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Mentorship isn’t a subscription service.

As someone who has spent years building a legal practice, I’ve seen how invaluable true mentorship can be—especially for new attorneys. But lately, I’ve noticed a growing disconnect: young lawyers eager for mentorship, but not necessarily ready to show up for it.

Mentorship is not just giving advice. It’s taking the time—often unpaid and outside billable hours—to teach, guide, correct, and invest in someone else’s growth. And it works best when that investment is met with presence, commitment, and humility.

Remote work has its place, but foundational training in a legal career requires more than a Zoom link. It requires watching how client meetings unfold, how strategy is discussed in real time, how office culture shapes professional development. You can’t absorb that through a screen a few hours a week.

To the next generation of lawyers: we want to help you grow. But help us help you—by showing up, being present, and understanding that mentorship is a two-way street.

Attorney Kistemaker Nominated Community Leader for News-Journal 2024 Impact Award!

“The Community Impact Awards celebrate businesses and civic leaders who shape our community. They honor outstanding individuals and businesses who have made significant contributions to the Volusia/Flagler community! Congratulations to our Winners!”

Kistemaker Business Law Group Receives Gold Award from Florida Community Association Journal (FLCAJ)

“The FLCAJ Readers’ Choice Awards is a unique recognition program that shines a spotlight on the positive contributions of community association service providers throughout Florida. Awards are presented to companies that demonstrate, through their commitment to the community associations they serve, an exemplary level of proficiency, reliability, fairness, and integrity. The FLCAJ Readers’ Choice Awards is an annual recognition program that debuted in 2014 with 37 award recipients. This year more than 12,000 ballots were cast, and over 250 companies were recognized as award recipients.

See profiles of select winners at www.fcapgroup.com/rca

About the Florida Community Association Journal: A monthly print and digital periodical for over 35 years, Florida Community Association Journal is the leading source of educational information and services for Florida’s 45,000+ community associations. Our readers are condominium and homeowner association board members, community association managers, property management companies, and service providers for the industry. The print edition is systematically mailed to virtually every board and manager on a rotating statewide circulation.”

Contact: Richard Johns, Publisher, at 800-425-1314 or info@fcapgroup.com.


Landlord prohibited practices matter successfully defended at trial

In a recent non-jury trial, our firm successfully defended a landlord against allegations of prohibited acts under landlord-tenant law. Our firm was successful in obtaining a positive defense judgment for our client.

    •    Outcome: The court ruled in favor of the landlord, finding that the plaintiff failed to prove the allegations by a preponderance of the evidence. 

This case highlights the critical role of thorough documentation and adherence to landlord-tenant laws in defending against allegations of prohibited acts and to hire proper counsel to formulate the best defense. 

Attorney Erum Kistemaker, successfully defended a Landlord’s against claims of prohibited acts brought by a former tenant. After a hard-fought legal battle, the court delivered a defense judgment in favor of the landlord, fully rejecting the plaintiff’s allegations.

The case was heard in the seven judicial circuit. Kistemaker Business Law Group and Erum Kistemaker effectively demonstrated that the landlord acted within the bounds of the law, securing a decisive win. 

CONDOMINIUM ELECTION BROCHURE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION – Division of Florida Condominiums, Timeshares and Mobile Homes MyFloridaLicense.com

ELECTING YOUR BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION
The board of directors for your condominium association must be elected by the process prescribed in Chapter 718, Florida Statutes, and Rule 61B-23.0021, Florida Administrative Code, unless your association has 10 or fewer units and has adopted an alternate election procedure in its bylaws (see Alternate Election Procedures, below). This brochure summarizes the process prescribed by the statutes and rules ….

The Condominium Ombudsman & Elections Overview – Presentation from 2.19.25

This FREE virtual event was hosted by the Education Section of the Division of Condominiums, Timeshares, and Mobile Homes. This special event is part of The Florida Condo Education Initiative Series webinar series, a partnership between the Division of Condominiums, Timeshares and Mobile Homes’ and the Condominium and Planned Development Committee of The Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of The Florida Bar (RPPTL).

Please find the final presentation below ….

The Condominium Ombudsman & Elections Overview

FREE WEBINAR! This is a FREE virtual event hosted by the Education Section of the Division of Condominiums, Timeshares, and Mobile Homes. This special event is part of The Florida Condo Education Initiative Series webinar series, a partnership between the Division of Condominiums, Timeshares and Mobile Homes’ and the Condominium and Planned Development Committee of The Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of The Florida Bar (RPPTL).

Please Register at – https://bit.ly/419Uyk7

Board Member Certification

Deadline Filing Extensions

Deadline Filing Extensions and Stay re Corporate Transparency Act Filings Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) Reporting; Hurricane Relief Extended Due Dates and Injunction puts a suspension on the filings all  together 

 

The following information details FinCEN BOI reporting filing extensions due to recent Hurricanes. As you know, FinCEN has new reporting requirements for businesses which were due December 31, 2024. FinCEN requires businesses to report information on the beneficial owners of the business (generally those owning at least 25% of a business). For most, the due date for reporting is January 1, 2025. Filing can be done online and is free. There may be significant penalties for non-compliance. Click on the links below to file the report or for more information. 

FinCEN Beneficial Ownership Reporting 

FinCEN Beneficial Ownership Reporting FAQ’s 

EXTENSION 

For those of us in Florida, there is an additional six-month (6 month) extension (July 1, 2025) because of Hurricane Milton. 

FinCEN Beneficial Ownership Reporting Extended 

IRS extended due dates 

INJUNCTION (As of December 3, 2024) 

These requirements are currently being challenged in federal court and the judge has issued a preliminary injunction. While the injunction is in place, the reporting requirements cannot be enforced. It is uncertain what will happen to these requirements in trial. You are still able to file the reports while the trial is ongoing. See the link to the article below for more information. 

BOI Injunction

Attorney Kistemaker Featured in Property Insurance Report ….

Older coastal buildings in rough shape with unaffordable special assessments will likely be sold to developers and torn down for new luxury high-rises. Condo units worth hundreds of thousands of dollars on valuable land will be foreclosed upon and replaced with condos worth millions of dollars, said Erum Kistemaker, an attorney in the Daytona Beach area who represents condominium associations. “These condos became almost like retirement living facilities – people with fixed incomes – that is what is going to change,” she said. “You’re going to see a different [type of owner] in condos.” Read more in the Property Insurance Report and subscribe!