MICHAEL C. KIM
email: mck@mkimlaw.com
Principal, Mike received his undergraduate degree (Political Science Major)
from the University of Hawaii (Manoa Campus. Honolulu, HI) and his
law degree from Northwestern University School of Law (Chicago, IL). He
is licensed to practice in Illinois and its courts, and also before various
federal courts, including the U.S. District Court (Northern District, IL) (both
General and Trial Bar), the Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, and the
United States Supreme Court.
His practice is focused on condominium and homeowner association law, construction law, real estate law and civil Iitigation. He has been involved in condominium practice for over 30 years. He has personally handled a wide range of litigation, including construction defect claims, contract disputes, enforcement of declaration/bylaws/rules by injunction actions, financial mismanagement claims, consumer fraud claims, civil rights/discrimination charges, directors and officers liability defense, commercial lease disputes, sexual harassment claims, employment grievances, constitutional issues, assessment collection, easement disputes, and mixed use development disputes.
In addition, Mike has prepared condominium documentation for developers, negotiated and documented condominium loans for both associations and lenders, prepared and negotiated contracts (involving construction, management, landscaping, snowplowing, laundry lease, cable TV, alternative energy suppliers. developer transition, and antenna leases), reviewed rules and regulations, prepared declaration/bylaws amendments, assisted in election procedures, documents, and administration, conducted rules violation hearings, and counseled innumerable clients on condominium and/ or corporate issues.
An adjunct professor with the John Marshall Law School, he has taught at the School's Graduate Program in Real Estate Law on condominium, cooperative and common interest community law. Mike co-authored the Historical and Practice Notes to the Illinois Condominiurn Property Act, has long been active in legislative efforts involving the Act and has written extensively on condominium law and issues, including articles published by the John Marshall Law School, Community Associations Institute (CAI) (both National and Illinois) and the Association of Condominium, Townhome and Homeowners Associations (ACTHA).
Mike has taught numerous times at CAI-National's prestigious Community Association Law Seminar, has spoken at CAI National Conferences, has taught other attorneys at the Law Education Institute, National Business Institute and Lorman Education Services seminars, and has lectured for the Chicago Bar Association, the Illinois CPA Society, and the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education.
After being heard at a CAI Law Seminar, he served as a principal guest speaker for the CAI-Hawaii and Hawaii Real Estate Research and Education annual seminar.
He has served on the Board of Governors of the CAI College of Community Association Lawyers, of which he is a charter member; the College was established to recognize distinguished service to community association law and commitment to highest ethical and professional standards.
He also served as president of CAI-Illinois, during which time he encouraged use of alternative dispute resolution for community associations. Mike has served as chair of the Real Property Law Committee of the Chicago Bar Association as well as its Condominium Law Subcommittee and also as chair of the Condominium Committee of the Illinois State Bar Association Real Estate Law Section Council. He is a member of the American Bar Association's Forum on Construction Law and its Real Property Law Section. He chaired ACTHA's Ad Hoc Committee to develop recommendations and legislative proposals to the Condominium Advisory Council established by the Illinois Legislature, and he co-chairs ACTHA's Legislative Committee.
His pro bono activities have included work to develop affordable condominiums for low income families with Uptown Habitat for Humanity and work as General Counsel to the Association of Sheridan Condo Co-op Owners (ASCO).
He has been regularly sought out and quoted in various media, including the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Crain's Chicago Business, and WTTW Chicago (Channel 11). At times, Mike has been involved in high profile cases involving significant media attention, notably the injunction case involving Laddie (the pot-bellied pig) and a Tourette's resident's civil rights case against a client association and its directors.
On a personal note, he has served as President, Treasurer and Secretary of a condominium association.
In 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2012, Mike was recognized as an Illinois "SuperLawyer" by Law & Politics which conducted an extensive, selective search process. In 2010 and 2011, he was recognized as an Illinois "Leading Lawyer" by the Leading Lawyers Network. He has achieved an "AV" peer review rating with Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, indicating the highest level of legal ability and ethics.