What We Do.
Altus Legal is a law firm dedicated to helping Illinois condos and HOAs solve legal issues.
From high-rise condos to suburban townhome associations, Altus helps your association preserve its most important asset – people’s homes.
Not every question requires a phone call or email from an attorney, which is why Altus Legal offers ComplianceHOA, a new way to provide legal info to boards and property managers, available 24 / 7 via computer or smartphone. Certain apps are available to boards and property managers absolutely free, while others are available only to Altus Legal clients / subscribers.
ComplianceHOA is owned, operated, and managed by Altus Legal, which creates the ComplianceHOA applications, start-to-finish.
Nicholas Bartzen is the founder of Altus Legal, LLC and exclusively represents Illinois community associations. He currently serves as the co-chair of the Chicago Bar Association’s Condominium Subcommittee, and is an active member of CAI-IL, the Illinois chapter of the Community Association Institute, the Illinois State Bar Association, and the American Bar Association.
Nicholas is both frequently published and interviewed on condo and HOA legal issues in a range of local and national industry publications, including Condo Lifestyles Magazine, Common Interest Magazine, the CAI-Illinois publication, The New York Cooperator: The Co-op and Condo Monthly, and The Chicagoland Cooperator: The Condo, HOA and Co-op Monthly. He is also a frequent lecturer and host of legal seminars for industry organizations and area property management companies.
Education
- Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology - Juris Doctor
- Beloit College - B.A. Economics and Management
Publications
- Is the Sky Falling Yet: Document and Records Requests – Common Interest Magazine (CAI-IL) – 2018
- Ruling Changes How Boards Keep Minutes and Provide Evidence for Violations - CAI-Illinois Community Chronicle - August 2018
- Executive Session Meeting Minutes and Violation Procedures – CAI-IL August 2018 Newsletter
- Q&A: When the HOA Threatens to Seize a Unit – The Chicagoland Cooperator: The Condo, HOA and Co-op Monthly – May 2018
- Managing Curb Appeal - Dealing with the Eyesore Next Door - The New York Cooperator: The Co-op and Condo Monthly - April 2018
- Will AI Change the Way Attorneys Work? - Attorney At Work - April 2018
- How AI is Used to Read Real Estate Documents - Globe St. - May 2018
- Renting out Common Areas of Associations - The New York Cooperator: The Co-op and Condo Monthly - October 2017
- Holiday Decorations and Condo Associations - Common Interest Magazine (CAI-IL) - October 2017
- Medical Marijuana in Associations: Navigating the Issue of Medical Marijuana Smoke Causing a Nuisance to Others - CondoLifestyles Magazine - August 2017
- Enforcement of the Chicago Short-Term Rental Ordinance: Common Questions and Answers - CondoLifestyles Magazine - January 2017
- Show me the Money: Collections, Foreclosures and Evictions - The Chicagoland Cooperator: The Condo, HOA & Co-op Monthly - July 2016
Presentations
- CAI National 2019 Convention (Orlando, Florida) - "Legal Aspects of Implementing Association Technology"
- CAI Illinois – 2019 Educational Conference and Expo – “Association Technology in the 21st Century”
- CAI Illinois - Manager / Board Member Education Seminar - “Hot Topics in Condo Law”
- In-house Legal Seminar - First Community Management - Collections / Evictions in Associations
- In-house Legal Seminar - Advanced Property Specialists - Illinois Condominium Act Updates
- CAI Illinois - Legal Expert Q&A Panel (Manager Education) - April Legal Seminar
- In-house Legal Seminar - Associa Chicagoland - Illinois Condominium Act Updates
- In-house Legal Seminar - Peak Properties - Illinois Condominium Act Updates
- In-house Legal Seminar - Broad Shoulders Management - Updates in Illinois Association Law
- In-house Legal Seminar - The Building Group - Updates in Illinois Association Law
- In-house Legal Seminar - The Habitat Company - Updates in Illinois Association Law
