Ralph E. Boyer Institute on Condominium and Cluster Development

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SAVE THE DATE FOR 2026

September 24 & 25, 2026

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

2025 Materials and Video available for purchase: $475.
PURCHASE MATERIALS & VIDEO

The 51st Institute will cover the latest on condominiums, homeowners and community association law and development.

Accordion Group

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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:

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

    18.0 Certification Credits: condominium and planned development law and real estate.

  • Sponsorship Opportunities

    Sponsorship opportunities are available at several levels. Click here. For more information contact: events@law.miami.edu.

  • 2026 Hotel Information

    The Diplomat Beach Resort
    3555 S. Ocean Dr., Hollywood, FL 33019
    Reservations number 855-689-2911

    BOOK HERE

    Special nightly rate of: $259 
    The group rate will be available until, Tuesday, September 1st, 2026

     

     

2026 Conference Program*

8:00 – 8:40 a.m.

Registration


8:40 – 8:50 a.m.

Welcome and Opening Remarks

Patricia Sanchez Abril
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 – 2026 Community Association Legislation

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


10:30 – 10:45 a.m.

Coffee Break


10:45 – 11:45 a.m.

Administrative Update of the Division of Condominiums, Timeshares and Mobile Homes / Meeting with the Division

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


11:45 a.m. – 12:35 p.m.

Rental/Leasing Issues – Short-Term Rental & Long-Term Problems – Airbnb/VRBO vs. Community Associations

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

Shayla Johnson Mount, Esq.
Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor & Reed
Orlando, Florida


12:35 – 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, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor & Reed
Orlando, Florida


2:10 – 3:00 p.m.

MRTA Issues Plaguing Associations – Extinguished Covenants, Revitalization & Unanswered Issues

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

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


3:00 – 3:50 p.m.

The Condo Lawyer's AI Playbook: Uses, Risks and Ethical Limits

Alexander B. Dobrev, Esq.
Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor & Reed
Orlando, Florida

Nicole Kibert Basler, Esq.
Beazer Homes
Atlanta, Georgia


3:50 – 4:10 p.m.

Coffee Break


4:10 – 5:00 p.m.

Issues of Branded Residences – Condo vs. Resort Management – Protecting Brand Value vs. Association Rights

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

Laura Manning Hudson, Esq.
Siegfried Rivera
West Palm Beach, Florida


5:00 – 5:50 p.m.

Liability Issues & Trends Facing Community Associations – Regulatory & ADR Factors

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

Russell M. Robbins, Esq.
Basulto Robbins & Associates, LLP
Miami Lakes, Florida


6:15 – 7:15 p.m.

Reception

9:00 – 9:50 a.m.

Avoiding the Zombie Condo – Innovative Solutions in Terminating Obsolescent & Non-Viable Condominiums

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

Leonard F. Prescott, IV, Esq.
First American Title Insurance Company
Coral Gables, Florida


9:50 – 10:40 a.m.

SIRS 2026 & Beyond – Is it Working & What Changes Should Be Made

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

Marnie D. Ragan, Esq.
Haber Law, LLP
Miami, Florida


10:40 – 11:00 a.m.

Coffee Break


11:00 – 11:50 a.m.

The 558 Process – Does It Work & How Can It Be Improved – Developer/Association Perspectives

Alessandra Stivelman, Esq.
Eisinger Law
Hollywood, Florida

Audrey S. Wanich, Esq.
Freeman, Mathis & Gary, LLP
Maitland, Florida


11:50 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Meeting of the Florida Bar RPPTL Condominium and Planned Development Committee

Co-Chairs:

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

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


2:00 – 2:50 p.m.

Cybersecurity Issues Confronting Community Associations and their Counsel – Professional Responsibility & Liability Mitigation

Carolina Sznajderman Sheir, Esq.
Eisinger Law
Hollywood, Florida

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


2:50 – 3:40 p.m.

Developer Reserved Rights to Amend – Limits & Boundaries; Post-Turnover Issues

Steven H. Mezer, Esq.
Becker
Tampa, Florida

Thomas F. Coyle, Esq.
Greenspoon Marder
Fort Lauderdale, Florida


3:40 – 4:30 p.m.

Artificial Intelligence in Association Governance: Owner Privacy, Board Use and Counsel Liability

Eric Appleton, Esq.
Appleton Reiss, PLLC
Tampa, Florida

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

Thank You to Our 2026 Sponsors

 

Questions?

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

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