Michael J. Gelfand, Condominium and Homeowner Association Law Attorney

MICHAEL J. GELFAND
Regions Financial Tower
1555 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd.
Suite 1220
West Palm Beach, Florida 33401
(561) 655-6224

BAR MEMBERSHIPS:	The Florida Bar Southern District of Florida Bar (Qualified in Trial and Bankruptcy Courts) Middle District of Florida Bar United States Eleventh Circuit Bar American Bar Association Palm Beach County Bar Association
RATING:	Martindale - Hubbell "AV"®. American College of Real Estate Lawyers WorldClass Academy (Florida Chamber Foundation) College of Community Association Lawyers
CERTIFICATIONS:	Florida Bar Board Certified Real Estate Lawyer. Arbitrator (pursuant to Supreme Court of Florida approved program). Mediator (Supreme Court Certified for County and Circuit Courts).
PROFESSIONAL, CIVIC AND COMMUNITY POSITIONS: (Last 10 Years)	Children's Advocacy Award "In recognition of outstanding Pro Bono service to the citizens of Palm Beach County" (1996) Children's Home Society of South Florida: Pro Bono litigation co-counsel, 1992-1997. City of Boca Raton Special Master, 2005-present. Builders' Board of Adjustment and Appeals: Chairperson, 1988-2004; Member, 1986 - 1988. Florida, State of Commissioner, Fifteenth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission, appointed by the Governor Crist, 2008. The Florida Bar Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, Executive Council: Member 1997-Present Condominium and Planned Development Committee: 2004 - 2007; Co-Chair, 2003 - 2004; Vice-Chair, 1999 - 2003; Secretary, 1996 - 1999; Member 1989 - 1996. Condominium Sub-Committee: Chair 1997-2002. Website Committee: 2007- Present. Various Continuing Committee Memberships. Legislative Review Committee: Co-Vice Chair (Real Property) 2007; Speaker's Bureau: 1998 - Present Fellowship Committee: 2008 National Association of Parliamentarians: Member, 1995-Present. Palm Beach County Bar Association: Bench/Bar Computer Access to Public Records Special Committee, Chairperson, 1991 Civil Circuit Rules Committee, Member 1988 - 1996. Condominium and Association Continuing Legal Education Committee, Chairperson 1991-1993, 1997-Present. Independence of the Judiciary Committee 2006-Present. Small Claims Court Committee, Member 1993-Present. Palm Beach County Court: Special Master, 1996-2001. Umpire, 2007. Palm Beach County School System: Construction Oversight and Review Committee: Member, 2000 - 2007; Vice-Chair 2005-2006. Alexander W. Dreyfoos, Jr., School of the Arts Advisory Committee, Chair 2006-2007; Member 2003-Present. Roosevelt Community Middle School Advisory Committee: Chair 2000-2002. Addison Mizner Elementary School Advisory Committee: Secretary 1996-2000. Palm Beach Lakes High School: Magnet School Advisory Committee: Member, 1995 - Present. Youth Court Magistrate 2003 - Present. School Board Candidate, (Primary and General Election, District 6) 1998. Gifted Education Advisory Committee: Member 1997-1999. Temple Israel of West Palm Beach: Vice President: 2007-Present. Trustee 2006 - Present. Religious Practices Committee: Chair 2007- Present. Various Committee Memberships: 2005-Present. Temple Beth El of Boca Raton, Inc.: Vice President of Membership 1993-1995. Corporate Secretary 1992-1993. Parliamentarian, 1988-1989 Various Committee Memberships: 1988 - 2005. Youth Orchestra of Palm Beach County, Inc.: Past Chair 2007-Present; Chair 2006-2007; Chair Elect 2005-2006; Corporate Secretary 2003 - 2005. Director, 2003 - Present.
LEGAL WORK EXPERIENCE:
December 2006 -Present	Co-Owner ARC MEDIATION, INC.
June 1991-Present	Senior Shareholder GELFAND & ARPE, P.A.
March 1989-June 1991	Supervisor: Real Estate Litigation ST. JOHN & KING 500 Australian Avenue South, Suite 600 West Palm Beach, Florida 33401
January 1984-March 1989	Senior Associate BECKER, POLIAKOFF & STREITFELD, P.A. 3111 Stirling Road Hollywood, Florida 33312-6525 [Broward County and West Palm Beach offices]
May 1982-Dec. 1983	Shareholder ABRAMSON, ANSEL & GELFAND, P.A. 634 West Flagler Street Miami, Florida 33130
Sept. 1981-April 1982	Law Clerk for Jon Mills, Esq. McGALLIARD, MILLS & deMONTMOLLIN 4040 Newberry Road Gainesville, Florida 32607
LEGAL SEMINAR LECTURER:	2008 "Selected Florida Cases," "University of Miami's 33rd Institute on Condominium and Cluster Developments, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida [Scheduled November 2008] "Community Association & Condominium Conflicts, " Florida Dispute Resolution Center, Orlando, Florida [scheduled August, 2008] "Community Association Law," Palm Beach County Bar Association, West Palm Beach, Florida. "The New Age of Condominium Workouts - Perspectives From all Angles and the Tremendous Potential for Disaster," American Bar Association, Washington, DC. "Homeowners’ Associations: Real Estate Certification Review," Florida Bar Real Property Probate and Trust Law Section, Orlando, Florida. "Case Law Update," Ins and Outs of Florida Condominium Law - 2008 Edition, Tampa, Florida. "Town and Homeowners’ Association Responsibilities," Town of Jupiter, Florida, Jupiter, Florida. "Distressed Condominium Projects: A Survival Guide in Uncertain Financial Times." American Legal Institute - American Bar Association, Video Webcast. 2007 "Condominium and Homeowners’ Association Law: A Primer" Palm Beach County Circuit Court Law Clerks Program, West Palm Beach, Florida. "Condominium Workouts - A Survival Guide"American Law Institute / American Bar Association, National Teleconference and Webcast. "Selected Cases," University of Miami's 32th Institute on Condominium and Cluster Developments, Miami, Florida. "The Condo Glut - A Survival Guide for Condominium Workouts" American College of Real Estate Lawyers, Miami Beach, Florida. "Small Claims Clinic," Palm Beach County Bar Association Public Seminars, West Palm Beach, Florida. "Community Association & Condominium Conflicts: Significant Growth to Preserving the Peace" Florida Dispute Resolution Center, Orlando, Florida. "Condominiums, Conversions, Etc." Florida Bar Real Property Probate and Trust Law Section, Palm Beach, Florida. "2007 Case Law and Statutory Update and Practice Ethics" Palm Beach County Bar Association, West Palm Beach, Florida. "2007 Legislative and Case Law Update: New Worries and Ethical Considerations" Palm Beach County Bar Association, West Palm Beach, Florida. "Case Law Update: What Transpired in 2006" Florida Bay Real Property Probate and Trust Law Section, Orlando, Florida. "Homeowners’ Association: Real Estate Certification Review," Florida Bar Real Property Probate and Trust Law Section, Orlando, Florida. "Parliamentary Procedures — Practical Balancing: The Right to Speak vs. The Right to Decide," Chautauqua Institute, Chautauqua, NY. "Alternate Dispute Resolution and Community Associations: Do Not Pass Go! Why so Few Community Association Appellate Decisions?" Florida Real Property Probate and Trust Law Section, Tampa Florida. 2006 "Selected Cases," University of Miami's 31th Institute on Condominium and Cluster Developments, Miami, FL. "Parliamentary Procedures — Practical Balancing: The Right to Speak vs. The Right to Decide," Chautauqua Institute, Chautauqua, NY. "Association Action: Community Decision Making and Participation," Chautauqua Institute, Chautauqua, N.Y. "Homeowners’ Association: Real Estate Certification Review," Florida Bar Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, Orlando, FL. "They Changed it Again: 2006 Legislative Update and Ethical Considerations," Palm Beach County Bar Association, West Palm Beach, FL. "2006 Community Association Law Update," the Florida Bar, Annual Meeting, Boca Raton, FL. "Statutory and Caselaw Update: Ethics and Responsibility in our Changing Environment," Florida Bar Real Property Probate and Trust Law Section, Palm Beach, FL. "Alternate Dispute Resolution in Condominium [& Homeowners’] Association Disputes," Palm Beach County Bar Association, West Palm Beach, Florida. 2005 "Selected Cases," University of Miami's 30th Institute on Condominium and Cluster Developments, Miami, FL. "Homeowners’ and Condominium Association Law: 25^th Annual Legislative and Case Law Update," Florida Bar Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, Manalapan, FL. "Condominium/Homeowner/Cooperative Decision Making", Chautauqua Institute, Chautauqua, N.Y. "Homeowners’ Association: Real Estate Certification Review," Florida Bar Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, Orlando, FL. "Mediation: Homeowners Association Act," Florida Bar Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, Orlando, FL. "Statutory and Case Law Update: Ethics and Responsibility in Our Changing Environment," Palm Beach County Bar Association Seminar, West Palm Beach, FL. "2005 Real Property Legislative Update: The Making of Kosher Sausage - Direct from Tallahassee and Hot Off the Press," Palm Beach County Bar Association Seminar, West Palm Beach, FL. "Law Week 2005: Homeowners and Condominium Law," Palm Beach County Bar Association Public Seminar, West Palm Beach, FL. 2004 "Case Law Update: 24^th Annual Legislative and Recent Case Law Update," Florida Bar Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, Palm Beach, FL. "Case Law Update: Highlights of What Have They Done To Us Now, Tips For Clients And Ethical Issues For Counsel," University of Miami's 29th Institute on Condominium and Cluster Developments, Miami, FL. "Issues and Ethics Impacting Out-of-State Counsel Considering Florida Community Association Law," Florida Bar Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, Williamsburg, VA. "Case Law Update: Judicial Divining of Legislative, Executive and Personal Actions," Palm Beach County Bar Association Public Seminar, West Palm Beach, FL. "Case Law Update: Highlights of What Have They Done to Us Now, Tips for Clients and Ethical Issues for Counsel," Palm Beach County Bar Association Public Seminar, West Palm Beach, FL. "Judicial Highlights for Community Associations: Have You See What Has Come down from the Mountaintop?" The Florida Bar Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, Orlando, FL. 2003 "Case Law Update: Recent Development," University of Miami's 28th Institute on Condominium and Cluster Developments, Miami, FL. "Evolving Condominium and H.O.A. Issues, The Florida Bar Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, Palm Beach, FL. "Alternate Dispute Resolution: Can We Sue Yet?", Palm Beach County Bar Association Public Seminar, West Palm Beach, FL. "Alternate Dispute Resolution", Overview of Real Property Litigation Issues, The Florida Bar’s Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, Fort Lauderdale and Tampa, FL. "Federal and State Fair Housing Law", The Nuts and Bolts of Fair Housing Litigation, The Florida Bar’s Equal Opportunity Law Section, Miami, FL. "Current Issues in Fair Housing", Fair Housing Month 2003, Palm Beach County Office of Equal Opportunity and Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, Inc., West Palm Beach, FL. 2002 "Selected Case Law Update", University of Miami's 27th Institute on Condominium and Cluster Developments, Miami, FL. "Case Law Update", Palm Beach County Bar Association Public Seminar, West Palm Beach, FL. "Not Quite the Supreme Court Review: Florida Appellate Decisions Impacting Associations" Palm Beach County Bar Association Seminar, West Palm Beach, FL. "Condominium/Homeowner/Cooperative Decision Making", Chautauqua Institute, Chautauqua, N.Y. "News From the Front", The Florida Bar, The Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, Boca Raton, FL. "Small Claims Clinic," Palm Beach County Bar Association Public Seminars, Boca Raton, FL. 2001 "Selected Case Law Update", University of Miami's 26th Institute on Condominium and Cluster Developments, Miami, FL. "Case Law Update", Palm Beach County Bar Association Public Seminar, West Palm Beach, FL. "Condominium/Homeowner/Cooperative Decision Making", Chautauqua Institute, Chautauqua, N.Y. "Condominium and Homeowner Association Update", Attorneys’ Title Insurance Fund, 37^th Annual Fund Assembly, Orlando, FL "Hot Topics", The Florida Bar, The Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, Ft. Lauderdale, FL. 2000 "Selected Case Law Update", University of Miami's 25th Institute on Condominium and Cluster Developments, Miami, FL. "Woodside Village v. Jahren: Whose Rights Come First" The Florida Bar Real Property Division Roundtable, Palm Beach, FL. "Recent Cases" Palm Beach County Bar Association Annual Association Law Seminar, West Palm Beach, FL. "Hot Topics: Condominium Association Law", The Florida Bar, The Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, Orlando, FL. "Case Law Update", Palm Beach County Bar Association Public Seminar, West Palm Beach, FL. "Small Claims Clinic," Palm Beach County Bar Association Public Seminars, Boca Raton, FL. 1999: "Fair Housing Accessibility & Accommodations" Florida Civil Rights Conference, Miami, FL. "Restructuring the Community Association-How Does the Association Raise Capital for Substantial Improvements? Dealing with Demographic Changes in the Community.", University of Miami's 24th Institute on Condominium and Cluster Developments, Miami, FL. "Condominium Update", The Florida Bar, The Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, Palm Beach, FL. "Case Law Update", Palm Beach County Bar Association Public Seminar, West Palm Beach, FL. "Recent Cases" Palm Beach County Bar Association Annual Association Law Seminar, West Palm Beach, FL. "Condominium and Homeowners Association", Palm Beach County Bar Association Public Seminars, West Palm Beach, FL. "Small Claims Clinic", Palm Beach County Bar Association Public Seminars, West Palm Beach, FL. 1998: "Recent Developments - Florida and Elsewhere - Judicial Update", University of Miami's Twenty-Third Institute on Condominium and Cluster Developments, Miami, FL. "Law Week Association Law Update", Palm Beach County Bar Association, West Palm Beach, FL. "Condominium and Homeowner Association Assessments, Collections and Liens" Palm Beach Community College, Boca Raton, FL. "1998 Condominium & Homeowner Association Law & Practice Seminar", Real Property, Probate & Trust Law Section, The Florida Bar, Tampa FL. "Alternative Dispute Resolution", Community Associations Institute, West Palm Beach, FL. "Condominium and Homeowners Association", Palm Beach County Bar Association Public Seminars, West Palm Beach, FL. "Small Claims Clinic", Palm Beach County Bar Association Public Seminars, West Palm Beach, FL. 1997: "Assessments and Lien Foreclosures", Community Associations Institute, West Palm Beach, FL. "Small Claims Clinic", Palm Beach County Bar Association Public Seminars, West Palm Beach, FL. "Phantom Unit Assessments: RIS Corp. Decision Impact on Developers and Associations", The Florida Bar Condominium and Planned Development Committee. "Case Law Update", Palm Beach County Bar Association Law Seminar, West Palm Beach, FL. 1996: "Insurance Update - Overview of Insurable Interests, Statutory Requirements and Operational Issues Facing Associations.", University of Miami's Twenty-First Institute on Condominium and Cluster Developments, Miami, FL. "Recent Developments: Florida Judicial Update", The Florida Bar's 20th Annual Condominium Seminar. "Satellite Dish Regulation: Impact of Telecommunications Act Section 207", The Florida Bar Condominium and Planned Development Committee, Real Property Section Annual Meeting. "Case Law Update", Palm Beach County Bar Association Annual Association Law Seminar, West Palm Beach, FL. "Law Week Seminars: Homeowners and Association Law Update", Palm Beach County Bar Association, West Palm Beach, FL. "Small Claims Clinic", Palm Beach County Bar Association Public Seminars, West Palm Beach, FL. 1995: "Florida Condominium Law", National Business Institutes. "1995 Association Law Amendment Update", Palm Beach Atlantic College, West Palm Beach, FL. "Small Claims Clinic", Palm Beach County Bar Association Public Seminars, West Palm Beach, FL.. 1994: "Recent Developments - Florida and Elsewhere - Judicial Update", University of Miami's Nineteenth Institute on Condominium and Cluster Developments, Miami, FL. "Case Law Update", Palm Beach County Bar Association Annual Association Law Seminar, West Palm Beach, FL. "Entrepreneurial Law", Palm Beach Community College, Boca Raton, FL. Community Association Institute Association Law, Palm Beach Community College, Boca Raton, FL. 1993: "Case Law Update", Palm Beach County Bar Association Annual Association Law Seminar, West Palm Beach, FL. Community Association Institute Association Law, Palm Beach Community College, West Palm Beach, FL. 1992: "Recent Developments - Florida and Elsewhere - Judicial Update", University of Miami's Seventeenth Institute on Condominium and Cluster Developments, Miami, FL. "Case Law Update-Selected Cases", The Florida Bar's 18th Annual Condominium Law Seminar. "Case Law Update", Palm Beach County Bar Association Annual Association Law Seminar, West Palm Beach, FL. Community Association Institute Association Law, Palm Beach Community College, West Palm Beach, FL. 1991: "Case Law Update", Palm Beach County Bar Association's Annual Association Law Seminar, West Palm Beach, FL. 1990: "Transfer Restrictions and Occupancy: What is Arbitrary and Capricious?", The Florida Bar's 17th Annual Condominium Law Seminar. "Recent Cases, Statutes and Rules", Palm Beach County Bar Association's Annual Association Law Seminar, West Palm Beach, FL. 1989: "Limitations on Sale/Rental Approvals", Palm Beach County Bar Association's Annual Association Law Seminar, West Palm Beach, FL.
LEGAL WRITINGS:	"The Plaza East Trilogy: Not a Nursery Rhyme, But Scary Warfare," 82 Fla. Bar Journal 4 (April 2008). "Supreme Court on Trust Account Liability," Advisor (Florida Lawyers Mutual Ins. Co., 2nd Quarter 2008). "Alternative Dispute Resolution," Florida Condominium and Condominium Association Law (The Florida Bar, 2007). "Condominium and Homeowners' Association Liens," Florida Condominium and Condominium Association Law (The Florida Bar, 2007). "Community Association Law Update," Actionline (The Florida Bar Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, Fall 2007). "Condominium and Homeowners’ Association Liens", Florida Real Property Litigation (The Florida Bar, 4th Ed. 2005) "Community Association Law: Mutating Entities?" (The Florida Bar Real Property, Probate and Trust Section, Fall 2004) "Alternative Dispute Resolution", Florida Condominium Law and Practice (The Florida Bar, 3^rd Ed. 1996) "Out of the Woodshed: Woodside Village v. Jahren" Actionline (The Florida Bar Real Property, Probate and Trust Section, Spring 2002) "Condominium and Homeowner Association Liens", Florida Real Property Litigation (The Florida Bar, 3^rd Ed., 2001) "Condominium Association Arbitrations: Quick and Inexpensive Resolutions" Actionline (The Florida Bar Real Property, Probate and Trust Section, Summer/Fall 2002) "Condominium and Homeowner Association Liens", Florida Real Property Litigation (The Florida Bar, 2002) "Court Dismisses Qui Tam Documentary Stamp Tax Litigation Against Foreclosure Sale Purchasers," Actionline (The Florida Bar Real Property, Probate and Trust Section, February/May 2001) "Community Association Law: Florida Case Law Update Selected Cases", Actionline (The Florida Bar Real Property, Probate and Trust Section, June/September 2000) "Florida Community Association 2000 Legislative Update", Actionline (The Florida Bar Real Property, Probate and Trust Section, June/September 2000) " Legislation Regulation Our Homestead Owner/Controlled Communities, "Actionline (The Florida Bar Real Property, Probate and Trust Section, July/October 1999). "Condominiums, Cooperative and Homeowners' Association: Hang On!", Actionline (The Florida Bar Real Property, Probate and Trust Section, October/December 1998). "Alternate Dispute Resolution," Florida Real Property Litigation (The Florida Bar, 2d Ed. 1996). "Condominium and Homeowner Association Liens", Florida Real Property Litigation (The Florida Bar, 2d Ed. 1996). "Regulating the Homestead: Wholesale Revisions to the Homeowners' Association Law", Actionline (The Florida Bar Real Property, Probate and Trust Section, June/July 1996). "1995 Association Law Amendments", Manager's Report (1995). "Review of 1991 and 1992 Amendments to Florida Statutes Chapter 718", Florida Condominium Law and Practice (The Florida Bar, Supp. 1993). "Condominium and Homeowner Association Liens", Florida Real Property Litigation (The Florida Bar, 1993). Contributor, Florida Admissibility of Evidence (Harrison, 1989).
LEGAL EDUCATION:	University of Florida College of Law, Gainesville, Florida. Degree: Juris Doctor, May 1982. Activities and Honors: Order of Barristers; Moot Court Team; First Place award for the 1982 ABA/LSD Regional Moot Court competition, selected to represent the Moot Court Team at the ABA/LSD National Competition; Dean's Honor List (four of seven grading periods); Appellate Advocacy, Honors, Instructor and member of Board of Editors; Governmental Research Council, Director; John Marshall Bar Association, Representative; Academic Incentives Committee; New Student Advisor; Phi Delta Phi Fraternity; Law League Softball.
UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION:	Northwestern University School of Speech, Evanston, Illinois. Degree: Bachelor of Science/Speech (Communication Studies/Political Science), June 1979. Activities and HonorsActivities and Honors: Deru Senior Honorary Society; Speaker of the Forum (Student Senate); Student Bail Fund, Coordinator; Committee to Elect a Student Alderperson, Treasurer & Candidate; University Center Board, Chairman; Student Appeals Court Justice.