DETAILED BIOGRAPHY

Joonho Yu graduated from the University of Chicago with a degree in Political Science with an emphasis on Economics. While at Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Mr. Yu participated in the Loyola Legal Clinic, as well as the Thomas Tang Moot Court Competition, for which he now volunteers as a judge. In the area of commercial litigation, Mr. Yu has extensive experience in prosecuting and defending complex cases related to construction and design default, contractual disputes, mechanics liens, non-competition clauses, tortious interference, defamation, and statutory and common law fraud.

Upon joining Penland & Hartwell, Mr. Yu has further focused his practice in representing condominium association against developers in regard to construction defects, workmanship problems, and fraud issues.  Claims against developers are extremely complicated due to the many levels of corporate shielding that developers routinely utilize, as well as the contractual divide between unit owners and the contractors, architects, engineers, another workman or professionals that provided labor, materials, or expertise to a condominium development project.  Mr. Yu has devoted significant time and research into crafting innovative and useful methods and techniques to breakdown the various legal barriers which artificially insulate developers from responsibility for their acts and omissions.

Mr. Yu has represented numerous associations in disputes with developers, governmental agencies, and adjoining landowners, in general litigation, as well as intricate chancery matters involving declaratory judgments and injunctions. Mr. Yu has developed an extensive appellate practice, authoring Appellate Briefs for the Illinois Appellate Court, and the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.  Mr. Yu has most recently prosecuted an appeal before the Illinois Appellate Court regarding the personal liability by individual developers separate and apart from their shell companies.  Mr. Yu has also defended a condominium association's right to administer its common elements before the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. 

Mr. Yu is an active member of the: Chicago Bar Association (Real Estate & Condominium Association committees); the Illinois State Bar Association; the Community Association Institute; and the Association of Condominium, Townhouse & Homeowners Associations.