Biography
Leah K. Burton is a Member of Steptoe & Johnson PLLC’s Collin County Office. She serves as general counsel to homeowners’ associations, including but not limited to single-family communities, master-planned developments, condominium regimes and cooperatives in all aspects of corporate governance, including governing document review, creation, amendment and interpretation, contract review, collection of delinquent assessments, restrictive covenant enforcement, alternative dispute resolution and federal and state law compliance. Leah strives to develop meaningful relationships with her clients, as well as to provide prompt service and communication, competent and effective counsel and ongoing education on topics of concern to homeowners’ associations.
Leah is Board Certified in Property Owners Association Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and one of only five practicing Texas attorneys to be granted fellowship in the prestigious Community Associations Institute (“CAI”) College of Community Association Lawyers. Leah currently serves on the Board of Directors of the CAI DFW Chapter and previously served as President of the CAI San Antonio Chapter.
Representative Experience
- Serve as general counsel, including drafting of governing documents, collections, and deed restriction compliance for an 11,000 rooftop development in Dallas County, Texas
- Advised multiple community association clients on best practices related to legislative and statutory changes in Texas
- Assisted high rise condominium and single-family homeowners association clients in mitigating risk associated with governance issues
- Advised multiple high rise condominium clients on regulatory changes related to deferred maintenance
- Represented high rise condominium owners in contentious situation involving an owner dispute over roof replacement, resulting in obtaining a $6 million loan for the eventual replacement
- Advise clients on Fair Housing Act reasonable accommodation/modification requirements for Assistance Animals, including domestic, farm, and wild animals
- Represent homeowners associations in conflict resolution, crisis management, and dealing with difficult personalities
- Managed large multi-family, mixed-use community association from concept to complete occupancy and governance
- Advise clients on architectural review, compliance, and resolution of disputes between associations and homeowners
- Assisted clients with preparation of governing documents in order to ensure compliance with state and federal law
- Defended clients in Texas Workforce Commission complaints arising out of claims of Fair Housing Act violations involving discrimination on the basis of disability and race
- Provided general counsel to residential property owners associations in all aspects of corporate governance
Licensed In
- California
- Florida
- Tennessee
- Texas
Education
- J.D. Southwestern Law School
Memberships
- Board Director, Community Associations Institute Dallas-Forth Worth Chapter
- Board Certified in Property Owners Association Law – Texas Board of Legal Specialization
- Fellow, College of Community Association Lawyers (CCAL)
- Member, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force – Community Associations Institute
- Member, Class of 2019, Bexar County Women’s Bar Foundation LEAD Academy
- Member, Texas Bar College
Achievements
- The Best Lawyers in America®, Real Estate Law (2025)
- 2023 CAI National Rising Star Award
- 2022 College of Community Association Lawyers Best Manuscript Award – “Tackling Mental Health in Community Associations”
- 2021 College of Community Association Lawyers Best Manuscript Award – “Overcoming Racism: Attorneys as Agents of Change”
Speaking Engagements
- “Safer Communities: Tackling Guns in Community Associations” – 2023 Community Associations Institute Community Association Law Seminar
- “Protecting Your Community Through Contract Risk Management – Legal/Insurance Issues to Consider” – 2023 CAI DFW Exposition
- 2023 Legislative Updates – Cities of McKinney, Anna, Celina, Bedford, Rowlett, Garland, Plano, Desoto and Town of Prosper
- “Tackling Mental Health in Community Associations” – 2022 Community Associations Institute Community Association Law Seminar
- “Overcoming Bias” – 2022 Community Associations Institute Rocky Mountain Chapter Spring Conference Spring Conference
- “What’s the Meme? Social Media Issues for POAs” – 2021 State Bar of Texas Advanced Real Estate Course
- “Fostering Diverse and Inclusive Communities” – 2022 CAI Canada V-CON(DO) Conference
- “Overcoming Racism: Attorneys as Agents of Change” – 2021 Community Associations Institute Community Association Law Seminar
- “Overcoming Racism: Attorneys as Agents of Change” – 2021 State Bar of Texas Advanced Real Estate Course
- “Overcoming Racism: Attorneys as Agents of Change” – 2021 Community Associations Institute National Seminar
- “What’s the Meme? Social Media Issues for POAs” – 2021 State Bar of Texas Advanced Real Estate Course
Publications
- “Safer Communities: Tackling Guns in Community Associations” – Community Associations Institute
- “Tackling Mental Health in Community Associations” – Community Associations Institute
- “Overcoming Racism: Attorneys as Agents of Change” – Community Associations Institute
- “Minding Mental Illness – A Guide to Handling Conflicts with Residents” – Community Associations Institute
- “Overcoming Racism: Attorneys as Agents of Change” – Practical Real Estate Lawyer
- Contributor, Creating Harmony in Diverse Communities – 2021 CAI Foundation for Community Association Research
Press Release
Legal Insight