Leslie S. Brown

Leslie Brown represents community association clients, including condominiums and homeowners associations, and public charities, trade associations and other tax-exempt organizations. Leslie has extensive experience serving as outside general counsel to various types of organizations.

Leslie has assisted her community association clients by:

• Counseling associations on general corporate governance matters by advising them on applicable state, local and federal law
• Preparing and amending legal documents, including declarations, articles of incorporation, bylaws and policy resolutions
• Coordinating, monitoring and preparing recommendations and documentation related to covenant enforcement actions
• Obtaining condominium certifications for eligibility for Federal Housing Administration financing
• Counseling clients on compliance with federal and state disability and fair housing laws
• Reviewing, negotiating and revising employment contracts, vendor and service provider agreements, telecommunications licenses (cell phone tower placement), and easements
• Transitioning condominiums from developer to association control; successfully obtained 6-figure settlement of structural warranty defect claim on behalf of association
• Advocating on behalf of associations in zoning proceedings and land use matters; successfully opposed new development on behalf of client before the D.C. Board of Zoning Adjustment

Leslie has assisted her non-profit clients by:

• Drafting grant award agreements and venture agreements on behalf of disease charities seeking cures through venture philanthropy ranging from $400K to $20M; 2nd chair representing Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in historic royalty monetization transaction in November 2014
• Filing trademark applications on behalf of public charities, protecting trademark rights and defending against claims of infringement on behalf of clients
• Forming non-profits and obtaining tax-exempt status for new charities
• Handling employment issues on behalf of non-profit clients; successfully defended EEOC complaint filed against client by former employee
• Counseling boards on corporate governance issues; 1st chair representing Michael J. Fox Foundation in merger with Michael Stern Parkinson's Research Foundation
• Drafting and negotiating general vendor agreements, licensing agreements and commercial leases for non-profit chapters.
• Conducting large-scale document productions on behalf of clients involved in litigation; handled major document production in response to 3rd party federal subpoena issued to patient assistance fund client
• Counseling charities regarding private inurement, public support rules, and donation and fundraising matters

Professional Credentials

• Professorial Lecturer in Law, The George Washington University Law School, Advanced Field Placement (2012-2021)
• Washington Metropolitan Chapter of the Community Associations Institute’s (CAI), Co-Chair, Quorum Editorial Board Committee (2014); Communications Council Chair (2018); Board of Directors (2020-present)
• Graduate, with honors, Carnegie Mellon University (1997)
• Graduate, with honors, The George Washington University (2000); Managing Editor, The Environmental Lawyer Law Journal
• Barred in Virginia, the District of Columbia, Maryland, West Virginia and New York, as well as the U.S. Court of Federal Claims and the Eastern District of Virginia
• Instructor, “Understanding Condominium Living”, Arlington County and City of Alexandria (2011- 2014)
• Prior Experience: Counsel, Schaner & Lubitz, PLLC (Bethesda, MD); Associate, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman (Tysons Corner, VA)
• Judicial Law Clerk, the Hon. Lynn J. Bush, U.S. Court of Federal Claims (2003-2005)

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