Ralph E. Boyer Institute on Condominium and Cluster Development

SAVE THE DATE

50th Anniversary of the Boyer Institute

October 30 & 31, 2025

The Diplomat Beach Resort
3555 S. Ocean Dr., Hollywood, FL 33019

The 50th Institute will cover the latest on condominiums, homeowners and community association law and development.

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  • About the Institute

    Founding Director - Ralph E. Boyer

    Ralph E. BoyerIn the 1970s, the sales of condominiums and similar property interests became a large and growing part of the housing market and at that time legislation and judicial and administrative decisions at the state and federal levels kept condo laws in a state of constant change. Hence, Ralph E. Boyer, who was a professor of law at the University of Miami, established its Condominium and Cluster Housing Institute in 1976 to provide a review of the current state of the law and identify issues facing the industry, government, and consumer.

    Boyer taught at Miami Law from 1951-85 primarily in the area of Property and wrote numerous books and articles on property law, including the original treatise, Florida Real Estate Transactions. In 1988, the Institute expanded and became formally known as the First Institute on Real Property Law and Thirteenth Institute on Condominium and Cluster Developments. Read article from Miami Law's 1976 Barrister Magazine on the first institute.

    Current Director - William P. Sklar

    William SklarWilliam P. Sklar, J.D. '80, co-directed the First Institute on Real Property Law with then Professor Emeritus Boyer in 1996. It was coined The Boyer Institute on Condo and Cluster Development. Sklar has been Director of the Institute on Condominium and Cluster Development since 1990. At Miami Law, Sklar studied under his mentor, Ralph E. Boyer, and Miami Law’s real estate program drew Sklar in, so much so, that he co-founded Miami Law's LL.M program in Real Property Development with Boyer.

    Today Sklar is the Director of the Institute and is a leader in the real estate industry, specializing in law practice areas including representation of developers and lenders in a broad range of planning, drafting and development of residential, commercial, and complex mixed-use condominiums and planned developments. His expertise was recognized when he was appointed in July 2021, in the wake of the Surfside collapse, to chair the Florida Bar's Condominium Law and Policy on Life Safety Task Force. Read 2016 article, "William Sklar: Real Estate Industry Leader and Trailblazer in Boyer Institute and Graduate Law Program."

  • CLE & Certification Credits

    PENDING APPROVAL: Florida Bar CLE: 18.0 general credits, including 1.0 in ethics and 1.0 in technology.

    PENDING 18.0 Certification Credits: in business litigation, condominium and planned development law and real estate.

  • Sponsorship Opportunities

    Sponsorship opportunities are available at several levels.
    Click here for the complete list. 

  • 2025 Hotel Information

    The Diplomat Beach Resort
    3555 S. Ocean Dr., Hollywood, FL 33019
    Nightly rate of $284

    BOOK A ROOM
    The group rate is available until September 29, 2025
    Reservations number: 855-689-2911 

     

     

     

2025 Conference Program*

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  • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2025

    8:00 – 8:40 a.m.

    Registration


    8:40 – 8:50 a.m.

    Welcome and Opening Remarks

    Patricia Abril, Interim Dean
    University of Miami School of Law
    Coral Gables, Florida

    William P. Sklar, Esq., JD ’80, Director
    Institute on Condominium and Cluster Developments
    University of Miami School of Law
    Coral Gables, Florida

    8:50 – 9:40 a.m.

    Judicial Update

    Michael J. Gelfand, Esq.
    Gelfand & Arpe
    West Palm Beach, Florida

    9:40 – 10:30 a.m.

    Legislative Update – 2025 Community Association Legislation

    Joseph E. Adams, Esq.
    Becker
    Fort Myers, Florida

    10:30 – 10:45 a.m.

    Coffee Break


    10:45 – 11:35 a.m.

    Administrative Update of the Division of Condominiums, Timeshares and Mobile Homes

    Melanie S. Griffin, Esq., Secretary
    Department of Business and Professional Regulation
    Tallahassee, Florida

    Jennifer Moore, Division Director
    Division of Condominiums, Timeshares and Mobile Homes
    Tallahassee, Florida

    Toyia T. Herring, Chief
    Bureau of Standards and Registration
    Tallahassee, Florida

    Jennifer Cilar, Chief 
    Bureau of Compliance
    Tallahassee, Florida

     11:35 a.m – 12:25 p.m.

    Surfside 4.0 – SIRS and Reserve Requirements – Changing the Rules of Compliance = Who/When & How – Advising the Association

    Michael Hyman, JD ‘68
    Siegfried Rivera
    Coral Gables, Florida

    Steven H. Mezer. Esq.
    Becker 
    Tampa, Florida 

    Matt Kuisle
    Reserve Advisors
    Orlando, Florida

    12:25 – 2:00 p.m.

    Luncheon Roundtable of Condominium Past Chairs – Past, Present and Future of Condominium Law and Governance

    William P. Sklar, Esq.
    Carlton Fields
    Tallahassee, Florida 

    Joseph E. Adams, Esq.

    Becker 
    Fort Myers, Florida

    Michael J. Gelfand, Esq.

    Gelfand & Arpe
    West Palm Beach, Florida

    Steven H. Mezer. Esq.

    Becker 
    Tampa, Florida 
    Robert S. Freedman, Esq.
    Carlton Fields, P.A. 
    Tampa, Florida

    Margaret (Peggy) Rolando, Esq.
    Shutts & Bowen LLP
    Miami, Florida

    Allison L. Hertz, Esq.
    Becker
    West Palm Beach, Florida

    Alexander B. Dobrev, Esq.
    Lowndes
    Orlando, Florida

    2:00 – 2:50 p.m.

    The ICE’ing of Condos – Foreign Regulation and Immigration Issues Confronting Associations – Fair Housing, Foreign Investment, and Compliance Duties

    Alessandra Stivelman, Esq., JD ‘08
    Eisinger Law
    Hollywood, Florida

    Christene M. Ertl, Esq., JD ‘98
    Fisher, Tousey, Leas & Ball, P.A.
    St. Augustine, Florida

    2:50 – 3:40 p.m.

    Developer/Declarant Reserved Rights and Property: Condos, POAs, Club Plans and Shared Facilities

    Margaret (Peggy) Rolando, Esq.
    Shutts & Bowen LLP
    Miami, Florida

    Martin A. Schwartz, Esq.
    Bilzin Sumberg
    Miami, Florida

    Robert S. Freedman, Esq.
    Carlton Fields, P.A.
    Tampa, Florida

    3:40 – 4:00 p.m.

    Coffee Break


    4:00 – 4:50 p.m.

    Redevelopment or Ruin? Condo Terminations As Possible Exit Strategies in the Age of SIRS and Milestone Mandates

    Alexander B. Dobrev, Esq.
    Lowndes
    Orlando, Florida

    Jennifer J. Bloodworth, Esq. 
    First American Title Insurance Company
    Winter Park, Florida

    Juan J. Farach, Jr., Esq., JD ‘92
    Shubin Law Group, P.A.
    Miami, Florida

    4:50 – 5:40 p.m.

     Voting Rights Update – E-Voting; Online Voting; Voting by Written Consent; Notices – Effects of Biscayne 21, AI & Statutory Limitations

    Joel M. McTague, Esq., JD ‘98 
    Frank, Weinberg & Black, P.L. 
    Plantation, Florida

    Alan Schwartzseid, Esq.  
    Kaye Bender Rembaum, P.L.
    Orlando, Florida

    6:15 – 8:00 p.m.

    Grand Reception – A Fifty-Year Celebration

  • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2025

    9:00 – 10:00 a.m.

    Board Dysfunction – Intra-Board Disputes; Directors Adverse to the Association; Ethical Responsibilities of Association Counsel; Attorney-Client Privilege; Board Codes of Conduct

    Allison L. Hertz, Esq.
    Becker
    West Palm Beach, Florida

    Jonathan S. Goldstein, Esq.
    Haber Law, LLP
    Miami, Florida

    Manuel “Manny” Farach, Esq.
    Mrachek Law
    West Palm Beach, Florida

    10:00 – 10:50 a.m.

    Community Associations and the First Amendment: All Speech is Not Free; Defamation and Effects on Association Communications

    Shawn G. Brown, Esq.
    Shawn G. Brown, P.A.
    Tampa Florida

    Carolina Sznajderman Sheir, Esq. 
    Eisinger Law 
    Hollywood, Florida 

    10:50 – 11:05 a.m.

    Coffee Break


    11:05 – 11:55 a.m.

    Creative Association Investment & Funding – Risks Created by New Statutory Enablements – Maximizing Investment Returns vs. Fiduciary Duty Limitations

    Christopher A. Sajdera, Esq.
    Sajdera, P.A. 
    Boca Raton, Florida 

    Kevin M. Koushel, Esq., LL.M. RPD ‘03
    Bilzin Sumberg
    Miami, Florida

     11:55 a.m – 12:40 p.m.

    Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Division of Condominiums, Timeshares and Mobile Homes

    Moderator
    William P. Sklar, Esq.
    Carlton Fields
    Tallahassee, Florida 

    Panelists
    Jennifer Moore, Division Director
    Division of Condominiums, Timeshares and Mobile Homes 
    Tallahassee, Florida

    Toyia T. Herring, Chief
    Bureau of Standards and Registration
    Tallahassee, Florida

    Jennifer Cilar, Chief
    Bureau of Compliance
    Tallahassee, Florida

    12:40 – 2:15 p.m.

    Meeting of the Florida Bar RPPTL Condominium and Planned Development Committee

    Joel M. McTague, Esq., Co-Chair
    Frank, Weinberg & Black, P.L.  
    Plantation, Florida 

    Jennifer J. Bloodworth, Esq., Co-Chair  
    First American Title Insurance Company
    Winter Park, Florida

    2:15 – 3:00 p.m.

    Whose Claim Is It Anyway? Understanding Direct vs. Derivative Actions

    Barry B. Ansbacher, Esq. 
    Ansbacher Law
    Jacksonville, Florida

    Jason M. Rodgers-da Cruz, Esq., JD ‘00
    Siegfried Rivera
    Coral Gables, Florida

    3:00 – 3:50 p.m.

    Bulk Telecom Agreements – Technological Advances; Bundling of Services; Rights/Obstacles to Cancel; Regulatory Factors

    Michael A. Kammer, Esq. 
    Frank Weinberg & Black, P.L.
    Plantation, Florida 

    Michael R. Kassower, Esq.
    Frank Weinberg & Black, P.L.
    Plantation, Florida

Thank You to Our 2025 Sponsors

 

Questions?

Contact events@law.miami.edu or 305-284-1689.

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