Becker & Poliakoff

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Becker Celebrates Women’s History Month: Meet Kaylin Martinelli

In celebration of Women’s History Month, Becker is showcasing the inspiration, philosophies, and expertise of the women attorneys and lobbyists who help elevate our firm and client service. Kaylin Martinelli is an attorney in our Orlando office. She focuses her practice on Construction Law & Litigation, with an emphasis on construction defect litigation. Q: Explain your […]

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“Candidates May Vote For Themselves” – News-Press

Q: My condominium association has a five-member board of directors. At our upcoming annual meeting, there will not need to be an election as there are three open seats and three candidates. However, the question has arisen as to how to conduct the organizational meeting to be held following the annual meeting where the board […]

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Becker Celebrates Women’s History Month: Meet Mary Hawk

In celebration of Women’s History Month, Becker is showcasing the inspiration, philosophies, and expertise of the women attorneys and lobbyists who help elevate our firm and client service. Mary Hawk is a shareholder in our Bradenton, FL office. She focuses her practice in the areas of general representation and dispute resolution for condominium, homeowner, cooperative, […]

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Becker’s State Lobbying Update: Week 9

Becker’s End of Session Spotlight Welcome to Becker’s End of Session Spotlight! As your trusted lobbyists we are proud to provide you with the latest developments in politics and policy in Tallahassee. As the 2024 Legislative Session comes to a close, here is what happened in Tallahassee during Week 9 (March 4 – March 8). Headliners […]

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Understanding How to Handle your Association’s Insurance Claim with Public Insurance Adjuster Ken Shriberg

For more episodes of Take It To The Board, click here! Various types of casualty events, including fires, floods, explosions, windstorms, and even the unavoidable burst water pipe, will likely occur at some point in your community’s lifespan which means your board will have to submit an insurance claim. That process can make your association […]

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Becker Celebrates Women’s History Month: Meet LaToya Sheals

In celebration of Women’s History Month, Becker is showcasing the inspiration, philosophies, and expertise of the women attorneys and lobbyists who help elevate our firm and client service. LaToya Sheals is a Senior Government Relations Consultant in Becker’s Government and Lobbying Practice. She has extensive experience in investigating and analyzing legislation and developing public policy […]

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Becker’s Washington Weekly: Week of March 11

Government Still Open The House and Senate return to a fully-open Washington, D.C. after lawmakers passed a final appropriations bill fully funding departments set to shut down last Friday – including the Departments of Transportation, Justice, and Commerce – thus ending a drawn-out appropriations process that kicked off this time last year. Members have one […]

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Becker’s James Mahon & Catelyn Stark Contribute Chapter to International Comparative Legal Guide

James Mahon and Catelyn Stark of Becker’s New Jersey Litigation Team contributed a chapter entitled “Employment & Labour Laws and Regulations USA 2024” to the recently published International Comparative Legal Guide (ILCG). The chapter covers common issues in employment and labor laws and regulations – terms and conditions of employment, employee representation and industrial relations, […]

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IRS Proposal on Monetized Installment Sales Casts Too Wide a Net — Bloomberg Tax

Becker shareholder Michael Burwick authored the following insights to Bloomberg Tax about why potential complications of proposed IRS regulations on installment sales would require certain advisers to file disclosures. The IRS’s proposed regulations on monetized installment sale transactions are broad enough to implicate ethical transactions in its aim to capture abusive ones. The final regulations […]

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Becker Celebrates Women’s History Month: Meet Jamie Dokovna

In celebration of Women’s History Month, Becker is showcasing the inspiration, philosophies, and expertise of the women attorneys and lobbyists who help elevate our firm and client service.  Jamie Dokovna is a shareholder in our West Palm Beach, FL office. She focuses her practice on business litigation, with an emphasis on employment law and commercial […]

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Becker’s State Lobbying Update: Week 8, February 26 – March 1, 2024

50th Day Rule and Budget Conferences Tuesday, February 26, marked the 50th day of the 2024 Legislative Session.  With 1,954 bills filed, 30 bills have passed and are awaiting presentation to the Governor.  Currently, two bills have been presented to the Governor and six total bills have been signed into law.  Tuesday, February 26, also […]

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Becker Secures Six-Figure Arbitration Victory Against National Homebuilder Toll Brothers, Inc. for Construction Defects

Becker’s New Jersey Litigation Team, led by James Mahon and Catelyn Stark, with support from Vincenzo Mogavero and Martin Cabalar, secured a six-figure victory against national homebuilder Toll Brothers, Inc. for construction defects. The clients experienced construction defects in their new home located in the Reserve at Franklin Lakes, in Bergen County. Problems included pervasive […]

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Becker Awarded FLCAJ Readers’ Choice Award for 10th Consecutive Year

For the 10th consecutive year, Becker has earned a Diamond Level Readers’ Choice Award from the Florida Community Association Journal (FLCAJ). The FLCAJ announced its annual Readers’ Choice Award winners in the March 2024 issue of the magazine. The FLCAJ Readers’ Choice Awards is a unique recognition program that shines a spotlight on the positive […]

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Becker’s Washington Weekly: Week of March 4

Shutdown Averted(?) Lawmakers from both Chambers return to Washington this week after passing another extension of short-term “laddered” government funding to March 8th and 22nd, all before reaching a final agreement on FY24 appropriations for those bills falling under the new March 8th deadline. Over the weekend, Members released the text of a partial appropriations […]

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“Owner Questions Board’s Contracting Authority” – News-Press

Q: Recently, my condominium association authorized a major construction project. The contract for the work is several million dollars in value. The board of directors voted to move forward with their preferred contractor and authorize the president to sign. Isn’t this the type of contract that must be voted on by the owners? (O.V., via […]

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Community Update – February 2024

This issue of CUP features a helpful guide for board members, information on new term limits, and tips to save money on your property taxes. Don’t miss our featured podcast episode, “Navigating Defamation Lawsuits and Non-Compete Clauses!” Employers are relying more and more on independent contractors instead of employees. While using independent contractors can have […]

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Involved Versus Committed: Does My Community Association Need a Social Media Policy?

Across the green from Becker’s Morristown office is a delightful restaurant named “The Committed Pig.” When you walk in the door, a sign on the wall explains the restaurant’s interesting moniker: the best way to describe the difference between involvement and commitment is “bacon & eggs” the chicken is involved, but the pig is committed […]

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John S. Prisco Named CAI NJ’s “Speaker of the Year”

We are thrilled to announce Becker shareholder John S. Prisco has been named “Speaker of the Year” by the Community Association Institute’s New Jersey Chapter. John earned this recognition for leading a November 2023 webinar, “Preparing for the Future—Continuity Planning for Community Associations.”  In his discussion, John shared his insights on disaster preparedness and the […]

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The Impact of the New Department of Labor Rule on Worker Classification and Ensuring Proper Classification of Workers

In the early 2000s, employers and established businesses rarely sought out the work of independent contractors. Now decades later this has changed significantly as employers are relying more and more on independent contractors instead of employees. While using independent contractors can have certain benefits, there can also be certain risks especially when it comes to […]

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Addressing Burdensome Records Requests via the Rule-Making Power of Condominium Associations

Records requests can become quite daunting when a board of directors is faced with a high volume of demands from unit owners asserting their right of inspection of the association’s official records. Section 718.111(12)(c)(1) of the Florida Condominium Act (“Act”) permits condominium associations to “adopt reasonable rules regarding the frequency, time, location, notice, and manner […]

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So, You Received a Written Inquiry

Your community association has just received, by certified mail, a letter from a unit owner with several questions about the operation of the Association. What do you do next? First and foremost, you should always ensure that your community association’s legal counsel is promptly notified of such inquiries because receipt alone may trigger time sensitive […]

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Not In My Backyard! Regulating Short-Term Vacation Rentals with Texas Attorney David Schwarte

For more episodes of Take It To The Board, click here! It’s a complex issue that is reshaping neighborhoods and communities across the country. We are talking about Airbnb, a homestay rental experience that has quickly become a major disruptor in the global hospitality industry. It’s also become a major security concern in many private […]

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From Developer to Homeowners: A Brief Overview of Transition in New Jersey Community Associations

Congratulations on becoming homeowners in your new community! As you settle in and start to personalize your spaces, an important milestone awaits: the transfer of control from the developer to the unit owners. This process, known as “transition,” marks the moment when you and your fellow residents take the reins of your community, shaping its […]

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Becker’s Washington Weekly: Week of February 26

Shutdown Showdown House and Senate lawmakers return to Washington this week, cutting short their President’s Day recess in an attempt to pass a full appropriations bill ahead of a partial government shutdown this Friday (and a full shutdown next Friday).  The leadership of both parties will meet with President Joe Biden this week at the […]

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