Ronald L. Perl, partner-in-charge of Hill Wallack's community associations and eminent domain practice groups in Princeton, N.J., has been awarded the Don Buck Lifetime Contribution Award, the most prestigious honor given by the College of Community Association Lawyers (CCAL). Perl accepted the award on Jan. 25 during the 2019 Community Association Law Seminar in New Orleans.
The award recognizes attorneys who exhibit exceptional leadership in the field of community association law.
For the past 40 years, Perl has devoted his career to the community association industry and to Community Associations Institute (CAI). He served as president of the New Jersey chapter in 1986 and president of CAI National in 2007. Perl was inducted as a CCAL fellow in 1994. In addition, he served as president of the Foundation for Community Association Research, member of the New Jersey Political Action Committee, and commissioner on the Community Association Managers International Certification Board. He has chaired CAI's Government and Public Affairs Committee, the Federal Legislative Action Committee, and the national Business Partners Council.
The Lifetime Contribution Award was created in 2009 in honor of Gurdon “Don" Buck, a pioneer and innovator in the field of community association law who died in 2008. Among his many achievements, Buck, a senior partner in what would eventually become Robinson & Cole, LLP, devoted countless hours to the betterment of common-interest communities with his service and contributions through education and scholarly writings for CAI and other organizations.
Through this award, CCAL ensures that Buck's spirit, devotion, and commitment to the community association industry remain alive. The Don Buck Lifetime Contribution Award is awarded periodically at the discretion of the CCAL Board of Governors. Perl is the eighth recipient of the award.
Denise Lash, founder and president of the CAI Canada Chapter, congratulated Perl on his award and his exceptional leadership in the field of community association law. “Many years ago, I connected with Ron as a Canadian attorney trying to find my way in this new and exciting field of association law. Ron provided guidance, support, and expertise for my own law practice at a time that I was struggling with career decisions. He welcomed me as the “Canadian" to the CAI family, spending much of his free time making those important introductions that resulted in the creation of the CAI Canada Chapter."
About College of Community Association Lawyers
Established in 1993 by the Community Associations Institute (CAI), the College of Community Association Lawyers (CCAL) provides a forum for experienced legal professionals working in the community association field to exchange information. Its goals include promoting high standards of professional and ethical responsibility, improving and advancing community association law and practice, and facilitating the development of educational materials and programming pertaining to legal issues. Members are lawyers who have demonstrated skill, experience, and high standards of professional and ethical conduct and are dedicated to excellence in the specialized practice of community association law. They are involved in state and federal legislative activities and prepare amicus curiae (friend-of-the-court) briefs on critical judicial cases that affect common-interest communities. CCAL provides advanced professional educational programs to its fellows and provides solutions to community association legal challenges. It is a collegial forum for the exchange and development of ideas by some of the most knowledgeable attorneys in the field.
About Community Associations Institute
Since 1973, Community Associations Institute (CAI) has been the leading provider of resources and information for homeowners, volunteer board leaders, professional managers, and business professionals in 346,000 homeowners associations, condominiums, and housing cooperatives in the United States and millions of communities worldwide. With more than 40,000 members, CAI works in partnership with 36 legislative action committees and 64 affiliated chapters within the U.S., Canada, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates as well as with housing leaders in several other countries, including Australia, Spain, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom. A global nonprofit 501(c)(6) organization, CAI is the foremost authority in community association management, governance, education, and advocacy. Our mission is to inspire professionalism, effective leadership, and responsible citizenship—ideals reflected in community associations that are preferred places to call home. Visit us at www.caionline.org and follow us on Twitter and Facebook @caisocial.
# # #