Christopher Lee Pope

Christopher L. Pope is a founding partner of Pope Mazzara & Menendez, PLLC, a Southwest Florida law firm based in Fort Myers. He is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in three distinct areas of law: Condominium and Planned Development Law, Construction Law, and Real Estate Law. Board certification is The Florida Bar's highest level of recognition for an attorney's competency and experience in a particular area of law.

Mr. Pope concentrates his practice on representing condominium associations, homeowners' associations, planned communities, contractors, subcontractors, developers, commercial property owners, and businesses in construction and real estate matters. He has represented community associations throughout Southwest Florida since 2012, providing ongoing general counsel and handling complex legal issues involving association governance, statutory compliance, construction projects, real estate, and litigation.

A substantial portion of Mr. Pope's practice involves serving as general counsel to condominium and homeowners' associations. He works directly with boards of directors and community association managers on the legal and operational issues facing Florida communities. His association practice includes interpreting, drafting, and amending declarations, bylaws, articles of incorporation, and rules and regulations; covenant enforcement; assessment collections, liens, and foreclosures; board elections and recalls; official records requests; owner disputes; architectural restrictions; and compliance with Chapters 617, 718, and 720 of the Florida Statutes.

He regularly advises condominium boards on budgeting and reserve requirements, structural integrity reserve studies (SIRS), milestone inspections, special assessments, insurance and casualty matters, and major repair and restoration projects. His work also includes developer turnover, construction defects, maintenance and repair responsibilities, management agreements, vendor contracts, and disputes involving common elements and limited common elements.

Mr. Pope assists associations with the preservation and revitalization of covenants under Florida's Marketable Record Title Act (MRTA) and has represented associations in matters involving common-area property, golf courses, clubhouses, recreational amenities, and other community improvements.

Mr. Pope's construction practice includes representing general contractors, subcontractors, national homebuilders, developers, condominium and homeowners' associations, and property owners in construction-related matters. He advises clients on construction contracts, payment disputes, construction liens, contract enforcement, change orders, construction defects, warranties, project delays, and claims arising from defective or incomplete work.

His experience includes preparing, reviewing, and negotiating construction agreements, including AIA, EJCDC, and ConsensusDocs forms, as well as addressing claims under Florida's Construction Lien Law, Chapter 713, Florida Statutes, and construction defect procedures under Chapter 558. He has handled matters involving lien enforcement and foreclosure, notices to owner, notices of commencement, lien releases, payment bonds, retainage disputes, construction defects, and contractor payment claims.

His representative experience includes assisting a Fortune 500 company with construction closeout matters relating to its global headquarters and representing a major subcontractor in the resolution of a payment dispute involving a general contractor and the Florida Department of Transportation.

As a Board Certified Specialist in Real Estate Law, Mr. Pope also represents clients in matters involving residential and commercial real estate, real estate contracts, easements, restrictive covenants, property rights, real estate disputes, and transactions. His experience includes representing a homeowners' association in the acquisition of a golf course, restaurant, recreational amenities, and related property.

Before becoming an attorney, Mr. Pope worked as an Area Construction Manager for one of the nation's largest homebuilders, managing residential construction in master-planned golf course communities, including developments planned for thousands of homes. He also has experience managing condominium rehabilitation projects, underground utility installations, and site work.

In addition to being Board Certified in Construction Law, Mr. Pope holds a Florida Certified Residential Contractor license (CRC1336417), currently maintained in inactive status. His background in residential construction and development provides practical experience that complements his legal work, particularly when advising association boards, contractors, and developers on construction projects, contract disputes, repairs, and property-related matters.

Mr. Pope serves as an Adjunct Instructor at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU), where he has taught Construction Law and Contracts in the Department of Construction Management since 2022. He regularly presents educational programs for condominium and homeowners' association board members, community association managers, and industry professionals. His presentations address Florida condominium and HOA law, legislative changes, board responsibilities, construction issues, and practical aspects of community association operations.

He has also provided continuing education for community association managers, including programs presented through B Wise CAM and the Community Associations Institute (CAI).

Mr. Pope has written articles addressing condominium and homeowners' association governance, Florida statutory requirements, governing document amendments, condominium budgeting and reserves, construction contracts, and Florida construction lien law. His work has addressed subjects such as Florida's condominium budget requirements, board fiduciary duties, construction lien removal, and common problems with condominium governing documents.

He is a member of The Florida Bar, the Lee County Bar Association, the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of The Florida Bar, and industry organizations including the Community Associations Institute and the Building Industry Association. He is also a former member of the Calusa Chapter of the American Inns of Court.

Mr. Pope holds the following board certifications from The Florida Bar:

Condominium and Planned Development Law (2019)

Construction Law (2020)

Real Estate Law (2022)

He was also recognized by Naples Illustrated as a Top Lawyer in Construction Law in 2023 and 2024.

Mr. Pope received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Auburn University, majoring in Management Information Systems. He earned his Juris Doctor and Graduate Diploma in Civil Law from Louisiana State University's Paul M. Hebert Law Center and subsequently received a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Taxation from Boston University School of Law.

He is admitted to practice in Florida and Alabama and before the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida.

Pope Mazzara & Menendez, PLLC represents condominium associations, homeowners' associations, contractors, developers, businesses, and property owners throughout Southwest Florida, including Lee, Collier, Charlotte, and Sarasota counties. The firm's practice includes condominium and HOA law, association assessment collections, construction law, real estate, and civil litigation.