MercerTrigiani

MercerTrigiani

MercerTrigiani: Substance, Service and Style

MercerTrigiani

MercerTrigiani

MercerTrigiani: Substance, Service and Style

Firm Overview

In October 2007, two of Virginia's leading authorities on common interest community associations -
David S. Mercer and Lucia Anna "Pia" Trigiani - opened the doors of MercerTrigiani - a boutique real estate law firm in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia.

The firm provides comprehensive legal services supporting the administration, operation and governance of common interest communities across the Commonwealth. MercerTrigiani's mission is to deliver the highest caliber corporate, litigation and public policy legal counsel to the firm's clients.

Main Office

Main Office
112 South Alfred St.
Alexandria, VA 22314

Phone

703-837-5000

Litigation

Litigation: The sixth area of potential representation is litigation representation.

Litigation representation may take two forms: routine collection of unpaid common expense assessments and commercial litigation. It has been our experience that with a properly designed collection policy and a system for the collection of past due assessments, common expense assessment arrearages are kept at a minimum. Our paralegals are responsible for monitoring our assessment collection efforts and handle a significant number of cases each day. We are quite familiar with the processing of both routine assessment collection matters as well as the more sophisticated enforcement procedures.

MercerTrigiani has successfully litigated or settled large warranty claims against developers, breach of contract claims against vendors and common area tax issues and intra-association disputes. Mike Zupan takes the lead on complex litigation matters with guidance from David Mercer. Non-litigation attorneys remain involved in litigation matters for our clients, offering expertise on issues and maintaining contact with the client to report progress on the case.

This "team" approach has been very successful on larger litigation issues and has allowed the community association attorney primarily responsible to the association to continue to advise an association on day-to-day policy issues while enabling the litigating attorneys to focus on litigation. We also encourage dispute resolution through alternative means such as arbitration or mediation.

MercerTrigiani
David Mercer

Practice Description
Common Interest Ownership Community Associations; Administrative Law with emphasis on representation of community associations, real estate developers of common interest ownership community associations, and legislative representation.

Memberships

Virginia Bar Association - Board of Governors - 2013
Virginia Bar Association, past chair, Substance Abuse Committee; member, Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section
Alexandria Bar Association
Community Associations Institute, Member and Past National President
Community Association Law Seminar, Faculty
Community Associations Institute Professional Management Designation Program, Faculty
College of Community Association Lawyers, Charter Member and Past Dean
Common Interest Community Board - Member, Condominium Committee

Publications & Presentations

Panelist, Construction Issues in Virginia Common Interest Community
Associations - 31st Annual Construction and Public Contracts Law Seminar.
Active in drafting of the Virginia Condominium Act and amendments to the Condominium Act and the Virginia Property Owners' Association Act.
Lectures on legislative changes and current judicial decisions affecting the law.
Lectures on ethical issues involving substance abuse and mental illness affecting attorneys.
Virginia CLE - Legislative Update for Annual Real Estate Practice Seminar - 2003-2009.
Instructor and panelist serving on condominium conferences, panels, seminars, adult education real estate courses and continuing legal education programs.

Community Service

Rebuilding Together Alexandria, Past Board Member
Hampden-Sydney College National Capital Area Alumni Association, Past President
The Campagna Center, Past President
Lawyers Helping Lawyers, Board Member and Past President

Distinctions

Virginia Super Lawyers for Real Estate/Eminent Domain - 2014 editions
A-V rated for Martindale-Hubbell - highest rating for legal ability and ethical standards.
Virginia State Bar - 2013 Traver Award for real estate education.
2012 Caron Legal Professional Award for volunteer service in fighting substance abuse in legal profession.
Best Lawyers in America for Real Estate Law - 2005-2013 editions.
Virginia Super Lawyers for Real Estate/Eminent Domain - 2011 editions.
Washington, D.C. Best Lawyers 2009 and 2010.
Virginia's Legal Elite by Virginia Business for Real Estate/Construction - 2004, Business Law - 2005, Civil Litigation - 2006 and Pro Bono Service - 2007-2012.
Leaders in the Law by Virginia Lawyers Weekly - 2006 Charter Class.
Outstanding Volunteer Service Award by Community Associations Institute - 2006.
Public Advocate Award by Washington Metropolitan Chapter, Community Association Institute - 2005.
Virginia Law Foundation Fellow - elected Fellow in 2005.
James R. Treese Award by Virginia Bar Association - 1999.

MercerTrigiani
David Mercer

Practice Description
Common Interest Ownership Community Associations; Administrative Law with emphasis on representation of community associations, real estate developers of common interest ownership community associations, and legislative representation.

Memberships

Virginia Bar Association - Board of Governors - 2013
Virginia Bar Association, past chair, Substance Abuse Committee; member, Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section
Alexandria Bar Association
Community Associations Institute, Member and Past National President
Community Association Law Seminar, Faculty
Community Associations Institute Professional Management Designation Program, Faculty
College of Community Association Lawyers, Charter Member and Past Dean
Common Interest Community Board - Member, Condominium Committee

Publications & Presentations

Panelist, Construction Issues in Virginia Common Interest Community
Associations - 31st Annual Construction and Public Contracts Law Seminar.
Active in drafting of the Virginia Condominium Act and amendments to the Condominium Act and the Virginia Property Owners' Association Act.
Lectures on legislative changes and current judicial decisions affecting the law.
Lectures on ethical issues involving substance abuse and mental illness affecting attorneys.
Virginia CLE - Legislative Update for Annual Real Estate Practice Seminar - 2003-2009.
Instructor and panelist serving on condominium conferences, panels, seminars, adult education real estate courses and continuing legal education programs.

Community Service

Rebuilding Together Alexandria, Past Board Member
Hampden-Sydney College National Capital Area Alumni Association, Past President
The Campagna Center, Past President
Lawyers Helping Lawyers, Board Member and Past President

Distinctions

Virginia Super Lawyers for Real Estate/Eminent Domain - 2014 editions
A-V rated for Martindale-Hubbell - highest rating for legal ability and ethical standards.
Virginia State Bar - 2013 Traver Award for real estate education.
2012 Caron Legal Professional Award for volunteer service in fighting substance abuse in legal profession.
Best Lawyers in America for Real Estate Law - 2005-2013 editions.
Virginia Super Lawyers for Real Estate/Eminent Domain - 2011 editions.
Washington, D.C. Best Lawyers 2009 and 2010.
Virginia's Legal Elite by Virginia Business for Real Estate/Construction - 2004, Business Law - 2005, Civil Litigation - 2006 and Pro Bono Service - 2007-2012.
Leaders in the Law by Virginia Lawyers Weekly - 2006 Charter Class.
Outstanding Volunteer Service Award by Community Associations Institute - 2006.
Public Advocate Award by Washington Metropolitan Chapter, Community Association Institute - 2005.
Virginia Law Foundation Fellow - elected Fellow in 2005.
James R. Treese Award by Virginia Bar Association - 1999.

Firm Overview

In October 2007, two of Virginia's leading authorities on common interest community associations -
David S. Mercer and Lucia Anna "Pia" Trigiani - opened the doors of MercerTrigiani - a boutique real estate law firm in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia.

The firm provides comprehensive legal services supporting the administration, operation and governance of common interest communities across the Commonwealth. MercerTrigiani's mission is to deliver the highest caliber corporate, litigation and public policy legal counsel to the firm's clients.

Main Office

Main Office
112 South Alfred St.
Alexandria, VA 22314

Phone

703-837-5000

Litigation

Litigation: The sixth area of potential representation is litigation representation.

Litigation representation may take two forms: routine collection of unpaid common expense assessments and commercial litigation. It has been our experience that with a properly designed collection policy and a system for the collection of past due assessments, common expense assessment arrearages are kept at a minimum. Our paralegals are responsible for monitoring our assessment collection efforts and handle a significant number of cases each day. We are quite familiar with the processing of both routine assessment collection matters as well as the more sophisticated enforcement procedures.

MercerTrigiani has successfully litigated or settled large warranty claims against developers, breach of contract claims against vendors and common area tax issues and intra-association disputes. Mike Zupan takes the lead on complex litigation matters with guidance from David Mercer. Non-litigation attorneys remain involved in litigation matters for our clients, offering expertise on issues and maintaining contact with the client to report progress on the case.

This "team" approach has been very successful on larger litigation issues and has allowed the community association attorney primarily responsible to the association to continue to advise an association on day-to-day policy issues while enabling the litigating attorneys to focus on litigation. We also encourage dispute resolution through alternative means such as arbitration or mediation.

MercerTrigiani
David Mercer

Practice Description
Common Interest Ownership Community Associations; Administrative Law with emphasis on representation of community associations, real estate developers of common interest ownership community associations, and legislative representation.

Memberships

Virginia Bar Association - Board of Governors - 2013
Virginia Bar Association, past chair, Substance Abuse Committee; member, Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section
Alexandria Bar Association
Community Associations Institute, Member and Past National President
Community Association Law Seminar, Faculty
Community Associations Institute Professional Management Designation Program, Faculty
College of Community Association Lawyers, Charter Member and Past Dean
Common Interest Community Board - Member, Condominium Committee

Publications & Presentations

Panelist, Construction Issues in Virginia Common Interest Community
Associations - 31st Annual Construction and Public Contracts Law Seminar.
Active in drafting of the Virginia Condominium Act and amendments to the Condominium Act and the Virginia Property Owners' Association Act.
Lectures on legislative changes and current judicial decisions affecting the law.
Lectures on ethical issues involving substance abuse and mental illness affecting attorneys.
Virginia CLE - Legislative Update for Annual Real Estate Practice Seminar - 2003-2009.
Instructor and panelist serving on condominium conferences, panels, seminars, adult education real estate courses and continuing legal education programs.

Community Service

Rebuilding Together Alexandria, Past Board Member
Hampden-Sydney College National Capital Area Alumni Association, Past President
The Campagna Center, Past President
Lawyers Helping Lawyers, Board Member and Past President

Distinctions

Virginia Super Lawyers for Real Estate/Eminent Domain - 2014 editions
A-V rated for Martindale-Hubbell - highest rating for legal ability and ethical standards.
Virginia State Bar - 2013 Traver Award for real estate education.
2012 Caron Legal Professional Award for volunteer service in fighting substance abuse in legal profession.
Best Lawyers in America for Real Estate Law - 2005-2013 editions.
Virginia Super Lawyers for Real Estate/Eminent Domain - 2011 editions.
Washington, D.C. Best Lawyers 2009 and 2010.
Virginia's Legal Elite by Virginia Business for Real Estate/Construction - 2004, Business Law - 2005, Civil Litigation - 2006 and Pro Bono Service - 2007-2012.
Leaders in the Law by Virginia Lawyers Weekly - 2006 Charter Class.
Outstanding Volunteer Service Award by Community Associations Institute - 2006.
Public Advocate Award by Washington Metropolitan Chapter, Community Association Institute - 2005.
Virginia Law Foundation Fellow - elected Fellow in 2005.
James R. Treese Award by Virginia Bar Association - 1999.

MercerTrigiani
David Mercer

Practice Description
Common Interest Ownership Community Associations; Administrative Law with emphasis on representation of community associations, real estate developers of common interest ownership community associations, and legislative representation.

Memberships

Virginia Bar Association - Board of Governors - 2013
Virginia Bar Association, past chair, Substance Abuse Committee; member, Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section
Alexandria Bar Association
Community Associations Institute, Member and Past National President
Community Association Law Seminar, Faculty
Community Associations Institute Professional Management Designation Program, Faculty
College of Community Association Lawyers, Charter Member and Past Dean
Common Interest Community Board - Member, Condominium Committee

Publications & Presentations

Panelist, Construction Issues in Virginia Common Interest Community
Associations - 31st Annual Construction and Public Contracts Law Seminar.
Active in drafting of the Virginia Condominium Act and amendments to the Condominium Act and the Virginia Property Owners' Association Act.
Lectures on legislative changes and current judicial decisions affecting the law.
Lectures on ethical issues involving substance abuse and mental illness affecting attorneys.
Virginia CLE - Legislative Update for Annual Real Estate Practice Seminar - 2003-2009.
Instructor and panelist serving on condominium conferences, panels, seminars, adult education real estate courses and continuing legal education programs.

Community Service

Rebuilding Together Alexandria, Past Board Member
Hampden-Sydney College National Capital Area Alumni Association, Past President
The Campagna Center, Past President
Lawyers Helping Lawyers, Board Member and Past President

Distinctions

Virginia Super Lawyers for Real Estate/Eminent Domain - 2014 editions
A-V rated for Martindale-Hubbell - highest rating for legal ability and ethical standards.
Virginia State Bar - 2013 Traver Award for real estate education.
2012 Caron Legal Professional Award for volunteer service in fighting substance abuse in legal profession.
Best Lawyers in America for Real Estate Law - 2005-2013 editions.
Virginia Super Lawyers for Real Estate/Eminent Domain - 2011 editions.
Washington, D.C. Best Lawyers 2009 and 2010.
Virginia's Legal Elite by Virginia Business for Real Estate/Construction - 2004, Business Law - 2005, Civil Litigation - 2006 and Pro Bono Service - 2007-2012.
Leaders in the Law by Virginia Lawyers Weekly - 2006 Charter Class.
Outstanding Volunteer Service Award by Community Associations Institute - 2006.
Public Advocate Award by Washington Metropolitan Chapter, Community Association Institute - 2005.
Virginia Law Foundation Fellow - elected Fellow in 2005.
James R. Treese Award by Virginia Bar Association - 1999.

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