Attorney Kelly Elmore is a Principal at KSN who advises condominium, homeowner (HOA), and townhome community associations on all aspects of corporate law including: association contracts, amendments to declarations and by-laws, rule enforcement, the special assessment process, board elections, assessment collection, foreclosures and bankruptcy issues, developer turnover, construction defect disputes, and contract review.
Kelly is the Chair of the firm’s Deconversion Department and advises condominium associations on the complex process of condominium deconversion (or “Section 15 sale”). In this process, a buyer or developer purchases a condominium property and converts the property into apartment rentals. Considered by many in the industry to be the leading authority in the deconversion process, Kelly is a regular guest speaker and panelist for various industry lectures, seminars and panel discussions. Notably, Kelly has recently been featured in a number of leading Chicago publications on this topic, including the Chicago Tribune, Crain’s Chicago Business, the Chicago Gazette, and The Real Deal.
Kelly is also a member of the firm’s Litigation Department. As an active trial lawyer for over fourteen (14) years, Kelly focused on representing and defending condominium, homeowner (HOA), and townhome community associations from claims of breach of fiduciary duty and violation of the Act brought by unit owners. Kelly has represented condominium, townhome, and homeowner associations in cases brought against developers for defective construction. Additionally, she prosecuted unit owner violations of Declarations, enforcement of the payment of assessments, and represented Associations in various housing discrimination matters.
Kelly has extensive experience defending condominium associations from actions brought before the Illinois Department of Human Rights, the City of Chicago Commission on Humans Rights, as well as building code violations brought before the City of Chicago.
Kelly is the author of a number of publications for various community associations, including: CAI (Community Association Institute), ACTHA, and Common Interest Magazine. In addition, Kelly is a frequent lecturer and guest panelist on various association issues for the annual CAI tradeshow, ACTHA tradeshows/educational programs, the Cooperator Expo, and the Chicago Property Management Condo & HOA Expo.
Kelly was selected as a 2017 and 2018 Illinois Emerging Lawyer, identified by her peers to be among the top lawyers in Illinois who are age 40 or under and who have proven themselves to be professional, ethical, and experienced at an early point in their legal career. Kelly served as a Co-Chair of the Chicago Bar Association, Young Lawyers' Section Real Estate Law Committee (2011-2015); as a member of the Chicago Bar Association Condominium Law Subcommittee (2006-2016); and as a member of the Association of Condominium, Townhouse & Homeowners Associations (ACTHA) Legislative Committee (2008-2018). She was also elected to the Board of Directors of the CAI Indiana chapter (2020-2021). Kelly is the President-Elect of the Community Associations Institute (CAI) Indiana chapter (2020-2021).
Kelly joined Kovitz Shifrin Nesbit in 2012 and has practiced law since 2005.
May 2019: KSN Press Release detailing the historic closing of nearly 900 units in December, 2018
April 2019: Article for ACTHA Newsletter, “4 Steps to Take when Addressing Property Damage Within Your Association.”
August 2014: Article for Kovitz Shifrin Nesbit Newsletter, “New Legislation to Allow Community Associations to Use Electronic Notices and Voting,” discussing the enactment of legislation providing for electronic notices and permitting the use of technology in voting.
March 24, 2021: Presenter, "Business Decisions and Contracts" Webinar, KSN.
January 28, 2021: Presenter, "Indiana Legal Updates" Webinar, KSN.
December 10, 2020: Presented a webinar on Condominium Deconversions for the DuPage County Bar Association's Real Estate Law & Practice MCLE Remote Program
August 4, 2020: Host & presenter, “Electric Cars & License Plate Readers in Indiana” Webinar, KSN.
July 7, 2020: Host & presenter, “Social Media in Community Associations” Webinar, KSN.
Selected as a 2017 and 2018 Emerging Lawyer in Illinois by Leading Lawyers. Emerging Lawyers are made up of the top 2% of lawyers who are age 40 or younger or who have been admitted to the practice of law for 10 or fewer years and have proven themselves professional, ethical, and experienced at an early point in their legal career.