Experience

Robyn Nordin Stowell has unique and extensive experience in golf course and private club matters, including purchase, sale, and financing golf and club assets, turnovers in master-planned communities, and representing private clubs, developers, and member groups. Ms. Stowell also is very active in the golf and private club industries, speaking at industry-related legal seminars and industry events, and writing for private club publications. Ms. Stowell’s broad real estate experience includes representing buyers, sellers, lenders, and landlords in acquisition, disposition, leasing and financing of real estate. She has counseled a wide range of clients, and negotiated and documented agreements, on a range of corporate and business matters, including new business formation, growth issues, exit strategies, purchase and sale of assets, and day-to-day business concerns.

Representative Engagements

• Developers' counsel and Members' counsel in golf club turnovers and equity conversions.
• Counsel to developer of master-planned communities.
• Counsel to member-controlled private clubs and developer controlled clubs.
• Counsel to buyers and sellers of golf courses.
• Significant golf-related lending work, including multi-million dollar golf course loans and work on various golf course matters related to financing and construction.
• Led negotiation and implementation of settlement of real estate and golf course litigation demanding $750 million in remedies, and provided significant real estate and business support for other litigation.
• Work with homeowner associations and condominium associations, including addressing liability and operations issues prior to and after turnover.
• Representing developers of condominiums and mixed-use projects.
• Represented owner of mixed-use property in tenant leases and lease modifications, addressed CC&R issues and access easement issues, and handled ongoing tenant and business matters for property; handled all aspects of refinancing transaction; negotiated and documented sale transaction for ultimate disposition of project.
• Represented lender in multiple loans secured by income producing real estate in Arizona: negotiating loan documents and opinion letters, and review of title, survey and tenant documents.
• Representing buyers, sellers, developers, landlords, lenders and others in a variety of real estate developments and transactions.

Presentations

"GATEhouse to the CLUBhouse: Smoothing the Bumps in the Road Between the HOA and Club," CMAA 82nd World Conference on Club Management, New Orleans, Louisiana (February 2009)

“Members Behaving Badly,” 14th Annual Conference Resort Development, CLE International, Vail, Colorado (August 2008)

“Legal Liability: How to Avoid Being Sued,” Club Managers Association of America, Florida Chapter, Key Largo, Florida (June 2008)

“Leadership in Governance Best Practices for Club Leaders”, Club Managers Association of America, Florida Chapter, Key Largo, Florida (June 2008)

“Members Behaving Badly: Dos and Don’ts of Member Discipline” National Club Association, National Club Conference 2008, Washington, D.C. (March 2008)

"Legal Issues & Liability," National Club Association, CMAA Texas, Lonestar Chapter - Taro Joint Program (May 2007)

"Legal Issues & Liability," National Club Association, National Club Conference 2007, Washington , D.C. (April 2007)

“Legal Issues and Liability,” National Club Association – National Club Conference, Washington, D.C., (April 2006)

"Hot Legal Issues for Private Clubs," National Association - On the Road in Scottsdale, AZ (October 2005)

"Membership Marketing in the 21st Century: The Legal Issues," The Professional Club Marketing Association, Las Vegas, NV (September 2005)

"The Equity Club Under Developer Control: Costly Mistakes to Avoid and Pre-Turnover Tips to Employ," Golf and Resort Development Conference, CLE International, Park City, UT (August 2005)

"Proper Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance: Club Manager as Hero in the Equity Conversation Transaction," The 78th World Conference on Club Management, Club Managers Association of America, New Orleans, LA (March 3, 2005)

“Membership Turnover in Private Clubs: Tips for Developers and Members,” Golf and Resort Development Conference, CLE International, Palm Springs, CA (April 2004)

"Representing the Post-Turnover Club: Ten Tips for Directing the Directors and Managing the Managers", Mountain & Resort Development, CLE International, Avon, CO (August 2003)

"Avoiding the Sand Traps and Filling the Divots: Playing Away from the Hazards and Solving the Problems in Equity Conversions and other Golf Club Turnovers", Golf & Resort Development Conference, CLE International, Scottsdale, AZ (May 2003)

Publications

Co-Author, "Clubs Need to be Prepared for Member Insolvency," BoardRoom (January/February 2009)

Author, "Is Your Clubhouse as Green as Your Golf Course.", BoardRoom (November/December 2008)

Author, "Golf Cart Liability Issues," BoardRoom (September/October 2008)

Author, "How to Get More for Your Money from Your Lawyers. . .", BoardRoom (July/August 2008)

Author, “Single Rider Cars Required for California Public Courses,” BoardRoom (May/June 2008)

Author, “Professional Advisors Help Board Fulfill Duties,” BoardRoom (March/April 2008)

Author, “Member Discipline,” BoardRoom (January/February 2008)

Co-Author, “Procedures to Address Social Security No Match Letters,” BoardRoom (November/December 2007)

Author, “Well Planned Websites Pay Dividends,” BoardRoom (September/October 2007)

Author, “Two Inspections and the Buck Stops Where?,” BoardRoom (July/August 2007)

Author, “Maximize Your Board’s Effectiveness,” Club Director (June/July 2007)

Author, “Good Samaritan Laws Generally Protect AED Users,” BoardRoom (May/June 2007)

Author, “It Pays to Be Up to Date,” BoardRoom (March/April 2007)

Author, “Orientation Reviews Directors’ Responsibilities,” BoardRoom (January/February 2007)

Author, “Anticipating a Need for Professional Assistance,” BoardRoom (July/August 2006)

Author, “What is an Equity Club and Why Does it Matter,” BoardRoom (March/April 2006)

Author, “Bernardo Heights C.C. Decision Has Far-Reaching Impact,” BoardRoom (September/October 2005)

Author, “Know When You Need Outside Professionals,” BoardRoom (July/August 2005)

Co-Author, “Legal Taxes and Memberships. Oh My! Oh My!” BoardRoom (May/June 2005)

Author, “Resolve Issues to Protect Your Club,” BoardRoom (March/April 2005)

Author, “The GM as Hero in the Equity Conversion Transaction,” BoardRoom (January/February 2005)

Awards, Recognition, and Distinctions

Professional & Community Affiliations

Maricopa County Bar Association, member

AV Rating, Martindale-Hubbell

National Club Association, Board of Directors, 2006-present

National Association of Golf Course Owners, Associate Member

Arizona Character Education Blue Ribbon Task Force, Arizona Department of Education, Member, 2004-present

Arizona Character Education Foundation, Board of Directors, 2000-2008, Vice President, 2000-2008

Ronald McDonald House Charities, Board of Directors, 2001-2003

Arizona Women Lawyers Association, Maricopa Chapter, Steering Committee, 1999-2001, Speakers Committee, 1999-2002

Maricopa County Bar Foundation, Board of Trustees, 1993-1999, 2002-2003