Robert M. Meisner is Principal Founding Member of Meisner and Associates, P.C and Author of Condo Living.

1. LAWCROSSING
THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF LEGAL JOBS ON EARTH
LAW STAR www.lawcrossing.com 1. 800.973.1177
Robert M. Meisner: Principal Founding Member of
Meisner & Associates, P.C., and Author of Condo
Living: A Survival Guide to Buying, Owning and Selling
a Condominium
[By Kenneth Davis]
Robert M. Meisner, who has practiced law for 37 years, decided shortly after law school that community association
law would be his specialty area. And by all accounts, he made the right decision. He’s a nationally known expert on
condominium and association living and has a slew of notable accomplishments in that area.
Meisner was a co-draftsperson of the 1978 somewhat as a catharsis, some of the In 1976, he formed Meisner & Associates
Michigan Condominium Act and has authored issues and concerns which I have observed, in Bingham Farms, MI. He said that it
changes to the 1978 Condo Act, which together with some solutions to some of is a boutique firm that specializes in
were enacted in 2001. He was also the first the problems which I see in condominium community association and condominium
lawyer in Michigan—and among the select governance and operation on a daily basis,” law, commercial litigation, and contracts
few lawyers in the country—to be inducted he said. “The book is a layperson’s guide and business. The firm, which is comprised
into the College of Community Association to the do’s and don’ts of buying and/or of five attorneys and three legal assistants,
Lawyers, which was established by the developing a condominium and operating a provides a variety of services to community
Community Associations Institute, a national condominium association by a director or an associations. Some of those services
organization devoted to enhanced community officer of the association.” include the drafting of documents, which
association governance operation. He has involves critiquing the current master deed,
also served as general legal counsel to the Meisner said that he always wanted to be a bylaws, condominium subdivision plan,
United Condominium Owners of Michigan, lawyer. In fact, law is something of a tradition articles of incorporation, and preparation of
which is a statewide nonprofit organization in his family. His father and uncle were amendments to those documents if need be;
dedicated to educating and assisting both lawyers, and one of his two sons is a handling litigation matters, which includes
condominium associations. And he has been securities lawyer. His other son is a doctor foreclosure and collection lawsuits, bylaw
a guest speaker on condominium matters specializing in gastroenterology. Meisner and rules enforcement lawsuits, construction
throughout the country for organizations earned his law degree from the University defect lawsuits, and contract disputes; and
such as the Community Associations of Michigan Law School in 1969. After law operational matters, such as reviewing
Institute, the Institute of Continuing Legal school, he worked for a year and a half as minutes of board meetings, assisting
Education, the United Condominium Owners a pre-hearing attorney for the Michigan and attending membership and board
of Michigan, and Northwestern Michigan Court of Appeals. At that time, he carpooled meetings, advising directors and officers on
College. with an attorney friend who worked for the indemnification and insulation from liability,
condominium section of the Department and conducting operational audits.
Additionally, he has been a real estate of Commerce. The friend piqued Meisner’s
columnist with the Observer & Eccentric interest in community association and In addition to running his firm, Meisner is an
newspapers for more than 25 years. He also condominium law. As a result, Meisner began adjunct professor at Cooley Law School and
writes columns for the Detroit News and working for Detroit-based real estate and Michigan State University College of Law. He
has written two books. His most recent book business lawyer Milton Y. Zussman in 1971. teaches condominium law at both schools.
is titled Condo Living: A Survival Guide to Zussman’s practice focused on commercial
Buying, Owning and Selling a Condominium. litigation, real estate, and condominium law. “I enjoy the feedback that I get from law
Meisner worked with Zussman for a year students and the ability to keep up with
Meisner talked about his inspiration for and a half; and in 1973, he joined law firm current developments in community
writing Condo Living, which Momentum Bronberg & Robinson in Southfield, MI. The association law,” he said.
Books published last year. firm concentrated in real estate, corporate,
and commercial litigation. Meisner said that Meisner had the following advice for law
“Practicing law for 35 years in community he did some developer-related condominium students:
association law inspired me to write about, work at the firm.
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2. LAWCROSSING
THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF LEGAL JOBS ON EARTH
LAW STAR www.lawcrossing.com 1. 800.973.1177
“Make sure that you learn how to write and community association boards and other Visit LawCrossing next week to read a
express yourself verbally before becoming attorneys. Meisner added that he believes profile on Sarah Weddington, who is thought
a practicing attorney,” he said. “Give it your the most important issues facing the legal to be the youngest person to win a Supreme
best, and learn the most you can about life in community today are “the reputation of Court case.
general.” attorneys and the quality of lawyers being
turned out by law schools.” ON THE NET
Meisner also serves as a case evaluator for
Oakland, Wayne, and Macomb County Circuit When he’s not practicing law or teaching, Meisner Associates
Courts and has been trained and certified to Meisner said that he enjoys playing handball, www.meisner-law.com
act as a facilitative mediator for the Oakland viewing sports, playing with his train set, and
County Circuit Court. traveling. The University of Michigan Law School
www.law.umich.edu
He said what he enjoys most about being Meisner encouraged other attorneys to look
a lawyer is “helping people solve their into community association law. The Institute of Continuing Legal Education
problems and hopefully gaining a good result www.icle.org
“It is an excellent field,” he said. “But you
from them.” He said that one of the most
must be in a position to specialize in it,
difficult challenges of his job is dealing with
because it takes a full-time commitment.”
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