Condo Media - February 2017 - 40

Volunteer Spotlight

A Lawyer's Lawyer

Attorney Scott Eriksen Advances the Sharing
of Best Practices in Condominium Law
When you join a law firm that represents nearly
700 condominiums, community associations, homeowner associations, and cooperatives throughout
Massachusetts and New Hampshire-and you have
no previous experience in condominium law-you'd better learn the industry fast. That's what Scott J. Eriksen
discovered six years ago when he joined Perkins & Anctil
Attorneys at Law, a Westford, Mass.-based law firm
specializing in condominium and real estate law. And
that's why he quickly became
active in CAI-NE.
"There's a lot to be
learned, and CAI does a
great job of educating," Eriksen says. "Anyone involved
in the industry would be well
advised to take advantage of
those resources."
In fact, Eriksen does more
than access CAI's materials,
seminars, and other resources: he devotes countless
hours to the organization
as a volunteer. Naturally,
his primary focus from the
beginning has been the chapter's Attorneys' Committee.
Attorneys throughout New
England are invited to
attend the committee's quarterly meetings to discuss
common issues. Eriksen appreciates the opportunity to
meet with others in his profession and benefit from their
expertise-even those with whom he is sometimes on the
opposing side. "We're all working together toward a common end," he says. "It's great to have an open dialogue
with leaders of the industry."
He currently co-chairs the committee with Mary-Joy
Howes, an attorney based in the Lincoln, R.I., office of
Goodman, Shapiro & Lombardi, LLC. "It's a job that
can be overwhelming for just one person," says Howes.
"Scott is very easygoing, and we can bounce things off
each other. I couldn't pick a better person to work with
in terms of professionalism and personality."
In addition, Eriksen participates in CAI's national
events, such as the January national law seminar in Las

Vegas at which he was a speaker. He points out that, even
though laws vary from state to state, the issues confronting condominium associations nationwide tend to be
similar. "It's fun to meet condominium lawyers from
all over the country and see how different or similar the
issues are across state lines," he says. "You have to tailor
the solutions, but the general approach is universal."
In case you think that's not enough volunteerism on
behalf of CAI, Eriksen has been active with the Massachusetts Legislative Action
Committee (MALAC) and with
CAI-NE's Emerging Leaders
Network (ELN), a committee
dedicated to providing a forum
for industry professionals to
connect with other experts
through a series of social events.
And he is a frequent contributor
to Condo Media magazine.
Somehow, he manages to
squeeze in all these activities
while maintaining an active
practice with Perkins & Anctil,
where he is a partner. Clients
include the Village at West
Gloucester, Mass., where Barry
Weiner is a board member.
"Scott's understanding of condominium law is top-notch,"
he says-and, as an attorney
himself, he should know. "Most
of all, he's very responsive. That's a characteristic that
is important for a client to experience."
Mike Monahan, vice president of The Dartmouth
Group of Bedford, Mass., also appreciates Eriksen's
commitment to condominium law. "Scott is very interested in finding creative ways to resolve issues, and he
has a great manner with boards," Monahan says. "I was
very happy when he joined Perkins & Anctil. He makes
my life easier, I'll tell you that!"
Despite his busy work schedule, Eriksen always
manages to find time for CAI. Asked why, he reveals,
"CAI is what you make of it and what you contribute to
it. I encourage everyone to engage with it actively. It's
a great learning opportunity and one that betters the
entire community."

SCOTT J. ERIKSEN

CONDOMEDIA

Condo Media - February 2017

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