Real Estate Law
December 19, 2024
Sheena S. Fioritto
About
Sheena S. Fioritto is a highly accomplished real estate attorney with over 20 years of experience, focusing on community associations, real estate transactions, and legislative advocacy. She has represented a broad array of clients, including homeownersโ associations, condominium associations, nonprofit organizations, and individual property owners. Sheena is a trusted advisor for property managers and association boards, providing guidance on a wide range of issues, including drafting and amending governing documents, resolving disputes with developers and condominium unit co-owners/subdivision lot owners, and ensuring regulatory compliance.ย
Sheenaโs practice covers both litigation and transactional law, allowing her to manage a diverse range of complex association legal issues, such as lien foreclosures, bylaw enforcement, Fair Housing compliance, and negotiation of real estate contracts. Her legal acumen is complemented by her strong advocacy skills, which have enabled her to lead legislative initiatives aimed at improving laws governing community associations in Michigan.ย
Her experience in both legislative and legal arenas makes her an invaluable resource for clients facing intricate legal problems and regulatory challenges.ย
In addition to her community associations and real estate work, Sheena has become deeply involved in advancing LGBTQ+ rights through her engagement in legislative reform efforts as well as by helping to lead nonprofit organizations dedicated to supporting and affirming LGBTQ+ -people, further highlighting her commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Experience
- Played a pivotal role in leading the successful business combination of Zelmanski Danner & Fioritto, PLLC with Hirzel Law, PLC, creating one of Michiganโs largest law firms focused on community association law.
- Co-Chaired the Community Associations Instituteโs Legislative Action Committee, where she helped drive key legislative initiatives to improve Michigan laws related to community associations, including proposed amendments to the Marketable Record Title Act and the Discharge of Prohibited Restrictive Covenants Act. Spearheaded the drafting and introduction of Michigan House Bill 5019 of 2023 to strengthen condominium association reserve study and reserve funding requirement in response to the 2021 Surfside tower collapse disaster in Florida.
- Routinely created and presented educational seminars, including most recently a highly regarded presentation at the 2024 Annual Conference of the Michigan Chapter of the Community Association Institute addressing best practices for resolving legal, social, and financial challenges facing modern associations.
- Negotiated complex resolutions to developer-related disputes for community association boards, helping clients strategically navigate complex real estate and association โtransition of controlโ laws while ensuring cost-effective legal outcomes.
- Guided a broad range of governing document amendment projects for associations, including rental caps, โspotโ amendments, and comprehensive restatements, ensuring legal compliance, customization, and practicality for clients across Michigan.
- Advocate for LGBTQ+ legislative reforms as Chairperson of the Michigan Bar Associationโs LGBTQ+ Section’s Legislation & Public Policy Committee, demonstrating a commitment to advancing inclusive legal standards and societal values.
Speaking
Co-Presenter with Shannon Murray-Wolf, Board Dynamics and the Art of Saying No, Community Association Institute Michigan, October Virtual Expo, October 17, 2025
Publications
- Sheena Selene Fioritto (f/k/a Gregory J. Fioritto), Brooke M. Jordan, and Richard L. Wagner II, Lessons From the Surfside Tragedy: Deconstructing Red Flags from the History of Champlain Towers South Condominium to Build a Better Future for Community Associations, 49 Mich. Real Prop. Rev. 1 (2022).
Awards & Recognitions
Elected Council Member, State Bar of Michigan LGBTQ Law Section, 2025
Recognized by peers for leadership and commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in Michiganโs legal community
Appointed Co-Chair, Public Policy, Legislative, and Amicus Committee, State Bar of Michigan LGBTQ Law Section, 2025
Honored for contributions to the development of public policy statements defending the rights of LGBTQ individuals statewide
Invited Speaker, Board Dynamics and the Art of Saying No, Community Association Institute-Michigan, October Virtual Expo, 2025
Selected to present to community association board members and industry professionals on effective governance and communication practices
Publications
- Sheena Selene Fioritto (f/k/a Gregory J. Fioritto), Brooke M. Jordan, and Richard L. Wagner II, Lessons From the Surfside Tragedy: Deconstructing Red Flags from the History of Champlain Towers South Condominium to Build a Better Future for Community Associations, 49 Mich. Real Prop. Rev. 1 (2022).
Practice Areas
Real Estate LawMunicipal LawCivil LitigationCorporate Law
Sub-practice areas
Commercial Real Estate, Landlord-Tenant Law, Real Estate Transactions, Residential Real Estate, Regulatory Compliance, Land Use and Zoning, Community Development, Licensing and Permits, Municipal Contracts, Commercial Litigation, Contracts & Negotiation, Compliance and Regulatory Matters
Industries
Admitted Jurisdictions
- Michigan
Education
- Juris Doctorate, University of Michigan Law School, Ann Arbor
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with High Distinction Honors, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Associations
-
State Bar of Michigan LGBTQ Law Section
Council Member, 2025
Co-Chair, Public Policy, Legislative, and Amicus Committee, 2025 -
Community Associations Institute โ Michigan Chapter (CAIโMI)
Active Member and Presenter
Languages
The Board had a need to clarify the difference between โspecial assessmentsโ and โadditional assessmentsโ for a subdivision homeowner. Sheena verbally confirmed, within the same day of inquiry, that the Board handled the ongoing assessment for General Common elements in a fully supported and proper fiduciary manner. Sheena provided a formal letter, at the Boardโs request, clarifying the matter delineating all points within the Master Deed, Articles of Incorporation, and Bylaws supporting the Boardโs action. Speed of response, command of governing policies of Homeowners Association documents, clear & concise communication of those policies in written form, and making clear that the fiduciary responsibilities by a Board on matters pertaining to current and future members of the Homeowners Association are the reach and reality of a Board of Directors. Sheenaโs expertise for our Homeowners Association was once again confirmed.
Bill Maclear, President of the Board of Directors for Hunters Pointe Subdivision Association
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