Wendell A. Smith

Early on, I learned three important lessons that have guided my career: First, 'The difference between mediocrity and excellence is attention to detail.' Second, 'Don’t identify a problem without attempting to find a solution.' Finally, 'If all objections must first be overcome, nothing will ever be accomplished.'

Mr. Smith focuses his practice on community association law, planned real estate development and land use.  He has practiced real estate law for over fifty years, and is widely recognized as one of New Jersey’s preeminent authorities on the legal issues impacting condominiums and common interest communities. 

Throughout his career, Mr. Smith has focused on preventative law and provided practical and sophisticated representation to developers, lending institutions, and hundreds of condominium, cooperative and other common interest communities, including conversions, golf and tennis communities, retirement communities, congregate care facilities and dockominiums.  His comprehensive experience in land use issues and planned real estate development includes large mixed-use projects and high rise buildings as well as active adult, golf course and resort communities. He assists clients in navigating the complexities associated with distressed common interest communities, and adeptly provides counsel on issues arising during the transition from developer to unit owner control.

Mr. Smith frequently serves as an expert witness in community association litigation, both as a court appointee and at the request of private litigants, and has also served as a custodial receiver for conversion projects.