Cranfill Sumner LLP

The Community Association Practice Group at Cranfill Sumner & Hartzog assists property owners associations, their boards, and their members with a variety of legal issues. We also represent these associations when disputes arise. Our attorneys regularly counsel boards of directors on proper governance and best practices in operations of their associations. Additionally, our attorneys counsel and provide training for management companies and other entities who manage property associations.

Our services include:

• Litigation: Breach of fiduciary duty; declaratory judgment actions (regarding the rights and responsibilities of parties), construction defect claims; claims of lien; foreclosure proceedings; contract disputes; trespass claims; property damage claims; and commercial litigation, including D & O claims.
• Property Owner Disputes: Disputes over dues increases, architectural requirements, declaration violations, and collections, among other issues.
• Governance, Trainings, and Communications: Attend board and association meetings, hearings; draft responses to board or management company questions; provide counsel on parliamentary procedures; provide guidance for boards and memberships as to governing documents or specific issues.
• Contracts: Draft, review, and negotiate contractual agreements between associations and developers, property owners and other vendors.
• Association Documentation: Work with boards to draft and review documentation, policies, and procedures; prepare association declarations, articles of incorporation, by-laws, as well as related amendments; assist with interpretation of covenants and declarations; and providing legal opinions and counsel.
• Collections: Claims of lien; foreclosure proceedings; notices for assessments and unpaid fines; validity and imposition of fines, suspension of privileges; filing Proof of Claims and other documents as may be required in cases involving bankruptcy.

Cranfill Sumner & Hartzog is committed to a work environment that welcomes, nurtures, and honors the contributions of individuals who bring a variety of talents, experiences, and backgrounds to our firm.  We believe we work best with clients, judges, juries, other attorneys, and each other when we reflect the richness of our community and world.

• Our Diversity Committee meets regularly to assess our diversity efforts and create new initiatives. The committee is made up of partners, associates, and staff from our three offices, and includes representatives from the Management Committee, Human Resources, and Recruiting.
• We are committed to recruiting attorneys and staff through minority job fairs and at historically black colleges and universities, and by identifying and participating in other programs in the legal community designed to increase minority hiring.
• Our firm is an outstanding place for women to practice law.  Our female attorneys constitute 30% of our partners and 54% of our associates, and women fully participate in all aspects of firm leadership. 
• Our training and mentoring is designed to develop and support attorneys and staff and encourage an environment of inclusivity and sensitivity.
• We make work/life balance a priority and recognize that excellence is not compromised by flexibility and innovation.
• Our employees are active and engaged in their communities through volunteer activities, charitable giving, and pro bono projects.

1. To recruit, hire, train, mentor, and develop attorneys and staff who reflect the richness and diversity of the world we live in and the communities we serve.
2. To foster a work environment where all individuals are supported and valued.
3. To increase awareness of, and sensitivity to, the differences in the cultures, backgrounds, and experiences of our employees, clients, and colleagues.  
4. To engage in a coordinated program of civic activism, charitable giving, and pro bono projects that focus on improving and strengthening our community.