David L. Dockery

David Dockery represents community associations, cooperatives and landlords in New Jersey and New York. As Vice Chair of Becker’s New Jersey Condo, Co-Op & HOA practice, he advises board members and managers on general operations and frequently attends client board meetings. His work includes interpreting governing documents and preparing and negotiating contracts, resolutions, leases and amendments.

David also handles litigation involving issues common to community associations, cooperatives and landlords. His experience includes board election and special assessment disputes, collections, foreclosure and eviction matters, and lawsuits brought by owners and tenants against associations, cooperatives and landlords. He has worked on land use matters, appeared before municipal planning boards and boards of adjustment, and handled bankruptcy matters and appeals.

Alongside his client work, David speaks and writes for community association organizations and legal education audiences, including the Community Association Institute’s New Jersey and New York Hudson Valley chapters, the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education and Association Help Now. He also contributes to Becker’s client publications and alerts. His presentations and writing address board governance, community association law and lender-related issues, including changes to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guidelines.

• Successfully defended a community association with dismissal of all claims and obtaining a declaratory judgment with regard to interpretation of the governing documents in response to a judicial election challenge
• Considerable day-to-day experience with representation of over-55 age-restricted community associations.
• Broad experience with eviction litigation in New York City Housing Court and New Jersey Courts with favorable settlement and trial outcomes for clients.
• Appellate experience includes successfully upholding a lower court judgment in a condominium lien foreclosure.
• Certified Mediator – New Jersey Community Associations Institute (CAI-NJ).
• Member of Editorial Committee – CAI-NJ Community Trends Magazine.

• New York Law School, J.D., 2008
• University of Michigan, M.M. (with Honors), 2002
• University of Michigan, B.M. (with Honors), 2000

• New Jersey
• New York
• Michigan
• Federal District of New Jersey

Author of the Year Winner, “The New Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Lender Questionnaire: To Answer, or Not to Answer, That is the Question!”, Community Associations Institute, New Jersey Chapter, Community Trends, January 2023