Kathryn G. Murphy

Kathryn G. Murphy

ASSOCIATE
FALLS CHURCH
T: 703.280.3390
F: 703.259.6534

Ms. Murphy is an Associate in the firm's Community Associations practice. Her practice is focused on representing community associations on such matters as corporate governance, contract law and covenant interpretation and drafting.

INSIGHTS

Speaker: "Old Guard v. New Guard: How a Law Firm Must Evolve to Thrive in Today's Multigenerational Workplace," CAI Law Seminar (January, 2023)

ARTICLES

Client Alert: Virginia 2023 Legislative Update for Common Interest Communities

The Virginia General Assembly approved a number of bills during its 2023 legislative session. Some of the bills impact, directly or indirectly, common interest communities. The Governor of Virginia signed the following bills into law and the new laws will take effect on July 1, 2023. We have outlined the legislative action taken by the Virginia General Assembly that we believe most directly affect both homeowners and condominium associations.

The following bills amend the Property Owners’ Association Act (Va. Code Ann. 55.1-1801, et seq., as amended (1950)), the Virginia Condominium Act (Va. Code Ann. 55.1-1900, et seq., as amended (1950)), and other statutes that may affect common interest communities. Please feel free to contact us if you have questions regarding any of the following legislative changes.

2022 Virginia Legislative Update for Common Interest Communities

The Virginia General Assembly only approved a few bills during its 2022 legislative session that impact, directly or indirectly, common interest communities. The Governor of Virginia signed the following bills into law in March and the new laws will take effect on July 1, 2022. We have outlined the legislative action taken by the Virginia General Assembly that most directly affect both homeowners and condominium associations. We also summarize the piece of federal legislation recently introduced following the Surfside condominium collapse that, if passed by Congress, will have a direct impact on condominium associations nationwide.  

Pithy Title Needed: Lawyers Discussing Stormwater Management by Associations…in Depth

An SMP, or “Stormwater Management Plan,” is the broad term for an association’s documented plan for complying with local ordinances regarding stormwater management. A BMP, or “Best Management Practice,” is a type of SMP that includes those activities, prohibited practices, and maintenance that an association has adopted to prevent or at least reduce the pollution of surface waters on its property.

Virginia 2021 Legislative Update for Common Interest Communities

The Virginia General Assembly approved a number of bills during its 2021 legislative session.  Several of the bills impact, directly or indirectly, common interest communities.  The Governor of Virginia signed the following bills into law in March and the new laws will take effect on July 1, 2021.  We have outlined the legislative action taken by the Virginia General Assembly that we believe most directly affect both homeowners and condominium associations.

Client Alert: zMOD Proposed Changes to Fairfax County Zoning Ordinance and Potential Effects on Your Community

In 2017, Fairfax County started an initiative known as the Fairfax County Zoning Ordinance Modification Project “zMod”, in an effort to modernize the existing zoning ordinance that was established in 1978. While many of the proposed changes will make the Zoning Ordinance easier to understand and navigate, there are two proposed substantial changes for Accessory Living Units and Home-Based Businesses that may greatly affect community associations across the County. We encourage you to review the summary of proposed Accessory Living Units and Home-Based Businesses changes and the FAQs here.  In this article, we will briefly discuss some of the critical changes.

Client Alert: Virginia's Uniform Electronic Transaction Act: Conducting Association Business Electronically During and Post COVID-19 Pandemic

The pandemic has foisted upon us a reality in which a virtual meeting is a necessary expediency to conduct the business of community associations. The Governor’s Executive Orders have waived the statutory requirement that board meetings have at least two of an association’s directors physically present at the place of the meeting. When the pandemic mercifully subsides and consequently the Governor’s Executive Orders expire, his waiver of the physical presence requirement is due to expire too. However, several useful parts of a virtual meeting, as we now know them, will remain.

Client Alert: Remote Notarizations Lift Barriers for Shut-In DMV Residents

On Monday, March 30, 2020, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan issued a series of executive orders in response to the COVID-19 crisis, including an order temporarily authorizing the use of remote notarizations throughout the state (Executive Order No. 20-03-30-04), thus allowing Maryland residents to obtain essential notary services without having to leave their homes.  Subject to guidance issued by Maryland Secretary of State, Governor Hogan’s order temporarily waives the in-person requirement for notarizing documents in Maryland for the duration of the COVID-19 state of emergency.
 

PRESENTATIONS