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Community Association Law Group

Serving Washington and Oregon community associations
of all ages, shapes, and sizes.

Services

Every day, we help our clients interpret their governing documents, manage relationships with others, and resolve disputes. 

We also help homeowners understand the obligations and benefits of living in community associations.

We don’t just represent Boards or even condos and HOAs; we represent communities.  Our goal is to strengthen those communities through our legal services.

Click below for more information on the specific services we offer.

Services

Resources

At Community Association Law Group, we are firm believers in education and free stuff! That’s why we spend a significant amount of time educating directors, managers, and homeowners through our e-mailed Blog, industry articles, and presentations.

If you’re a self-starter, check out our Glossary of commonly used community association terms, browse content from the industry groups we serve or even review the actual laws that apply to communities in Washington in Oregon.

Resources

Team

Our attorneys and staff are dedicated to providing community associations with clear and efficient legal services.  We have litigation, transactional, and service-oriented backgrounds because we think it’s important to be able to provide our clients with the unique perspective that can only come from that experience.

Our experience and focus on community association law gives us the ability to provide realistic risk assessments so that our clients can make informed business decisions.

 
MEET The team

About Us

Our Story

New firm, same great service!  In 2023, we made a cooperative business decision to separate from Barker Martin to create the “Community Association Law Group” to focus on general counsel advice and services for condominium and HOA communities.  So, if you’re looking for the same “focused, responsive, and proven” general counsel representation we provided there, you’ve come to the right place!

Our founding partner, Marlyn Hawkins, has been representing community associations and other nonprofits exclusively since 2002, first as a construction defect litigator and then as the manager of the general counsel group at Barker Martin.  We started the Community Association Law Group to fulfill our goal of providing the highest quality community association legal services in the industry in an efficient and cost-effective manner.

And we plan on proving it.

Our Philosophy

Our philosophy is pretty simple, but it’s something that we think attorneys sometimes forget: We’re here to help!

From our perspective, the way we can help best is by taking the time to understand a client’s unique situation, by applying the law and governing document provisions in that context, by assessing the risks of actions the client could take, and ultimately, by making clear and practical recommendations to address or resolve the issues.

For more information on how we fulfill this mission, please see How We Work.

Our Clients

Like people, community associations come in all shapes and sizes. From 100-acre HOAs developed in multiple phases over a span of years, to metropolitan mixed-use condominium towers, to five-unit condo historical building condo conversions, to rural road maintenance associations whose documents aren’t at all clear on what laws apply, these communities are our clients. And while communities can be extremely varied in terms of how they look, what their documents say, and the people that inhabit them, as Maya Angelou wrote, “we are more alike my friends, than we are unalike.” We’re here to help communities of all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds.

If you’re interested in what the people we work with every day have to say about us, please check out our Testimonials below.

Our Services

At Community Association Law Group, we think of ourselves as one part of the management team for our clients. Because community associations are not just groups of homeowners, but nonprofit corporations with significant assets, our contribution focuses on helping boards and managers recognize and abide by the association’s legal obligations, identify the sources and limits of its authority, and understand and navigate the procedures required by its governing documents.

Please see our Services page for more information on the specific services we provide.  

How We Work

Responsive

Once you’re a CALG client, all you need to do if an issue arises is call or email us with your question or issue, or request a conference call or video consultation if you think your project needs more explanation – whatever works for you. Some questions do have quick answers, which you can expect to receive the same or next business day. But for issues that require more information or review of documents, you’ll get confirmation that we received the inquiry in that same timeframe. Bottom line is that you should never have to wonder if we got your request.

Ready

Like our predecessor firm, representing nonprofit “common interest communities” (HOAs and condo associations) is pretty much all we do. That translates to efficient and effective legal service for your community. When you hire us, you don’t pay us to get up to speed on the various condominium, HOA or nonprofit laws – we’re already there. Our existing knowledge of the statutory and case-driven foundations of community law in Washington and Oregon allow us to dive in to the specific language of your governing documents and the unique needs of your community immediately.

Efficient

We’ve taken community association legal services to the next level by investing in modern organizational and technological systems that significantly reduce the time needed to recall your community’s unique characteristics, prepare documents, or locate files. Our streamlined procedures means you pay us for our substantive work and advice, not paper shuffling and bureaucracy. That means our competitive rates are even a better deal than you may think!

Testimonials

Marlyn Hawkins has been instrumental in assisting clients over the years. Her advice and support has guided clients away from costly legal matters with a practical approach that benefits the entire association. Marlyn has also taken on very difficult cases that required quick action, meaningful knowledge of association law, and experience that prevailed in court. The leadership and guidance that Marlyn and her team bring to our mutual clients helps Board members avoid and navigate difficult situations. When communities discuss the pros and cons of legal services, I let them know that if you need Marlyn, you can’t afford not to have her on your team. Marlyn also continues to be a valued leader in our industry by being an educator, volunteer, and valued member of Washington State Community Association’s Institute.
Toni HahnDirector of Operations, TRF Pacific Management Services, LLC
As a large HOA with a Board of Directors comprised entirely of volunteer homeowners it's very important to us that we have professional, reliable and timely legal counsel to enable us to make informed, reliability reducing decisions for our community. For the past 3 years Samantha Brown has been the attorney my association turns to for counsel when we have any legal questions or issues. She has always made herself available to answer any questions, takes the time to ensure our Directors clearly understand legal terms and processes and responds quickly to any inquiry we make. Of all the professionals I deal with on a regular basis as part of managing the affairs of an HOA, Samantha is someone our association will rely upon without hesitation and I would recommend her to any HOA looking for quality guidance, reliability, and expert knowledge!
Mike SebastionelliPresident, Grand Firs Homeowners Association
The group at CALG shepherded our association through a substantial reorganization of our governance structure and documents. Over the past four years they have shown the ability to think creatively and critically and have made our organization viable for the foreseeable future. Their work has always been professional, timely and delivered as promised. I would recommend them, without reservation, as counsel for any community association or nonprofit.
Tenna MatthewsPast President, Discovery Bay Women's Club
I have had the pleasure (if there is any pleasure in legal dealings) of working with Samantha as she has represented our HOA Board over a two year stretch. During this time, she helped us pursue a Temporary Restraining Order to stop an unauthorized construction and the subsequent negotiations to remove the TRO and reclaim our legal costs. She gave good information and advice, and she represented our best interests before, during and after court sessions. Her firm was not inexpensive, but they always provided services that were top notch and worth the effort and the cost. Our HOA will follow Samantha to the new Community Association Law Group without hesitation. I know she will keep us legal and safe.
Mitchell FindlayPresident, Rock Ridge HOA
Working with Marlyn Hawkins over many years has been a dream. Her incisive grasp of the issue at hand, wise and strategic counsel, and warm personality have always brought positive results for our clients. We look forward to continuing to work with her and the Community Association Law Group team.
Cameron S. HazenCMCA AMS, Principal, Condo Consulting Services, LLC
Over the past four years, my working relationship with Samantha Brown has been nothing short of exceptional. Together, we have navigated through a myriad of challenges, from complex collection efforts to sensitive lawsuits involving matters of race, and even managing some of the most demanding boards. Samantha's unwavering dedication, prompt responses, and unparalleled availability to her clients have consistently exceeded expectations. Her depth of knowledge in the industry is truly unmatched, and I consider myself fortunate to have had the privilege of collaborating with her. As we look ahead, I am confident that our continued partnership will yield continued success and positive outcomes.
Christina Rhoades, CMCA, AMSJohn DoeDirector of Community Managers, Windermere Property Management
I work as a Community Association Manager for various HOAs in the Lacey/Olympia/Tumwater area, and Marlyn Hawkins from Community Association Law Group has served some of our clients with exceptional assistance whilst working as a partner at Barker Martin. We receive personalized responses to inquiries above and beyond routine or generic replies, and we are comfortable continuing to work with Marlyn and team moving forward!
Shaun ArnettCommunity Manager, Vantage Community Management
I’ve been working in collaboration with Samantha Brown on a wide variety of community association projects over the last two years and have been absolutely pleased with the quality of legal work and, more importantly, the great support and customer service she gives to our Boards of Directors. Samantha is always in the top tier of attorneys that I recommend for associations needing general counsel and litigation. We’re all excited for this new opportunity and experience that she brings, as well as the specialty focus on community association law that CALG offers.
Robert Mendel, CMCAJohn DoeCommunity Association Manager
Whenever requested by anyone in our office, Samantha provides us with the information needed, suggested changes to policies, and any new policies, forms, or other items needed.
Ken Allen, CPM, ARM, CMCA, AMSSenior Association Manager, Bell-Anderson & Associates, LLC, AMO, CRMC
My HOA has worked with Samantha Brown for six years. We have found her to be consistently responsive, knowledgeable, and professional, and her expertise has guided us through several difficult situations. She has represented our HOA quite capably and I would highly recommend her services.
President, Westway HOA in Federal WayCEO
I have worked with Marlyn Hawkins for years on HOA-related issues for the properties I manage. She has been absolutely fantastic in her work, always responding quickly and in a manner that is understandable for lay people.  She is one of my primary attorneys and I continue to send new business her way.
Bob MulkeyAssociation Business Manager, Association Management Services NW
Samantha has been thorough and quick to respond to the needs of an association I manage. They are getting ready to amend their documents, and her guidance has been invaluable. I wish her the very best as she moves to Community Association Law Group, PLLC!
Dana Newberry, CMCA, AMSSenior Community Association Manager, Yates, Wood & MacDonald, Inc.
Samantha Brown has been an invaluable asset to my hi-rise community in Belltown over the years. Her responsiveness, diligence, professionalism, and experience helped not only with day-to-day legal questions, but also aided the Board in deftly navigating very complex and unique legal matters. The Board was confidently able to make educated and well-thought-out decisions due to her expert counsel.
Mike Hilfer, CMCA, AMSManaging Member of CWD Group, Inc.
We started using Marlyn Hawkins as our attorney several months ago. We had a lot of questions surrounding a special assessment, updating & rewriting our 47-year-old bylaws, and how to protect the HOA when owners want to install mini-split HVAC systems into their units. I spent an hour in a Zoom meeting with Marlyn and couldn’t believe we got through all my questions and settled on a plan. This was the most productive meeting I’ve had with an attorney! A week later, I said we need everything moved up and done sooner than planned. That request was met with a thumbs-up 😊. And, she and her support staff worked efficiently to keep the cost relatively low. I highly recommend Marlyn and her firm, Community Association Law Group, PLLC.
Ed Geiger, PresidentGalaxie Condominiums
Having had the privilege of collaborating with Samantha on various projects, including co-presenting at WSCAI events, I am consistently impressed by her profound legal knowledge and unwavering dedication to her craft. Samantha’s ability to dissect intricate legal nuances and provide insightful solutions reflects her deep understanding of the subject matter and solutions for associations, board members, and managers. Working alongside her, I have witnessed her adeptness in navigating complex issues with a level of clarity that is both impressive and reassuring. Samantha Brown’s proficiency, dedication, and integrity set her apart in the legal arena. It has been an honor to collaborate with her and witness firsthand the positive impact she has on her clients and peers. I look forward to seeing her and her firm grow.
Steve WeidenbachAgency Owner of American Family Insurance
In the time we have worked with Samantha, she has been responsive, and diligent. She explains complex legal issues in a conversational way so that Board members can understand, and she always explains the pros and cons of any decision we need to make. She takes the time to listen to our concerns and tailors her legal advice to accomplish our specific goals, instead of just telling us what we "should" be doing. Sure, she will tell us we can't or shouldn't do certain things, but she will always explain the why behind her recommendations. Working with Samantha means we always feel heard and always have someone in our corner who, if necessary, will fight for us.
Jon VeitchPresident, Apex Penthouse Condominium Association
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Get in Touch!

We’re happy to demonstrate that you’ve found the right law firm for your community’s needs.

If you’re ready to move forward, please feel free to request a legal services agreement for your community. 

Not sure yet or just browsing?  Check out the rest of our site, including our Resources Page and our Blog.

Or click the link below to request a free, 20-minute consultation by phone or video call.

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Call us: 206-750-6206
Email: info@calgnw.com

Mailing Address: 17544 Midvale Ave N, Suite 100, Shoreline, WA 98133

Copyright 2024 | Community Association Law Group PLLC | All Rights Reserved

DISCLAIMER:  This website and the information contained herein is provided for informational purposes only.  These materials relate only to the laws in Washington and Oregon and may not reflect current legal developments.  CALG attorneys are licensed in Washington and Oregon and CALG does not intend by this website to solicit clients in other jurisdictions.  No attorney-client relationship attaches as the result of use of the website or materials, or exchange of any information with CALG.  Nothing herein should be construed as legal advice.   Information provided to CALG through this website may not be secure.  Links within this website to websites operated by third parties are provided for the user’s convenience and do not imply responsibility for, accuracy of, or endorsement of the linked site, the operator, or its contents.  This website is provided “AS-IS” without warranty of any kind, express or implied.  CALG, PLLC expressly disclaims any and all liability with respect to reliance on any contents of this website. Reproduction, distribution, or retransmission of material contained within this website requires the prior, written permission of CALG, PLLC.