Services

For more than 25 years attorney Charles T. VanderVennet has been representing community associations, including condominium associations, townhome associations, and homeowners associations, located throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. He has frequently authored and been quoted in articles on community association issues and lectured in this area of the law. One of his strengths is translating his experience both as an attorney and as a former board member into practical and realistic approaches for handling the issues confronting an association and its board. He encourages a high degree of client communication to pursue the Philosophy of Preventative Law; addressing a small problem at an early stage is the best way to prevent it from becoming larger and more expensive.

Mr. VanderVennet advises and/or acts on the legal aspects of a community association’s various operations including:

• Assessment collections (including representation of associations’ interests in unit owner bankruptcy and mortgage foreclosure cases);
• Declaration, By-Law and rule analysis, drafting and amendments;
• Preparation of legal opinions;
• Interpretation of federal, state and local statutes, ordinances, regulations and case law;
• Contract review, negotiation and development;
• Development and implementation of election procedures and practices;
• Covenant or rule enforcement and litigation;
• Developer disputes and litigation and counseling regarding developer transition issues;
• Representation at owner and board meetings;
• Bank loan transactions;
• Common Element license agreement transactions;
• Easement agreement analysis, drafting and implementation; and
• General corporate representation.

Mr. VanderVennet's work is tailored to the individual needs of each community association client. It is based on a library of customary documents and forms developed and refined over a span of many years, which means he does not have to “recreate the wheel” each time a particular situation is faced. He believes each separate client and situation is deserving of and therefore should receive highly individualized attention. He strives to deliver to each client a high-level of work product that suits the association’s unique needs and objectives, and to create ongoing and long-term relationships.

With the exception of assessment collection matters, Mr. VanderVennet's services are billed at an hourly rate. Services include (but are not limited to) telephone conferences with the property manager and/or designated board representatives, attendance at association meetings, review of an association’s governing documents, and preparation of correspondence and documentation as requested. Time is recorded in no larger increments than tenths of an hour. Invoices typically are sent to an association as work is completed or monthly.

Fees for assessment collection efforts are charged according to a separate fee schedule.

Clients requiring frequent telephone communication may opt for a monthly retainer arrangement which includes unlimited telephone conferences with authorized representatives pertaining to general topics about the governance of the property, and possibly other specified services.

Contact attorney Charles T. VanderVennet at 847-593-8240 or to discuss your needs and to find out the current billing rates.