Jordan I. Shifrin

Retired Principal

Community Association Law

Contact

Not only did Jordan Shifrin start Kovitz Shifrin Nesbit, he established the firm’s core values of simplicity, responsiveness, kindness, efficiency, innovation, and entrepreneurship. These values remain relevant and empowering today as they were the day he opened the firm’s doors in 1983.

Jordan is among the industry’s best known and highly respected Common Interest Community Association (condominium, townhome, homeowner, Master) law attorneys. Over the years, he has counseled thousands of associations through every imaginable legal scenario. He has mentored dozens of attorneys, including several who practice at KSN today.

Jordan is among the most widely published attorneys in his field, with numerous articles, newspaper columns, and two books to his credit. Additionally, he is a fellow of the CAI (Community Associations Institute) College of Community Association Attorneys, a charter member of Leading Lawyers, and a charter member of Super Lawyers (Illinois, named on the Super Lawyers list for over 10 consecutive years).

Education

J.D., John Marshall Law School, 1977
M.A. (History), University of Illinois-Chicago, 1972
B.A. (History), University of Illinois-Chicago, 1970

Admissions

Illinois State Bar
Wisconsin State Bar
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois (Member, Trial Bar)
U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit

Memberships

Law Bulletin Real Estate Law Seminar , Advisory Board Member and Faculty (2007-2008)
Illinois State Bar Association , Real Estate Council (1999-2003)
Lake County Bar Association , Chairman Real Estate Committee (2003-2004)
Northwest Suburban Bar Association, President (1993-94)
State Bar of Wisconsin
CAI Illinois – Community Associations Institute
ACTHA – Association of Condominium, Townhouse, and Homeowners Associations
National Association of Housing Cooperatives
Illinois Real Estate Lawyers Association
Decalogue Society of Lawyers
Member of Leading Lawyers Network (Illinois), Advisory Board

Podcasts

Publications

Welcome to Condo World!…Where Life Is Almost Perfect – published February, 2002 Order Now
Guilt By Association – A Survival Guide For Homeowners, Board Members and Property Managers – published January, 1996. Order Now
“Homeowners’ Associations”, a chapter in the IICLE Not-For-Profit Corporations Handbook (2010)
“Representing the Condominium Association”, a chapter in the IICLE Illinois Condominium Law Handbook (2007)
“Purchasing a Condominium or Townhome”, a chapter in the IICLE Real Estate Transactions Handbook
“Cooperative, Condominium, and Homeowners’ Association Litigation”, a chapter in the IICLE Real Estate Litigation Handbook
Columns in the Daily Herald regarding community association law
The Art & Practice of Collecting Delinquent Assessments
Running The Perfect Meeting (32nd Annual Community Association Law Seminar, January 13-15, 2011)
Conducting A Homeowners Forum (Common Interest, Spring 2009)
25 Years Ago – a look back at the last 25 years of history with an emphasis on condominium and homeowner associations (Condo Lifestyles, October 2008)
Collecting Special Assessments: Weathering the Storm (Common Interest, Summer 2008)
Why Do People Act This Way? Or How to Run a Meeting Without Getting Arrested (Condo Lifestyles, July 2007)
No-Lease Restrictions on Condominium Owners (Illinois Bar Journal, February 2006)
“No Pets Allowed: Housing Issues and Companion Animals”, a Law Review article by Rebecca J. Huss, extensively cites passages from Mr. Shifrin’s book Welcome to Condo World!…Where Life Is Almost Perfect
Navigating a Minefield: Renting Out Your Condominium (Illinois Bar Journal, December 2004)
First Right of Refusal – Protection or Illusion? (Illinois Bar Journal, April 1986)
Community Associations and the Power to Levy Fines (Illinois Bar Journal, June 1983)

Speaking

Mr. Shifrin spoke on the topic of Contested Association Elections at the 31st Annual CAI Community Association Law Seminar on January 23, 2010. Mr. Shifrin has been designated a “favored speaker” after having made a number of presentations over the years.
On December 11, 2009, Mr. Shifrin was a guest on the radio show “Community Spotlight” (Clear Channel, CNN 650, Houston, TX), to discuss upcoming challenges in multi-family housing.

Awards

Named by Illinois Super Lawyers magazine as being among the top attorneys in Illinois (2005-2014)
2010 honoree in The Business Ledger’s 11th annual Entrepreneurial Excellence Awards program in the Lifetime Achievement category
Recognized as a Leading Lawyer by the Leading Lawyers rating service in 2015 for Real Estate Law: Associations & Condominiums, Commercial
Named one of the Top 100 Real Estate attorneys in Illinois by the Leading Lawyers Network (2009-2010)
Profiled in the January, 2008 edition of Leading Lawyers Network Magazine
Appointed Chairman of the Condominium Advisory Council by the Illinois Legislature (2007)
Member, College of Community Association Lawyers of the Community Associations Institute
Community Associations Institute/Illinois Chapter – Olympus Award – Career Achievement and Industry Contributions – 2003
Community Associations Institute, Illinois Chapter – Media Representative of the Year – 2001
Condo Lifestyle Magazine – Special Commendation for Contributions to the Condo-Homeowner Industry – 1998
Mentor – Illinois State Bar Association and John Marshall Law School

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