Our Attorneys

Dan Lobeck is the Managing Partner of the firm. He has represented condominium, cooperative and homeowner associations and similar clients since 1980. Prior to that, he was on the staff of the Bureau of Condominiums in Tallahassee, with primary responsibility for proposing and drafting new rules and statutes. Dan has been active with various statewide organizations which seek to influence condominium and HOA law, including service for two years as state legislative chairman of Community Associations Institute. He has also lectured extensively on topics of association law and co-authored a Florida Bar law textbook for attorneys, in both the first and the new current editions.

Dan Lobeck has also been recognized locally for his community involvement. In 1998, he was named by Gulf Coast Business Review as one of the fifty most influential business people in Sarasota and Manatee Counties. In 2016, he was named by Sarasota Magazine as one of the “25 Most Influential Men and Women in Sarasota Today”, in an article headlined “Power Players” and promoted on the magazine cover as “Who Runs This Town?” The only attorney so honored (other than a judge and a county commissioner), he was identified as an attorney who specializes in condominium law who also strives to protect the public interest in matters concerning land use and development.

Also, over the past 30 years Dan has developed land use law as a significant part of the firm’s practice, concerning such matters as rezonings, site plans, special exceptions and comprehensive plan amendments. We assist associations and individuals in seeking to influence or challenge land use changes as well as developers who seek responsible revisions.

Partner Michelle Rowe joined our practice as an attorney in 2007 after clerking for the law firm during her studies at Stetson University College of Law. While at Stetson University College of Law, Michelle was in the Honors Program, and was a Federal Judicial Intern for the Honorable Elizabeth A. Kovachevich, United States District Court Judge during the fall of 2006. Michelle had experience as a marketing manager and certified paralegal prior to attending law school. Michelle received a Bachelor of Science in an Integrative Psychology and Paralegal program from Marist College where she was the recipient of the Academic Excellence Award for Adult Learners and in the top 10% of her class. Michelle provides various services to our association clients, including enforcement of rules and restrictions by correspondence, litigation, mediation and arbitration, defense of Federal and Florida Fair Housing Act claims, assists with association insurance claims, claim of lien foreclosures and money damage actions, mortgage foreclosure defense, breach of contract actions, creditor’s interests in bankruptcies, post-judgment collections, appeals and also provides services to individuals in family law and other matters such as landlord/tenant matters, probates and mobile home assignments and membership certificate transfers. Michelle is a member of the Sarasota County Bar Association and admitted to practice in the Midde District of Florida, United States District Court. Michelle enjoys spending time with her husband, two children and dogs.

Joe Gugino joined the firm in 2024 after over 30 years as an attorney licensed by the Florida Bar. He is a graduate of Thomas M. Cooley Law School, in Lansing, Michigan. Mr. Gugino has extensive experience in all aspects of Real Estate with an emphasis on Condominium, Homeowners and Co-Op Associatons. As corporate counsel for Associations, Mr. Gugino has handled litigation, mediations, arbitrations and enforcement matters, including assessment lien foreclosures. He is experienced in business entity formation, including corporations and limited liability companies. Additionally, Mr. Gugino has a Florida Community Association Manager license and is an approved attorney/agent by two Florida Title insurance underwriters. Mr. Gugino’s recent experience involved Real Estate/Land Development, Zoning, Planning
and Land Use, as well as other complex real estate matters.

Brett Paben joined our firm in 2023 after his most recent work as a successful solo practitioner. He was admitted to the Florida Bar in October, 2000. He earned his Juris Doctorate from University of Oregon School of Law and went on to further his education by receiving his Master of Law in Environmental Law from Georgetown University Law Center. Brett’s legal experience began in the nonprofit sector focusing on environmental subjects and he later expanded to land use and zoning in his private practice. Brett has experience providing counseling and litigation in environmental, land use, nonprofit organization corporate and tax matters, as well as experience with wills and trusts, and now in the law governing condominium, homeowners and cooperative associations. Additionally, Brett has worked as a professor teaching environmental law and taught land use law while serving as a visiting professor.