Condo Media - June 2017 - 41

also to clients, creating what Anctil calls "mutual account"The intersection of so many specialty areas and conability." And it produces monthly reports that update clients
dominium law is what can make it dangerous or costly for
on what's been done to date on any given case and what's
clients," Eriksen explains. "If clients know things, they won't
projected to be done in the future. For example, if a unit
fall into traps for the unwary. While we can certainly help
owner is given notice that he or she has 30 days to respond,
people who find themselves in sticky situations, it's better
the report will notify the client of where the litigation stands
to avoid them in the first place." To promote awareness, the
Perkins & Anctil staff takes an active role in educating clients. on the 31st day. "Nobody can make up dates," Anctil says.
That's where the case-management overlay comes in: it allows
"Everybody does better, ourselves included, if the knowledge
bar is higher," says Eriksen. "That's something we all focus on. Chenelle to view the workload at any given time and shift work
among paralegals or reallocate cases among
It all comes back to education and outreach."
attorneys if necessary. "Our technology was
To help educate clients, Perkins, Eriksen,
a shell that we bought, then it was modified
and Chenelle hold meetings with clients
to account for our needs," he reveals. "It's not
that they call "Q&A with P&A." During these
an off-the-shelf, over-the-counter type of
meetings, Chenelle and Eriksen meet with
program. It's something much, much more."
clients free of charge to answer questions
and field ideas. According to Eriksen, "We
A TEAM APPROACH
have a lot of committed, dedicated boards,
Sharing the responsibility is a hallmark of
but, at the end of the day, they're volunteer
Perkins & Anctil's approach to teamwork - a
lay people who don't necessarily have the
policy that is appreciated by clients. Among
depth of knowledge with respect to condothem is Steve Mangano, portfolio property
minium matters that we do. To the extent
Director David R.
manager for Thayer & Associates of Camthat we can give them as much information
Chenelle manages the
bridge, Mass., who cites the willingness of
as possible, that makes our job easier, too."
Lien Enforcement and
Bankruptcy departments.
Perkins & Anctil attorneys to jump in on
Chenelle agrees, adding that, if an associaa case at any given moment. "They're very
tion has an issue with lien enforcement or
methodical in their processes and very up to
condominium documents, for example, Perdate," he says. "If you need information, they can pull someone
kins & Anctil attorneys can come on site and discuss the issue
with board members. "Our outreach is second to none," he says. in. You might end up with three attorneys on the phone!
They're very accessible, and they use technology very well."
"They keep us informed on a day-to-day basis," agrees
DAVID R. CHENELLE:
Douglas Thayer, president and owner of Thayer & Associates.
HARNESSING THE POWER
"They just collected $26,000 owed by a unit owner that the
OF TECHNOLOGY
client had given up on. They really dog it. It's a team effort."
Lien enforcement is a particular strength that Chenelle brings
"The computer system allows David to manage the workto the law firm. He became an attorney by way of a career in
engineering and an MBA, and, as director, he manages the Lien flow and allows staff to balance out work and intelligently
communicate with both unit owners and property managEnforcement and Bankruptcy departments at Perkins & Ancers," says Anctil. "It's very hard to differentiate yourself from
til. In addition, he oversees the firm's proprietary technology.
other quality service providers, but I know David's operation
"We use a very powerful, relational database that has a
of our software program really does that. The power of havcase-management overlay," Chenelle explains. The relaing everything at your fingertips and having transparency
tional database keeps track of all clients, unit owners, and
with our clients is important and sets us apart." He also cites
property managers, allowing anyone at the firm to access
the support staff as a stabilizing force for the firm. "They
information in real time. That includes where a case stands
handle everything, allowing us, the attorneys to have 100
up to the minute, who on staff is handling it, and what court
percent focus on solving our clients' problems," he says.
hearings have transpired or will transpire in the future.
"The most important thing to me is that people look at us
"At any given time, David has hundreds of active files,"
Anctil observes. "I don't know how the heck he could do that as a firm of collaborative attorneys who work on a teamwork
approach on every project," says Perkins. "No one is an
without the file-organization system that we have. Between
island in our firm."
our software and David's direction, nothing ends up falling
through the cracks."
For more information about how Perkins & Anctil can assist
That's particularly important in lien enforcement, which
with your association's legal needs, call (978) 496-2000, or
is highly time sensitive. The software system generates real
visit perkinslawpc.com.
deadlines that are very transparent not only to the firm, but

http://www.perkinslawpc.com

Condo Media - June 2017

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