Telese L. Zuberer

Telese L. Zuberer is a shareholder and president of Icard Merrill. Her practice in the field of condominium and homeowner association law focuses on all issues surrounding the general business of the association corporations, as well as residential development and construction. Telese acts as general counsel to the community association clients by assisting in the day to day needs of the associations, including but not limited to:

• Providing opinions on the authority and responsibilities facing the boards of directors in governing the community
• Assessment collection & foreclosure
• Amendments to the association’s governing documents
• Negotiation of maintenance, construction, landscaping & other service contracts
• Preparation of annual & special meeting packages
• Arbitration & litigation of covenant enforcement actions
• Providing interpretation of Florida Statutes & the association’s governing documents
• Providing explanation of Federal laws, such as the Fair Housing Act, the Telecommunications Act and the laws regulating housing for persons 55+ years of age

Telese regularly teaches continuing education courses for community association managers and has been the guest speaker for organizations such as Community Association Institute, Building Managers International, the Federation of Longboat Key Condominium Associations and the Sarasota Association of Realtors. She is an active member of the Sarasota and Manatee County Bars, The Manatee Inn of Court, Community Association Institute, and the Florida Association of Women Lawyers. She has also authored articles for various community association publications.

Telese was named to the list of 2021 Florida Super Lawyers. She was named in the Gulf Coast Business Review’s “Top 40 Under 40” in 2005. The Top 40 under 40 annually recognizes the top 40 business professionals under the age of 40 in Sarasota and Manatee Counties. She was also nominated in the spring of 2005 for the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce Rookie Business Person of the Year for her contributions in founding McKay Law Firm, P.A. In 2007, Telese was nominated for the 2007 Small Business Person of the Year award. She was the president for West Florida Chapter of CAI in 2009 and served on the Board of Directors for six (6) years. She was again reelected to the CAI Board of Directors for another three-year term commencing in 2018.

• The Best Lawyers in America, 2023
• President of Icard Merrill, 2021-present
• Florida Super Lawyers^®, 2021-2023
• Elite Top Attorneys, Sarasota Magazine, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
• AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell®
• Florida Trend’s Legal Elite, 2008, 2015
• Gulf Coast Business Review’s Top 40 Under 40, 2005

• Gulf Coast CEO Forum, Member
• Sarasota and Manatee County Bar Associations
• Community Association Institute
• Florida Association of Women Lawyers
• Court Appointed Guardian Ad Litem for the 12th Judicial Circuit
• Parents’ Association of St. Stephen’s Episcopal School

• Presenter, “The Role of Virtual Meetings in Post-Pandemic Association Operations,” Ralph E. Boyer Institute on Condominium and Cluster Development, October 2022
• New Condominium Legislation in Florida: How the New Preventative Maintenance Requirements Will Affect Condominiums, June 2022
• Guest Speaker, “Insights on Culture Development and Talent Retention and Acquisition,” Law Firm Alliance Spring Conference, May 12, 2022
• Guest Panelist, “Women at Work: Women Breaking Barriers in Business,” Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Luncheon, May 6, 2022
• “Support & Comfort Animals,” Lakewood Ranch Lunch and Learn, October 2019
• Why Won’t Anyone Answer Me?, Sarasota Manatee Realtor Magazine
• Presenter, Community Associations Institute West Florida Chapter, Continuing Education Class for Community Association Managers, June 12, 2019
• Panelist, Associa Gulf Coast’s “Ask An Attorney” luncheon, May 28, 2019
• Presenter, CAI “HOA, Condo, and Co-op Board of Directors Certification Course,” January 16, 2019
• Panelist, Legal Update Panel, CAI Community Associations Summit 2018, November 14, 2018
• Presenter, “HOA Issues,” Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee, November 5, 2018