Ashley D. Lupo and Sarah E. Spector, both shareholders with Roetzel & Andress, LPA in Southwest Florida, have earned Florida Bar Board certifications in Condominium and Planned Development Law.
Board certification recognizes attorneys’ special knowledge, skills, and proficiency in various areas of law, together with professionalism and ethics in practice. Certified attorneys are the only lawyers allowed to use the terms “specialist,” or “expert,” or the initials “B.C.S.” when referring to their legal credentials. Board certified attorneys must meet a number of criteria in order to earn certification, including a passing grade on a rigorous, practice-area specific examination, and a peer-reviewed assessment of competence in the field, plus demonstrated character, ethics, and professionalism.
For two decades Ashley D. Lupo, of the firm’s Naples office, has focused on the practical and efficient representation of planned communities, including condominiums, homeowners' associations, country clubs (bundled and 617), hotels, mixed-use and industrial condominiums, and continuing care retirement communities (CCRC). She has represented hundreds of planned communities and country clubs regarding all aspects of their day-to-day operations, including compliance with Federal and Florida statutes and regulations, employment and Fair Housing Act issues, land-use issues, interaction with federal, Florida and local agencies, interpretation of governing documents, preparation of amended documents, covenant enforcement, arbitration and mediations before the Division of Florida Condominiums, contract negotiation, and other corporate governance issues.
Sarah E. Spector is based in the firm’s Fort Myers office. She represents condominium, cooperative, and homeowners’ association clients with the management and operational aspects of governing their communities as well as zoning and land use matters. Ms. Spector is the president of the Community Associations Institute (CAI), South Gulf Coast Chapter and also serves as a member of the Association’s board. In addition to her work with condominium and homeowners’ associations, she represents a number of clients in zoning and land use matters, including environmental resource and water use permitting, local and state code compliance, and private and government agreement drafting and negotiation.
Both Ms. Lupo and Ms. Spector are Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) approved presenters of continuing education seminars for directors and community association managers on topics such as new legislation, Fair Housing Act, Aging in Place, Employment, Contracts, Covenant Enforcement and conducts educational Certification Seminars on Board Education.