Old News
A Bit of Our History, 2007-2008
2007
FEBRUARY
Firm open for business Clifton Kok LLP officially commenced operation in February, 2007, taking up residence in the historic Canadian Bank of Commerce building in Ayr, Ontario. Click here to read an article about it from the Ayr News. MARCH Feature on Condo Living in Grand Magazine Click on the following link to read an article based on an interview with Michael that was published in the March/April 2007 edition of the Waterloo Region lifestyle periodical, Grand Magazine: "The Four C's of Condo Living". APRIL CCI Level 100 Course - Kitchener On Saturday, April 28, 2007, Michael was presenter and moderator at the Canadian Condominium Institute - Golden Horseshoe Chapter Level 100 Course for condominium directors and managers in the Kitchener area. Michael assisted in rewriting some of the materials to be handed out at this course. For details on course offerings from the CCI - Golden Horseshoe Chapter, click here to view their website. SEPTEMBER Condominium Law seminar for the Kitchener-Waterloo Real Estate Board (KWREB) On Tuesday, September 11, 2007, Michael presented the first in a two-part seminar series for realtors on issues relating to buying and selling condominium units for the KWREB. The first part focussed on basic concepts (such as the varying types of condominium) and issues relating to new condominium units. The attached handout was included in materials provided for this course to summarize some issue relative to agreements of purchase and sale for new or proposed condominium units. The Powerpoint presentation that accompanied Michael's discussion can be viewed here. Nelson Amaral joins Clifton Kok LLP On September 24, 2007, Nelson Amaral, who had been practicing in the area of civil litigation, started work at Clifton Kok LLP as an associate lawyer assisting Michael and Mark with both the condominium management law and the land and condominium development law practices. See attached announcement. OCTOBER Law Clerk Terry Audette joins Clifton Kok LLP On October 15, 2007, Clifton Kok LLP welcomed Terry Audette, a graduate of the Law Clerk program at Fanshawe College in London, Ontario, as a new addition to our staff. Terry brings enthusiasm and varied experience to the firm. She assists Helen Ribeiro in a variety of administrative and legal matters, and each of our lawyers with tasks relating to all our areas of practice. CCI Level 200 Course - Kitchener/Cambridge Michael assisted in organizing and preparing course materials for the Level 200 Course offered by the Canadian Condominium Institute - Golden Horseshoe Chapter that was held on October 13 and 20 at the offices of the Cowan Insurance Group in Cambridge. Michael presented on a number of topics and was the emcee for Day 2 of the course. NOVEMBER ACMO/CCI Conference in Toronto Clifton Kok LLP was among the sponsors of the 2007 ACMO/CCI Condominium Conference held at the Doubletree Hotel in Toronto on November 2 and 3. For details on other and upcoming CCI events, visit the CCI website. Second Condominium Law seminar for the Kitchener-Waterloo Real Estate Board (KWREB) Michael presented the second in a two-part seminar series for realtors on issues relating to buying and selling condominium units for the KWREB on Tuesday, November 13, 2007. This seminar ("Condominium 101B") focussed on issues relating to resale condominium units. The Powerpoint presentation that accompanied Michael's discussion can be viewed here. |
Condominium Law seminar for CCI - London & Area Chapter
Michael provided the presentation, "The Good, The Bad and The 'What the heck were you thinking?!?' - Things Done and Things Disputed in Condominiums," at the Shriner's Mocha Temple for the London & Area Chapter of the Canadian Condominium Institute on Tuesday, November 20, 2007. 2008APRIL
CCI Level 100 Course - Kitchener Michael and Nelson were presenters at CCI's Level 100 course held at the Coldwell Banker building in Kitchener on April 5. Michael presented on a variety of topics including what is a condominium, status certificates, changes to common elements, by-laws, rules and the standard unit, and moderated the Question and Answer period. Nelson presented on legal proceedings and remedies and was a participant in the Q&A panel. MAY Meeting with Brant Condominium Corporation Association (BCCA) Michael met with directors of the BCCA for a question and answer session dealing with a variety of issues relating to theCondominium Act, 1998. Michael Clifton Awarded ACCI (Law) Designation In May, Michael received confirmation he has been awarded the designation of Associate of the Canadian Condominium Institute (ACCI) in the category of Legal Professional. This designation may be granted to lawyers practicing in the area of condominium law who have provided significant service to CCI and demonstrate knowledge of the law relevant to condominium development and administration through a written examination. AUGUST BCCA AGM Michael was one of a small number of guests invited to speak at the first Annual General Meeting of the Brant Condominium Corporations Association (BCCA) on August 14, 2008. Other guest speakers included the Mayor of Brantford, the local MPP and the president of the CCI-Golden Horseshoe Chapter. Michael spoke on section 98 agreements and answered a variety of questions from the floor. All guest speakers were awarded honorary membership in the BCCA. SEPTEMBER Free "Condo Q&A" Seminar Our first free "Condo Q&A" seminar on September 10, 2008, was a success, thanks primarily to the many condominium directors and managers in attendance who enjoyed refreshments and provided over 25 questions that were answered by Michael and Nelson on issues ranging from rule enforcement to dealing with Tarion, borrowing by-laws, insurance claims, human rights, fidelity bonds, changes to common elements, reserve funds, and more. The success of this first event has encouraged to consider doing it again early in 2009. Seminar following the CCI -GHC AGM Following the CCI-GHC AGM on September 18, 2008, Michael participated with other experienced condominium lawyers in a seminar discussing how to keep condominium disputes out of court for all attendees at the AGM. Michael's presentation focused on the usefulness of up-to-date and accurate condominium documentation as a preventative for litigation. UWO Faculty of Law Lerners LLP Cup Moot Court Competition On September 24, 2008, Mark participated as a judge in the Lerners LLP Cup Moot Court Competition for the University of Western Ontario Faculty of Law (his alma mater law school). According the Faculty's website, "This voluntary competition gives upper-year students the opportunity to argue a hypothetical case before an appellate court. Judges, practicing lawyers and third-year students generously volunteer their time to act |
as judges for the competition. The top eight students advance to the final rounds to compete for the Lerners LLP Cup. Doing well in this competition is the gateway to qualifying to represent Western Law in one of several external advocacy competitions against other Canadian and American law schools." As a student at UWO Faculty of Law, Mark successfully competed in the Lerners Cup and as a result represented the Faculty against Canadian and American law schools in external competitions in the area of International Law.
OCTOBER The Toronto Condo Show Michael and Darlene Cade presented a workshop to an audience of property managers and condominium directors at the third annual Toronto Condo Show on October 3, 2008, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, entitled "Condo Insurance - Who Is Responsible?" explaining and answering questions about insurance for condominium corporations and unit owners. Click here to view the Powerpoint presentation jointly prepared by Michael and Darlene Cade and used during this workshop. CCI Level 200 Course - Kitchener Michael assisted in the organization of and provided instruction at the CCI Level 200 course in the Kitchener area that took place October 18 and 25. Michael's slide presentations used during this year's course, dealing with Condominium Liens, Repair and Maintenance Obligations, Standard Units and Changes to Common Elements, are avaliable on the Condominium Law information page of our website (under the heading, "Other Materials"). ACMO/CCI Toronto Conference, October 31 - November 1 On October 31, 2008, Michael took part in a panel at the ACMO/CCI Conference in Toronto on Building Better Values by Acting Wisely. Michael explained the meaning of "good faith" and fiduciary duties of condominium directors. Check out our FYI page for copies of materials used or provided by Michael at this conference. NOVEMBER Condominium Law seminar for the Kitchener-Waterloo Real Estate Board (KWREB) On Tuesday, November 4, 2008, Michael re-presented the first in a two-part seminar series for realtors on issues (first presented in October 2007 - see below) relating to buying and selling condominium units for the KWREB. Q&A for County of Wellington On November 12, 2008, Michael, Mark and Craig Robson (partner, Robson Carpenter LLP) met with a group of planners working for the County of Wellington to explain aspects of condominium development law and answer questions about some uncommon issues that sometimes arise. DECEMBER Condominium Law seminars for the Kitchener-Waterloo Real Estate Board (KWREB) On December 2, 2008, Michael re-presented the second in a two-part seminar series for realtors at KWREB (first presented in November 2007 - see below) on issues relating to buying and selling resale condominium units. Q&A for City of Cambridge On December 11, 2008, Michael, Mark and Craig Robson (partner, Robson Carpenter LLP) met with a group of planners working for the City of Cambridge in the Region of Waterloo to explain aspects of condominium development law and answer questions about some uncommon issues that sometimes arise. Our original logo, in use from 2007 to 2010. |