Practice areas: Real Estate; view more
Licensed in Minnesota since: 1999
Education: Hamline University School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2025 - 2026 At Hellmuth & Johnson in Edina, Minnesota, attorney Phaedra Jean Howard artfully combines creativity and strategic thinking to assist individuals and a diverse array of entities such as condominiums, townhouses, cooperatives and other community associations. She offers insightful legal guidance and representation on a broad spectrum of issues impacting these associations, including but not limited to:
- Effective collection of assessments and execution of lien foreclosures
- Interpretation and enforcement of governing documents
- Drafting and updating of governing documents and regulations
- Resolution of disputes between homeowners and vendors
- Creation of maintenance responsibility charts and preventive maintenance schedules
- Management of cooperative membership issues – terminations and evictions
- Oversight of cooperative share transactions and real estate sales
- Guidance through the conversion or dissolution of community associations
- Training for board members on governance and related topics
- Handling of fair housing complaints and concerns
- Review and negotiation of management and vendor contracts
- Litigation involving community associations
Beyond this, Ms. Howard extends her legal acumen to property owners and others in the real estate realm, tackling issues such as mechanic’s liens and foreclosure, contracts for deed and cancellations, mortgage and lien enforcement and foreclosure, and sales or leases of residential and commercial real estate. She also handles purchase agreements, easements, landlord/tenant disputes (evictions), title defects, fair housing concerns, adverse possession and boundary disputes, title examinations and opinions, Torrens registration and subsequent proceedings, real estate litigation and appeals, and bankruptcy court or creditor representation.
Ms. Howard, a graduate of The University of Chicago, earned her Juris Doctor from the Mitchell Hamline University School of Law in 1998. She began practicing law in Minnesota in 1999 and expanded to Wisconsin in 2010. Whether collaborating with individuals or businesses in the realms of real estate, community association law, collections or creditor’s rights and remedies, she tailors her legal services to meet the distinct needs of each client.
Highly regarded in the legal community, Ms. Howard is actively involved with the Hennepin County Bar Association, the State Bar of Wisconsin, the Minnesota State Bar Association and the American Bar Association. Her professionalism is further recognized with a “Good” rating on Avvo.
Practice areas
Real Estate: Business, Real Estate: ConsumerFocus areas
Condominiums & Cooperatives, Landlord/Tenant, Mortgage & Refinance, Short Sale
- 90% Real Estate: Business
- 10% Real Estate: Consumer
First Admitted: 1999, Minnesota
Professional Webpage: https://hjlawfirm.com/minneapolis-attorneys/phaedra-j-howard...
Bar / Professional Activity
- Wisconsin State Courts
- Member of the Minnesota Chapter of the Community Associations Institute, currently serving on the Legislative Action Committee, 2019-present
- American Bar Association, Past Member
- Minnesota Bar Association, Member
- Wisconsin Bar Association, Member
- Hennepin County Bar Association, Member
- Minnesota State and Federal Courts
- Minnesota Chapter of the Community Associations Institute, Legislative Action Committee, Secretary/Treasurer, 2020-present
- Member of the Cooperative Network
- Past member of the Professional Women in Real Estate
- Member of the Minnesota Multi-Housing Association and CIC Midwest (2008–present); leadership positions include serving on the CIC Midwest publications committee (2009–present), serving on the CIC Midwest membership committee (2018–present), serving on the Charitable Outreach Committee (2008–present), chairing or co-chairing the CIC Midwest Education Committee (2012–present), and co-chairing the CIC Midwest Legislative Committee (2012–present).
Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)
- Horodenski v. Lyndale Green Townhome Association Inc., 804 N.W.2d 366 (Minn. Ct. App. 2011).
- Rolling Meadows Cooperative, Inc. v. Macatee, 904 N.W.2d 920 (Minn. Ct. App. 2017).
Special Licenses / Certifications
- Minnesota State Bar Association, Board Certified Real Property Law Specialist, 2012
- CAI Educated Business Partner Certification
Honors
- Minnesota Monthly Top Lawyers in Minnesota – Real Estate Law, 2023
- “Good” rating on Avvo.
- Fellow, College of Community Association Lawyers (CCAL)
- The Best Lawyers in America® – Real Estate Law, 2021-2025
Educational Background
- University of Chicago, B.A., 1992
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- Presenter: H&J Homeowners Association Legal Updates Seminar, 2019-2021
- Presenter: Negotiating Management Contracts – CIC Midwest Seminar, May 2016
- Presenter: Successful Collection Procedures for Minnesota Community Associations – CIC Midwest Board Training Seminar, February 2017
- Presenter: Bankruptcy Basics for Associations – CAI MN Law Seminar, October 2017
- Presenter: Who Does What in Your Association and Why – CIC Midwest Board Training Seminar, May 2018.
- Presenter: Creating and Enforcing Rules in Your Association – CIC Midwest Seminar, January 2019
- Presenter: How to Handle the Growing Challenge of Service and Emotional Support Animals – MN Multi-Housing Association (MHA) Working Together conference – April 2019.
- Presenter: Creating and Enforcing Rules in Your Cooperative – Cooperative Network Annual Conference, May 2019.
- Presenter: Top 10 Things That Real Estate Agents Should Know About Representing Buyers and Sellers of Properties in Community Associations – Coldwell Banker Burnet, September 2019.
- Presenter: Interpreting, Enforcing and Amending Your Governing Documents – CIC Midwest Certification training – November 2019.
- Presenter: HUD Guidance Game Changer? New Information on What You Can and Can’t Do With Requests for Service and Emotional Support Animals – HOALeader.com webinar, February 2020.
- Frequent contributor to industry publications and lecturer on various legal topics involving associations for CAI, MHA and CIC Midwest, Cooperative Network, HOALeader.com, the Minnesota Bar Association, GoGladly.com and other local and national organizations
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2025 - 2026
Certificates and credentials
Real Property
