PARTNER

Elliot H. Berton

BIOGRAPHY

Elliot H. Berton focuses his practice on the protection of condominium and homeowners’ associations in state and bankruptcy courts. Drawing on his extensive experience representing banks, financial service companies and other creditors, he advises community association clients on negotiation and documentation of loans, service and other association contracts, assessment recoveries and other financial issues. Elliot also assists associations with transition from declarant control, operational issues, governing document amendments and interpretation, and defense litigation.

Elliot’s efforts for banks and financial institutions include workouts, collection of commercial and residential loans in state and bankruptcy courts, loan sales and acquisitions, real estate matters as well as negotiation and documentation of service contracts.

A frequent lecturer, Elliot has conducted roundtables and presented talks to managers both at seminars and for management companies covering an array of topics including rules enforcement, dealing with a troublesome resident, assessment collection, and borrowing in lieu of special assessments. He has also been a panelist for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute course “Who’s on First? Lien Priority in Pennsylvania,” “What’s On Second? Sophisticated Issues in Line Divestiture & Priority,” and at PBI’s annual Real Estate Institute and Bankruptcy Institute. Elliot has been a featured speaker for the Delaware County Real Estate Committee and has taught collection practices and procedures to attorneys and other professionals.

Court Admissions

Pennsylvania, 1988
U.S. District Court and U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 1988
New Jersey, 1988
U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey, 1988
Chester County, PA

Education

Villanova University, J.D., 1988
Penn State University, B.A., Political Science, 1985

Membership & Service

Chester County Bar Association
Delaware County Bar Association
Bankruptcy Conference, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Education Committee

Additional Distinctions

Main Line Today “Top Lawyers”
Daily Local News “Top Lawyers”

CREDENTIALS

Court Admissions

Pennsylvania, 1988
U.S. District Court and U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 1988
New Jersey, 1988
U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey, 1988
Chester County, PA

Education

Villanova University, J.D., 1988
Penn State University, B.A., Political Science, 1985

Membership & Service

Chester County Bar Association
Delaware County Bar Association
Bankruptcy Conference, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Education Committee

Additional Distinctions

Main Line Today “Top Lawyers”
Daily Local News “Top Lawyers”

NEWS & INSIGHTS

Chasing Ghosts: Collecting Assessments When the Owner Has Passed Away

It's an uncomfortable topic that's also unflagging in its burden upon community associations: What happens when a unit owner has passed away? Recovering assessments can be challenging in these situations. Community association lawyer Elliot H. Berton recently shared strategies and procedures.

Elliot Berton on Collecting Unpaid Assessments from Unit Owners

Community association lawyer Elliot Berton was the the presenter at a key breakout session for CAI Keystone's Annual Conference "Community Live," the region's premier event for cooperatives, condominiums and homeowners…

Good News: The Unit Owner Has Filed Bankruptcy

If you're part of a homeowners association (HOA), planned community, condominium association or cooperative -- this article is for you. Community Association attorney Elliot H. Berton outlines what exactly happens when a resident files for bankruptcy, and how it affects next steps for your community's board members.

Elliot Berton on Rules Enforcement in Condominium and Homeowners’ Associations

Community association lawyer Elliot H. Berton gave an interactive presentation on April 25, 2025 at the Delaware County Bar Association, where he addressed one of the most vexing and controversial aspects of living in or owning property within a condominium or community association: controlling resident and owner conduct.

Handling Resident Misbehavior

A community association resident is acting outrageously. Complaints are flooding in to management and the Board. You've demanded that the resident behave, but the communications have been ignored and the misconduct continues. What is to be done?

Attorney focused on homeowner's protection

(610) 696-8225

eberton@gawthrop.com

PRACTICE AREAS

Latest News

Portrait of Gawthrop Law Price award recipient Alexander Cortes

35th Annual Gawthrop Greenwood Law Prize Awarded to 3 Students

For 35 years, Gawthrop Greenwood has awarded a Law Prize to three local students, and this year's winners are expressing their appreciation. Created in 1991, the Gawthrop Greenwood Law Prize ensures the advancement and education of Chester County’s youth by awarding a student from each of the three high schools in the West Chester Area School District.

Gawthrop Attorneys Named 2026 Super Lawyers, Rising Stars

Attorneys from Gawthrop Greenwood, PC have been recognized as leaders in their fields in Pennsylvania by Super Lawyers and Rising Stars. A program of Thomson Reuters, Super Lawyers selects outstanding attorneys from more than 70 practice areas who, through a peer review and independent research process, have attained a high degree of recognition and professional achievement.

Attorney-Client Privilege in the Age of AI

The adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) is widespread and rapidly evolving, with most search engine results including an AI summary sometimes providing useful information… or wildly hallucinated inaccuracies. Before using public AI tools for legal matters, be aware that anything you share may not stay private, and that can put attorney-client privilege at risk.

illustration of a white ghost with a starry sky background

Chasing Ghosts: Collecting Assessments When the Owner Has Passed Away

How Can We Help You?

With offices in West Chester and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as well as Greater Wilmington, Delaware,
we provide the highest level of legal services throughout the Greater Mid-Atlantic Region.