Leslie S. Brown
Main Office
Practice Areas
Community Associations, Corporate & Business Law
Admissions
District of Columbia | Maryland | New York | U.S. Court of Federal Claims | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia | Virginia | West Virginia
Education
- B.S., with honors, Carnegie Mellon University
- J.D., with honors, George Washington University Law School
Leslie Brown represents community association clients, including condominiums, cooperatives, and homeowners associations, charities, trade associations and other tax-exempt organizations. Prior to joining Rees Broome, Leslie was a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Judge Lynn J. Bush of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, was an associate at a large national law firm and a small boutique law firm. Leslie writes and presents locally and nationally on various association industry topics, such as fair housing, insurance, and federal condominium regulations.
Leslie has experience in:
- Drafting and amending corporate governance documents
- Counseling associations on general corporate governance matters by advising them on applicable state, local and federal law
- Coordinating, monitoring and preparing recommendations and documentation related to covenant enforcement actions
- Obtaining condominium certifications for eligibility for Federal Housing Administration financing
- Counseling associations on federal and state disability and fair housing laws and representing them before local fair housing commissions
- 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
- Forming non-profits and obtaining tax-exempt status for new tax exempt entities
- Handling employment issues on behalf of tax-exempt clients; successfully defended EEOC complaint filed against client by former employee
- Counseling tax-exempt entities regarding private inurement, public support rules, and donation and fundraising matters
News & Publications
Awards
Outgoing Board Member Recognition, Washington Metropolitan Chapter of the Community Associations Institute (WMCCAI) Board of Directors (2025)
Chapter Appreciation Award, WMCCAI, Washington Metro Chapter (2018-2019)
Rising Star Award, Washington Metropolitan Chapter of the Community Associations Institute (2017)
Affiliations
Member, Magazine Committee, Chesapeake Regional Chapter of the Community Associations Institute (CRCAI) (2023-present)
Board of Directors, WMCCAI (2019-2025; Secretary 2022; Vice President 2023)
Professorial Lecturer in Law, The George Washington University Law School, Advanced Field Placement (2012-2021)
Communications Council Chair, Washington Metropolitan Chapter of the Community Associations Institute (2018-2019)
Co-Chair, Washington Metropolitan Chapter of the Community Associations Institute’s Quorum Magazine Editorial Board (2014)
Instructor, “Understanding Condominium Living”, Arlington County and City of Alexandria (2011- 2014)
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)
- 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)
