John R. MacDowell
Shareholder

Mr. MacDowell has been a member of the California State Bar since 1983. He is a shareholder of Fiore, Racobs & Powers in the Firm's Orange County office, and is responsible for the supervision of all litigation for the Orange County office. Mr. MacDowell pursued his undergraduate studies at Pomona College, where he graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree. He obtained his Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree at the University of Chicago, graduating in 1983. He is a member of the Orange County Bar Association, Community Association Institute (CAI) and California Association of Community Managers [Affiliate] (CACM). Mr. MacDowell served on the City of Santa Ana Planning Commission and was Founding Director (1993-1997), and President of West Floral Park Neighborhood Association (1994-1996).

Mr. MacDowell has presented educational programs and seminars at CAI Orange County Chapter education luncheons and the CACM Law Seminar. He has written numerous articles on community association law and contributes frequently to the CACM Law Journal and CAI's O.C. View magazine.

Mr. MacDowell successfully briefed and argued the case of Brown v. Professional Community Management, Inc. (2005) 127 Cal.App.4th 532, which held that the Davis-Stirling Act does not limit the fees that a management company may charge for services. He also co-authored a "Friend of the Court" brief on behalf of community associations in the landmark Supreme Court case of Lamden v. La Jolla Shores Clubdominium Association (1999) 21 Cal.4th 249. Mr. MacDowell is the Past President of the Orange County Regional Chapter of CAI. He serves as the Orange County Chapter's liaison to the CAI & CLAC; California Legislative Action Committee (CAI-CLAC), and as co-liaison between CAI-CLAC and the State Bar of California.

Bar Admissions:
California, 1983
U.S. District Court Central District of California, 1984
U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 1984 U.S. District Court Southern District of California, 1985
U.S. District Court Northern District of California, 1993

Education:
J.D. University of Chicago Law School, Chicago, Illinois, 1983

B.A. Pomona College, Claremont, California, 1979
Honors: Cum Laude

Minutes as Evidence: Protecting the Association in Court, CACM Law Journal

Lamden Update-The Right of Associations to Govern Themselves

Supreme Court Decision in Lamden Favors Community Associations

Classes/Seminars Taught:
CACM Faculty
CAI Education Committee

Professional Associations and Memberships:
Orange County Bar Association
State Bar of California
Community Associations Institute, President-Elect
California Association of Community Managers (Affiliates)