Gary A. Poliakoff, J.D., of Becker & Poliakoff in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., has been awarded the Gurdon Hall Buck Award, the highest honor given by CAI’s College of Community Association Lawyers (CCAL). The award recognizes attorneys who exhibit exceptional leadership in community association law.

Poliakoff is the second recipient of the award. George E. Nowack Jr., Esq., of Weissman, Nowack, Curry & Wilco, P.C. in Atlanta, Ga., received the first Gurdon Hall Buck Award in January 2010.

With more than 35 years in the field, Poliakoff has dedicated much of his career to the practice of community association law. He has consulted both state legislatures and the White House during the drafting of common-interest housing legislation and served as the American Bar Association's advisor at the National Conference of Commissioners of Uniform State Laws during its revision of the Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act.

An adjunct professor at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Poliakoff has published numerous articles on community association issues in various publications, and is the co-author of New Neighbors: The Consumer's Guide to Condominium, Co-op, and HOA Living, which is available in the CAI Bookstore. He is also the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the American Jewish Committee’s Judge Learned Hand Human Relations Award for his outstanding efforts to raise the level of clarity and justness in the law and the South Florida Business Journal’s Diamond Award Honoree for excellence in business leadership.

The Gurdon Hall Buck Award was created in 2009 in honor of Gurdon Hall Buck, a pioneer and innovator in the field of community association law. Among his many achievements, Buck, a senior partner in what would eventually become Robinson & Cole, LLP, devoted countless hours to the betterment of the industry with his service and contributions through education and scholarly writings to CAI and other organizations. Buck passed away in 2008.

Through this award, CCAL ensures that Gurdon’s spirit, devotion and commitment to the community association industry remain alive. It is awarded periodically at the discretion of the CCAL Board of Governors. CCAL members nominate candidates through a written nomination process. Candidates must be lawyers in good standing with the bar and have at least 20 years of experience in community association law. They must also be a strong presence in the association industry and have a record of sharing their gifts, talents and knowledge with the community.

Established in 1993 by the CAI Board of Trustees, CCAL consists of fewer than 120 CAI member attorneys who have distinguished themselves through contributions to the field of community association law. The goals of CCAL 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. Learn more about CCAL.

CAI is a membership organization dedicated to helping homeowners and condominium associations meet the expectations of their residents. CAI members include community management professionals, volunteer homeowner leaders, and businesses and professionals who support associations. More information can be obtained at www.caionline.org or by calling (888) 224-4321.