Sarah uses her previous industry experiences to work efficiently on behalf of her clients while also ensuring that they are receiving the best possible service and outcomes.
Sarah earned her Juris Doctorate from UIC School of Law and attended the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee for undergraduate studies, where she majored in Business.
While attending the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law, Sarah served on the board of UIC's Law Review, where she published an article pertaining to social distancing regulations in New York. Additionally, she served on UIC's Moot Court Board and served as a Legal Intern at UIC's Fair Housing Legal Clinic where she hosted seminars to educate the public on fair housing law and providing legal assistance to individuals facing discriminatory housing practices.
Sarah clerked for Rapoport, Weisberg & Sims P.C. where she worked on private injury cases.
Susan McGinty concentrates her practice on the representation of condominium, townhome, and homeowner community associations.
Susan leverages her past industry experience to serve her clients effectively, ensuring that they are receiving the best possible service and outcomes.
Prior to joining KSN, Susan worked for a general practice law firm and as a solo practitioner where she focused on civil litigation, insurance defense, real estate law, family law, and bankruptcy.
Before her legal career, Susan was employed in the financial services sector. She oversaw around $200 million in managed assets. Additionally, Susan conducted equity research analysis for a value fund specializing in mid-cap investments, which held over $500 million in assets.
Susan earned her Juris Doctorate from IU-McKinney School of Law in 2008, and she was a member of the Indiana International and Comparative Law Review. She earned a Master of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Florida, and a Bachelor of Science Business Administration in Marketing, and Bachelor of Science Business Administration Equivalent in Accounting from the University of Florida.
"Thomas has worked with our home owners association for several years and has displayed remarkable skills and has a keen intelligence which is very notable. He is very responsive and is a warm and approachable person."
Thomas Olson concentrates his practice on the representation of condominium, homeowner (HOA), and townhome community associations. He handles real estate disputes, including foreclosure, consumer finance defense, commercial litigation, collections, mechanic's lien, title disputes, eminent domain, code violations, and forcible entry and detainer.
Thomas has been a practicing attorney since 2015. He was recognized in the 2023 and 2024 edition of Illinois Super Lawyers magazine as an Illinois Rising Star (general litigation). Inclusion in this listing is limited to less than 2.5% of lawyers under 40 years of age in the State of Illinois. Thomas has assisted banks, financial institutions, business entities, and individuals in resolving real estate, commercial, and consumer finance disputes. Tom has also advised clients on matters of statutory and regulatory compliance at both the state and federal levels.
Thomas has handled all aspects of litigation, including court appearances and oral arguments; discovery; legal research, writing and motion practice; compliance review and document review. He offers a high level of expertise in Illinois Civil Procedure, the Illinois Mortgage Foreclosure Law, Consumer Finance Laws (TILA/Reg Z, RESPA/Reg X, FDCPA, HUD/CFPB/GSE servicing guidelines), and real estate title issues.
Timothy Jacobs concentrates his practice in the area of property tax assessment appeals. Since becoming a member of the Illinois bar in 2005, Tim's efforts have substantially lowered his clients' respective property tax burdens.
While his current practice focuses primarily on the representation of condominium, homeowner (HOA), and townhome community associations, Timothy has also effectively advocated on behalf of commercial, industrial, and apartment building owners. Amidst an extremely daunting Illinois property tax appeal process, Timothy's efforts have substantially lowered their respective property tax burdens.