Experienced HOA Lawyers

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Melanie McKeddie is the Managing Partner for McKeddie Cooley, GP.  She began practicing law as a third-year law student admitted to practice in all Arizona State Courts, working at a Scottsdale real estate law firm through an internship program.  Even though she was still a student, Ms. McKeddie was selected to work on six trials, including two jury trials, during the internship.  It was then that she realized she would excel as a litigation attorney.  Accordingly, upon law school graduation, Ms. McKeddie began working at a mid-sized, reputable Phoenix civil litigation law firm.  She worked primarily with the firm's Senior Partner to establish a somewhat new practice area for both the firm and the State of Arizona, which would become her niche in the legal field: representing owners against their owners' associations (HOAs).  Ms. McKeddie saw that the legal system was biased against the owners, as most law firms practicing in this area represent HOAs only and the law in this area is lacking in Arizona.  
 

Although her practice was very focused on community law and litigation in that regard, she practiced (and continues to practice) in other civil law and litigation areas, including but not limited to: commercial litigation, commercial collections, land use, zoning, real estate, torts such as defamation and invasion of privacy/Lanham Act violations, personal injury, wrongful death, business law and litigation, partnership disputes, elder abuse, construction law and litigation, lien litigation, and employment litigation for both employers and employees.  Ms. McKeddie remained with that firm for nearly 8 years, until the time was right for her to open her own practice with her husband when he graduated from law school.  They opened their firm in 2011, and upon his admission to the Bar in May 2011, it became McKeddie Cooley.  
 

Since then, Ms. McKeddie's practice has grown and she has dedicated herself to almost exclusively working in the community law and litigation field.  Ms. McKeddie is passionate about her work and cares deeply about her clients.  With respect to HOAs in particular, Ms. McKeddie has worked tirelessly to overcome the financial and legal bias in favor of the associations.  To that end, she advocates for change with the legislature and occasionally speaks with the media in an effort to influence the legislature to consider positive change for owners.  Ms. McKeddie understands that there is no regulation of HOAs in Arizona, such that attorneys are essentially the only hope owners have when facing a dispute with their association.  She is very sympathetic to the overall cause of owner rights and abuse of power that unfortunately occurs within the boards of directors for associations in Arizona.  Ms. McKeddie recognizes that not all HOAs are bad, as many are managed by volunteers that work hard hard work to ensure their community association treats members fairly.  Fairness and justice are concepts that are very important to her.  
 

Ms. McKeddie makes every effort to keep rates as reasonable and fair as possible, often offering discounts as a courtesy to her clients.  It is her goal to be as upfront with potential clients as possible.
 

Ms. McKeddie graduated second in her class, Magna Cum Laude, from California Western School of Law in San Diego, Calfiornia in December 2003, where she had the honor of being selected as a Kennedy Scholar.  Before law school, she attended Arizona State University, earning a Bachelor's of Science degree in Justice Studies, graduating Suma Cum Laude with a 3.93 GPA in December 2000.  In both instances, Ms. McKeddie graduated a semester early, putting in extra hours while maintaining employment on a full-time basis in college.  She has always been a hard worker that strives for perfection in everything that she does.  She is results oriented, such that her firm interviews potential clients and does not take cases that she does not feel have a high likelihood of success.  She prides herself on ethical representation, which is something she feels is often lost on attorneys, thereby lending to a negative perception she hopes to contribute to changing for the positive.  
 

Beginning as a clerk in a large San Diego law firm, Mr. Cooley earned his Paralegal Certificate. He worked as a Paralegal for a fast-paced Phoenix law firm for seven years while obtaining his Bachelor's of Science and Juris Doctorate degrees.  During his time in law school, Mr. Cooley created and taught Paralegal Certificate courses at a specialized college and became a trained Mediator.
 

Since joining McKeddie Cooley, Mr. Cooley has sought to protect businesses and property owners' rights, offering hundreds of free consultations.  He is a trained mediator, a published author on homeowners' association law, and worked on a complex homeowner's association case that resulted in a published Opinion in favor of his clients.  
 

Mr. Cooley graduated with honors from Phoenix School of Law in 2010 where he served on the Law Review Board, was research assistant to his first-year Law Professor and competed nationally for and within his school at Moot Court Competitions.  Prior to law school, Mr. Cooley attended Arizona State University, earning a Bachelor's of Science degree in Justice Studies, with honors.   While his wife attended law school in San Diego, California, Mr. Cooley obtained a Paralegal Degree from San Diego State University and graduated with honors.  Since 2004, Mr. Cooley has been working in the legal field, gaining experience in numerous areas of the law but all that focused on individuals' rights.  In addition to homeowners' association law and litigation, Mr. Cooley has represented clients through real property transactions, obtained a successful arbitration award for his clients against a major Valley residential developer, obtained multiple high-dollar injury settlements, including six figures for his clients, has published articles and blogs about justice issues many homeowners face and has assisted many clients with forming, changing and terminating business entities throughout the State of Arizona.

Many homeowners need a variety of legal protections, whether it be in transferring their holdings to a trust, selling before, during or after litigation, or handling their own businesses and Mr. Cooley's experience is particularly valuable to homeowners who wish to protect their rights through these situations.