Backer Poliakoff & Foelster

"In my experience dealing with Ryan Poliakoff, who represents the HOA for La Firenze (LF) in Boynton Beach (BB), I've had a mixed bag of interactions. Let me break it down: Positives (My Opinion): Ryan typically responds fairly promptly. He communicates well and seems knowledgeable about HOA matters. There's a sense that he cares about the clients' interests. Negatives (My Opinion): Ryan struggles to defuse tense situations or handle frustrated individuals. I often feel like I'm seen as a bother, which has led me to respond negatively. My interactions with Ryan began when I was facing problems with the old property manager in September '22, which eventually led to my engagement with him. Here's how it all unfolded: I initially encountered issues with a billing dispute and was directed to Ryan. While he maintained professionalism, his demeanor came off as somewhat cold or abrupt. I wrote an extensive email detailing my concerns, which Ryan forwarded in full to the old property manager. While this was effective, I had reservations about the breach of confidentiality. I decided to postpone my issues until the new property manager took over. Come February '23, I submitted a maintenance request regarding street lamps. However, it took three weeks, 36 emails, 2 voicemails, and even me losing my temper with United Community Management (UCM) to finally elicit a response from the new property manager. I also sought documents from the HOA to understand the rationale behind switching property management companies, but getting the requested information proved to be challenging. A pivotal moment came when, just prior to the September '23 LF elections, a concerned neighbor informed me that the current board possessed a list of homeowners to solicit for proxy voting rights. I suspected this was an attempt to hinder my chances of joining the board. I promptly requested this list, but Ryan advised me to send a formal request via certified mail. Unfortunately, this was impractical given the imminent elections. I raised the issue of missing documents from a formal request made in Feb/March '23, and Ryan responded by stating that the "Association disagrees" regarding the records I was allowed to inspect. Invoking Florida Statute, I attempted to claim damages for unavailable documents but received no response regarding where to send the invoice. I also voiced concerns about various governance and transparency issues within the HOA, including proxy rigging, conflicts of interest, and being denied the right to speak at meetings. My frustrations were expressed through lengthy, critical emails that remained unanswered. Even when I requested mediation via email, my appeals were ignored, necessitating the need to send formal requests via certified mail. To sum it up, I feel that my legitimate concerns aren't receiving the attention they deserve from Ryan and the HOA. Communication has been far from direct, and I believe the system favors those who can invest significant time and effort into pursuing issues. I'm concerned that other community members might face similar challenges without receiving the respect they deserve. In light of these experiences and concerns, I regret to say that I cannot recommend the law firm represented by Ryan Poliakoff."

"Anyone who has experienced buying and selling of property knows how important the step of Real Estate Closing is - Katie Donahue, the closing coordinator is an expert at this and will make sure that the property you buy has a clean title, that you understand the entire process and what's in the documents that you are signing. She remains a very important link between you and your attorney because of her excellent communication skills, experience, and knowledge of pretty much any complex situation that may arise during a real estate closing. Any realtors reading this should get in touch with Katie Donahue as their go to professional for all real estate closings."

"Happy day...Michael Foelster has been our firm's attorney for several years. He is insightful, doesn't over-lawyer the documents and is available whenever I need to reach him. When I receive a contract, before I sign it, I have him refine it. I've also had a lot of fun working with his associate, Katie Donahue, who has now helped me out with two closings. She and Michael are a dream to work with and I absolutely refer to them whenever I have the opportunity to do so."

"BAP&F have helped me close a number of real estate transactions and they are awesome. Michael Foelster has helped on the legal side drafting mortgages and notes and Katie Donahue quarterbacks sealing the deal. They are also business attorneys and can advise on a wide range of issues. Before you sign it, ask them to refine it."

"I actually have experience with two different people at this firm. I highly recommend both closing coordinator Katie Donahue and attorney Michael Foelster. They were super helpful throughout my entire process and provided a holistic approach to real estate law and title insurance. They also provided excellent customer support, by answering all of my questions promptly and keeping me updated every step of the way."