FT. LAUDERDALE, FL--(Marketwire - January 25, 2011) - Becker & Poliakoff, P.A. today announced that the College of Community Association Lawyers (CCAL) has bestowed its Gurdon Hall Buck Achievement Award on Gary A. Poliakoff, J.D., the firm's founding shareholder and author of "New Neighborhoods: The Consumer's Guide to Condominium, Co-op and HOA Living."
The CCAL, founded in 1993, promotes high standards of professional and ethical responsibility in the practice of community association law. The Gurdon Hall Buck Award, named for a pioneer and innovator in the field of community association law, is given periodically, as appropriate, to an individual who demonstrates Gurdon Buck's spirit, devotion and commitment to the common interest ownership community industry.
"Gary Poliakoff embodies the qualities of legal know-how, leadership and commitment to building well-governed communities that serve as the foundation of the College of Community Association Lawyers," said Andrew S. Fortin, Vice President of Government & Public Affairs for the Community Association Institute, which oversees the College of Community Association Lawyers.
"Gary's accomplishments as a leading community association attorney in Florida and his contributions to the industry were the catalyst to his colleagues bestowing this award, one of the highest honors in community association law."
Mr. Poliakoff, who was admitted to CCAL in 2001, has devoted a significant part of his career to the practice of Community Association law and is considered one of the foremost authorities on the subject.
Mr. Poliakoff has been a consultant to State Legislatures and the White House in drafting common interest ownership housing legislation and served as the American Bar Association's Advisor to the National Conference of Commissioners of Uniform State Laws in its efforts to revise the Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act.
He also served as a member of the State of Florida Condominium Study Commission and as a member and chairman of the State of Florida Advisory Council on Condominiums. He is on the Board of Governors of the Shepard Broad Law Center of Nova Southeastern University where he is an Adjunct Professor, teaching Condominium Law and Practice.
Mr. Poliakoff also writes a weekly Condominium Column which is published in several leading newspapers throughout Florida, including The Palm Beach Post, The Fort Pierce Tribune, The Daytona Beach News Journal, The Stuart News, The Port St. Lucie News, the Jupiter Courier and Florida Today, as well as other newspapers in the State.
Of the thousands of attorneys practicing community association law in the United States, fewer than 150 have been granted membership in CCAL.
About the College of Community Association Lawyers
CCAL provides a forum for the exchange of information among experienced legal professionals working for the advancement of the community association field. Its goals include promoting high standards of professional and ethical responsibility, improving and advancing community association law and practice, and facilitating the development of educational materials and programming pertaining to legal issues. Members of the College distinguish themselves through contributions to the development of community association law. Their service is demonstrated by a commitment to educate and empower boards and residents of the more than 300,000 community associations across the country.
About Becker & Poliakoff
Becker & Poliakoff is a diverse commercial law firm with more than 125 attorneys in 13 Florida offices, New York City, New Jersey, Nassau (Bahamas), Prague and affiliated international offices. Celebrating its thirty-seventh (37th) year of serving clients, the firm has seven primary areas of practice: Real Estate, Construction, Community Association, Customs & International Trade, Business Litigation, Corporate & Securities, and Government Law & Lobbying. For more information, visit: www.becker-poliakoff.com.
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