MANAGER RESOURCE • NO. 2
We Handle the Heavy Lifting
Before the board chooses counsel, know who will actually manage the work.
Last month we introduced our approach. This month, the question to consider is this: what is the division of labor between the law firm and the property manager to achieve the best recovery in a construction defect case for the Association?
HOW IT USUALLY GOES
With many firms, the work lands on you. The firm may ask you or the Association to select the units and common areas for inspection and testing, schedule them, and manage access for the Association’s expert team — all while coordinating the defense lawyers and experts who attend.
That puts you in an unfair position: making decisions about the collection of evidence while managing competing interests among unit owners, experts, and the defense group. On top of that, the firm expects you to field a steady stream of questions and concerns from homeowners, and to translate its updates for the owners and your Board of Directors.
HOW IT SHOULD GO
Our approach is different. Collectively, our team has over 150 years of litigation experience. It is our duty and professional responsibility to carefully manage the collection of the evidence that proves the case — because we understand how the facts and evidence must come together to meet the burden of proof.
Our forensic consultants select appropriate test locations following industry-standardized guidelines, while our experienced staff handles communication with the Association Board and unit owners about the investigation and testing process. We schedule and coordinate the inspections, and we manage the defense group. We keep homeowners and the board informed with routine updates and answer their questions and concerns. Our goal is to minimize disruption to the Association community.
Owner communication, inspection coordination, document organization, board-ready updates, and claim logistics are handled in-house by our team as part of the representation. It’s not an extra; it’s the job.
WHAT CHANGES FOR YOU
The difference shows up in your week: fewer calls to field, fewer logistics to run, and board meetings where the update is already prepared. Your role stays what it should be: informed, not overwhelmed.
Want to talk through how this works on a real matter? We’re happy to walk you or your board through it — no pressure, no pitch.
QUICK TIP
If your board is starting this conversation, ask for the division of labor in writing before anyone is engaged — who schedules, who communicates, who collects documents. It’s a fair question of any firm, and far easier to ask before signing than after.