Overview
Nura Rafati is a community associations attorney who helps homeowners associations, condominiums, and co-operatives navigate legal and practical matters in Maryland and the District of Columbia.
Nura listens intently to board members and managers to understand their goals, and spends time explaining legal concepts, laying the framework for the decision-making process. She is thorough and systematic in her research, but flexible and innovative when it comes to problem-solving. She embraces obstacles because they challenge her to be creative.
As general counsel for associations, Nura interprets and amends governing documents, prepares board communications such as meeting notices and violation letters, and prepares and revises rules, regulations, and policies. She also offers practical legal advice on enforcement and governance issues, insurance matters, and meeting procedures and best practices.
Additionally, Nura handles issues surrounding the Federal Fair Housing Act, and represents clients before the Montgomery County Commission on Common Ownership Communities, the Maryland Commission for Civil Rights, and the Maryland Office of the Attorney General.
Prior to joining Lerch Early she was a Pro Bono Research Fellow for the Honorable Paul W. Grimm of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland.
Nura was born and raised in Haifa, Israel and is fluent in Arabic, Hebrew, and Persian. She enjoys spending her weekends exploring DC and looking for her next favorite restaurant.
Education
- American University Washington College of Law (J.D., cum laude, 2017)
- The George Washington University (B.A., Criminal Justice, 2014)
Admissions
- Maryland
- District of Columbia
Clerkships
- Pro Bono Research Fellow for the Honorable Paul W. Grimm, U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
Honors and Awards
- Washington Metropolitan Chapter Community Association Institute 2023 Writer of the Year Award
- Washington Metropolitan Chapter Community Association Institute 2024 Maryland Public Advocate Award
Community Involvement
- DC Baha’i Community (Member, 2010-present)
Professional Memberships
- Washington Metropolitan Chapter Community Associations Institute (Member, Quorum Editorial Committee, 2021-present; Member, Maryland Legislative Committee, 2019-present; Co-Chair, 2024 Maryland Legislative Committee)
- Maryland State Bar Association (2019-present)
- District of Columbia Bar Association (2017-present)
- Bar Association of Montgomery County, Maryland (2021-present)
Speaking Engagements
- “Neighbor to Neighbor Disputes: Does Federal Fair Housing Apply?, ” speaker, Chesapeake Region Chapter Community Association Institute Breakfast Webinar Program, March 2025
- “The Wheel of Misfortune,” panelist, Washington Metropolitan Chapter of the Community Associations Institute Conference and Expo, March 2025
- “Educating to Increase Compliance,” speaker, Washington Metropolitan Chapter of the Community Associations Institute Education Palooza, October 2024
- “Legislative Update Series: Maryland,” speaker, Washington Metropolitan Chapter of the Community Associations Institute, September 2024
- “Federal Fair Housing Act: the what, when, who, and why,” speaker, Community Associations Institute 2024 Large-Scale Managers Workshop, September 2024
- “2024 Maryland Legislative Update,” panelist, Washington Metropolitan Chapter of the Community Associations Institute Conference and Expo, March 2024
Practice Areas

Community Associations
Lerch Early’s community associations attorneys provide practical counsel to board members and managers of common ownership communities throughout Maryland, the District, and Virginia on governing and managing effective and thoughtful associations.
News & insights

Cautionary Tales: The Federal Fair Housing Act
This article originally appeared in the April 2025 edition of Quorum. Learning from your mistakes is a valuable trait, but let’s be real: learning from other people’s mistakes is even better …

Reminder *Annual* Review of Your Community’s Rules, Resolutions, and Policies
This article originally appeared in the January 2025 edition of Quorum. Every January, you inevitably stumble across the traditional (and sometimes overly personal) trend of people reflecting on the lessons they …

Community Association Attorney Nura Rafati Writes About How to Get Involved in WMCCAI
Community Associations Attorney Nura Rafati recently wrote about the importance of getting involved in the Legislative Action Committees and Legislative Committees that advocate on behalf of common ownership communities. “The …

2024 Maryland Community Associations Legislative Update
The Maryland General Assembly’s 2024 legislative session saw over 1,400 House Bills and 1,100 Senate Bills introduced, with several new laws passing that will affect community associations beginning on October …

Changing Lawns: The Lasting Effects of the Three Year Turf War
This article originally appeared in the March 2024 edition of Quorum. Do you ever look out of your window and wish you didn’t have to spend all that time and money …

He Said, She Said – The Board as Judge and Jury
This article originally appeared in the November 2023 edition of Quorum. THE SCENE You wake up on Monday morning to find 53 unread e-mails in your inbox. Pasha from unit 101 …