Pennsylvania, June 2021 – Steven L. Sugarman, Esquire, founding principal of the law firm, Steven L. Sugarman & Associates, has been recognized as a Pennsylvania “Super Lawyer” for the fifteenth consecutive year and featured in the June/July ’21 issues of Philadelphia magazine and Pennsylvania Super Lawyers Magazine. “Super Lawyers” are chosen by their peers and only 5% of all Pennsylvania lawyers receive this honor each year. Moreover, very few lawyers in Pennsylvania have the distinction of being selected as a “Super Lawyer” for 15 years in a row.

A member of the prestigious College of Community Association Lawyers and a past and current Chairman of the Community Associations Institute’s Legislation Action Committee in Pennsylvania, Mr. Sugarman continues to be in the forefront in developing statutory and decisional law in the field of condominium and homeowner association law throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In addition to appearing before our courts and legislature as an expert in the field of community association law, Mr. Sugarman developed and teaches the course, “Condominium and Homeowner Association Law” as an adjunct professor at Villanova Law School. Mr. Sugarman is a graduate of Cornell University and the Temple University School of Law.

STEVEN L. SUGARMAN, founding principal of the firm, was a featured speaker at the Community Association Institute’s Annual Law Seminar presented virtually by the College of Community Association Lawyers from January 25-29, 2021. In the Annual Case Law Update, Mr. Sugarman shared his insights and perspectives on the important cases decided by our courts throughout the country in 2020 that have impacted the community association industry. A frequent lecturer at the national and regional levels, Mr. Sugarman had previously presented the “Annual Condo/HOA Case Law and Legislative Update” at the 2020 Pennsylvania Bar Institute’s Annual Real Estate Institute held virtually in December of 2020. A member of the prestigious College of Community Association Lawyers, Mr. Sugarman also serves as an adjunct professor at the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law where he developed and teaches the course, “Condominium and Homeowner Association Law.”

On January 30, 2020, Mr. Sugarman was a featured speaker at the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Midyear Meeting held in Nassau, Bahamas. Mr. Sugarman’s spoke on the topic, “Buying & Living in an Age-Restricted Community Association.” The program focused on the unique legal issues arising out of and affecting the “over-55” common interest ownership regimes located throughout Pennsylvania. A frequent speaker and educator on condominium and homeowner association law, Mr. Sugarman will be speaking next at the Pennsylvania Bar Institute’s program, “Buying and Selling in Condominiums and Homeowner Associations” to be held in Philadelphia on April 21, 2020.

On April 8, 2019, Mr. Sugarman appeared before the House Urban Affairs Committee at the Capitol in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania for an informational meeting and presentation on community associations in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The program was part of the on-going efforts of the Pennsylvania Legislative Action Committee of the Community Associations Institute (CAI) to educate and inform our lawmakers on the structure and role of community associations in today’s real estate marketplace. Mr. Sugarman chairs the Legislative Action Committee of CAI and actively participates in the drafting and negotiating of amendments to the statutes governing condominiums, planned communities and cooperatives in Pennsylvania.

STEVEN L. SUGARMAN, founding principal of the Berwyn law firm, Steven L. Sugarman & Associates, was a featured speaker at the Pennsylvania Bar Institute’s 22nd Annual Real Estate Institute recently held at the Convention Center in Philadelphia. Mr. Sugarman presented on recent decisional and statutory law affecting condominium and homeowner associations throughout Pennsylvania in the course titled, “Annual Condo/HOA Case Law and Legislative Update.”A frequent lecturer at the national and regional levels on community association law, Mr. Sugarman will be speaking next at the Community Association Institute’s 40th Annual Law Seminar held in New Orleans, Louisiana on January 23-26, 2019. A member of the prestigious College of Community Association Lawyers, Mr. Sugarman also serves as an adjunct professor at Villanova Law School where he developed and teaches the course, “Condominium and Homeowner Association Law.” He is a graduate of Cornell University and the Temple University School of Law.

The transition process from declarant to homeowner control can be a stressful time for an association. However, having a better understanding of the overall process can help alleviate some of the stress and allow for a successful transition. There are responsibilities the board has and should be aware of so that the transition process can run more smoothly and effectively.

Steven L. Sugarman, Esq. was interviewed by AssociationHelpNow™ about the process, and what all stakeholders can do to ensure a smooth transition. Read the interview.

We are pleased to report that on November 4, 2016, Governor Tom Wolf approved and signed Senate Bill 1282 into law as Act 162. A copy of Senate Bill 1282 is attached, and the Act will become effective on January 3, 2017. After this effective date, community associations in Pennsylvania will no longer have to incur excessive fees upon recording amendments to their declarations.

STEVEN L. SUGARMAN, founding principal of the Berwyn law firm, Steven L. Sugarman & Associates, recently presented testimony before the House Urban Affairs Committee of Pennsylvania’s General Assembly in connection with House Bill 1101 and Senate Bill 1282.  Those bills seek to eliminate exorbitant Recorder of Deeds’ fees relating to the recordation of amendments to declarations for condominiums and homeowner association. Please see the Article attached for more information.

On April 21, 2015, Mr. Sugarman appeared before the Senate and House Urban Affairs Committees in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania for a joint informational meeting and presentation on Community Associations in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Legislative Action Committee of the Community Associations Institute, which Mr. Sugarman currently chairs, worked with the Senate and House Committees to organize the educational event for the Legislators and their staff.