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Howard S. Dakoff

Partner

Howard S. Dakoff is a partner in the Community Association Group of Levenfeld Pearlstein.  He concentrates his practice in condominium, real estate, and general corporate law.  Howard has extensive experience in drafting condominium declarations and bylaws, counseling condominium and homeowners’ associations through governing documents enforcement and rendering legal advice on general governance issues for community associations.

Howard is the co-author of the current chapter on "Condominium Management" for the Condominium Law textbook published by the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education.  Howard also regularly publishes articles on a variety of condominium and community association topics and has lectured extensively at seminars on homeowner association law.  Howard has been featured in such publications as Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Sun Times, and Common Interest Magazine and is a columnist for the Chicago Tribune, Sunday Edition, as the Condo Adviser.

Howard was elected to the College of Community Association Lawyers of the Community Associations Institute, was named by the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin as one of "40 Illinois Attorneys Under 40 to Watch" at age 32, was listed as an Illinois Leading Lawyer, and also has been named an Illinois Super Lawyer.

Howard Dakoff Headshot

Contact

Email Me

Phone Number

+1 312 476 7556

Additional Information

Education & Admissions

Education
  • John Marshall Law School, J.D.
  • University of Wisconsin - Madison, B.S.
Bar Admissions
  • Illinois
Court Admissions
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois

Memberships

  • Chicago Bar Association - Subcommittee on Condominiums
  • Illinois State Bar Association
  • Community Associations Institute
  • The Association of Condominiums, Townhouse and Homeowners' Association
  • Elected to the College of Community Association Lawyers of the Community Associations Institute

Awards

  • AVVO Rated 10 out of 10
  • Named as one of "40 Illinois Attorneys Under 40 to Watch" by the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin
  • Illinois Super Lawyer, 2005, 2007, 2010-2014
  • Leading Lawyer, Leading Lawyers Network

Q&A

  • What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
    The best piece of advice I ever received is that life is about experiences, not things (i.e. engaging in family experiences will bring more existential happiness than the purchase of items.)

  • What was your first job?
    My very first job was a summer job working in a warehouse driving a forklift at age 14 loading freight onto trailers to be driven across the country. Driving a forklift when you cannot drive a car was pretty cool.

  • What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received?
    The best compliment I ever received from a client is when he said “I cannot imagine doing this job without your legal guidance.”

“Howard comes with such authority. It takes the pressure off me as President when he is able to advocate for our best interests, and it doesn’t have to come from me.”

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