Our Attorneys

Experience Matters.

 

founder

Jan A. Kopczynski

Mr. Kopczynski has been representing homeowners associations and property owners for 19 years.  He specializes in handling complex construction-defect cases, as well as business litigation and real-estate disputes. He also provides general counsel to the firm’s commercial and community associations throughout California.  Mr. Kopczynski has personally negotiated over 50 million dollars in settlements for his HOA and commercial clients.

Mr. Kopczynski has lectured extensively and published numerous articles regarding legal issues involving community associations, boards of directors, the construction process, and community-association management. Some of his most recent articles include What Does it Mean for a Board Member to be a Fiduciary (2018), Helping Lambs Slay Lions (ECHO Journal, October 2010), and The Myth of Public Agency Protection in the Building Permit Process (ECHO Journal, June 1999).

 

Education

SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF LAW
Juris Doctor, 1998

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
Masters, with honors, 1993
B.A., Magna Cum Laude, 1992

Affiliations

  • State Bar of California,1999

  • United States District Court for the Northern District of California, 1999

  • United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 2005

  • Bar Association of San Francisco

  • Recognized by Northern California Super Lawyers (2014-2018)

 

 
 
 
Erica photo.jpg

of counsel

Erica Brynes

Ms. Brynes has been practicing law for 20 years and represents homeowners associations and small businesses in all aspects of their day-to-day operations. Her expertise includes analysis of, revisions to, and enforcement of HOA governing documents; handling of elections; insurance-coverage matters; management of vendor relationships; resolution of easement and boundary-line disputes; and, representation of homeowners associations in member disputes and litigation. Ms. Brynes also provides mediation services to small businesses and individuals, and she assists with creating mutually beneficial contract and lease terms for entrepreneurs.

 

Education

ROGER WILLIAMS UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF LAW
Juris Doctor, 1997

ITHACA COLLEGE
Bachelor of Science, 1994

Affiliations

  • State Bar of California, 2001

  • State Bar of New York, 1998