George Nowack has dedicated his entire legal career to representing community associations. George began representing associations in 1981 at the law firm Hyatt & Rhoads, PC, which was one of the first firms in the United States to represent homeowner and condominium associations. In 1991, George founded the Community Association Practice at Weissman, Nowack, Curry & Wilco, P.C., where he practiced for 25 years. George and his law partner Julie Howard formed NowackHoward, LLC in October 2016 after working together for 20 years at WNCW.
In addition to George’s extensive community association practice, he is a nationally recognized expert on community association insurance issues, especially Director’s & Officer’s claims and coverage for theft of community association funds. George has assisted three national insurance companies in drafting their D&O policies and has been appointed panel counsel for multiple insurance companies that specialize in writing for D&O policies.
George is also an expert on Fair Housing Law. He has already successfully defended 67 associations in Fair Housing Act claims, more than any other attorney in the country. As one of the members of a special task force, George also worked with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, which enforces the Fair Housing Act, to develop its condominium crime insurance provisions.
In September 2017 George met with Anna Maria Farias, Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at her office in Washington, D.C. to discuss the unintended consequences affecting community associations resulting from changes to the Fair Housing Act. In addition, throughout his career, George has been a stalwart in drafting amendments to the Georgia Condominium Act, the Georgia Property Owners’ Association Act, and advising the Georgia Real Estate Commission in drafting its Community Association Managers’ Licensing law.
An active member of the Community Associations Institute (CAI) since 1982, George was one of the earliest members of Georgia’s CAI Chapter and served as Georgia Chapter President in 1990. George went on to serve two terms on CAI’s National Board of Trustees and served as CAI National President from 1994-1995. Since 1984, George has been a featured presenter on numerous issues at more than 25 of CAI’s National Conferences and 35 of CAI’s Law Seminars and he has been a favorite speaker at local CAI chapters across the country from Massachusetts to Hawaii. George has volunteered countless hours for CAI over the years assisting with numerous committees, subcommittees and special projects.
In light of his dedication and commitment to CAI, George has earned many awards and special recognition over the years. In 2003, George received CAI-Georgia’s Educator of the Year Award. In 2004 and 2005, George received CAI-National’s President’s Award for his extraordinary services to CAI’s National Presidents. George received CAI-National’s 2007-2008 Award of Excellence in Designations. In addition, in recognition of George’s exceptional dedication to CAI, in May 2011, he received CAI-National’s Distinguished Service Award.
In 1994, George’s peers named him to the charter class of the College of Community Association Lawyers. George was elected to the College’s Board of Governors in 2002. He served two terms as the Dean of the College from 2007-2009. Since 1985, George has served as a member of the faculty of the College’s annual Community Association Law Seminar and, for 14 years, at the two general opening sessions of the Law Seminar, George co-presented a review of the 50 most significant cases affecting community associations and the resulting trends. In 2010, the College presented George with the first Gurdon Buck Award, the College’s most prestigious recognition.
George is also a prolific writer on community association law. With more than 500 articles used in seminars and workshops, George has also written weekly columns on community association issues for the Atlanta Journal & Constitution and the Gainesville Times, as well as publishing articles in Common Ground, Real Property & Probate, the Atlanta Business Chronicle, The Newsletter of the Independent Insurance Agents of Georgia, and other publications. George has been quoted in the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal and has been the featured guest on local and nationally syndicated radio shows.
George and NowackHoward have both earned the AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the legal profession’s most prestigious rating service. This top rating is shared by an elite group of just eight percent of all attorneys. George has also been repeatedly designated a Super Lawyer by his peers since 2000.
Education
- Lehigh University, BA, with highest honors, 1977
- Washington and Lee, JD, 1981
Bar Admission
- Georgia
Member
- Community Associations Institute, Washington, DC
President, 1994-1995; Board of Trustees, 1992-1995 - Community Associations Institute of Georgia
President, 1990; Board of Directors, 1988-1990 - College of Community Association Lawyers
Dean, 2007-2008; Board of Governors, 2002-2009; Fellow: 1994-present - Washington and Lee Law School
Alumni Council, 2018-present
Recent articles from George Nowack
Georgia HOA Law Blog
Understanding Homeowner Association Covenants and Firework Restrictions
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