Contact

Sheila C. Salmon

Washington, DC Office

Sheila C. Salmon is a Member whose practice focuses on representing owners of multifamily housing, management companies, and public housing authorities in all aspects relating to the ownership, management, and operation of both assisted and unassisted housing. Sheila, who is part of the Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice group, specializes in the areas of fair housing, and other related civil rights laws, such as Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and The Americans with Disabilities Act and has extensive experience advising and representing clients on an array of issues relating to such civil rights laws, including defending clients accused of engaging in discriminatory conduct.

Prior to joining Reno & Cavanaugh, Sheila spent more than 30 years at the law firm of Coan & Lyons, a premiere Washington, D.C. firm that specialized in the representation of private owners, management agents, non-profit organizations and public housing agencies around the country in connection with the acquisition, development and management of a variety of real estate, with a special emphasis on affordable housing.

Publications

  • Contributor: “The Elderly and the Handicapped – How Congress Addresses the Mixed Populations Issue,” Journal of Affordable Housing and Community Development Law, Winter 1994.
  • Author: “Court Decides Single-Family Provision in Edmonds,” State and Local Law News, Summer 1995.
  • Contributor: “The Fair Housing Act and Seniors’ Housing,” The Urban Lawyer, Vol. 27 No. 4, Fall 1995.
  • Author: “Summary of Final HUD Rule Implementing the Housing for Older Persons Act,” Seniors’ Housing News, Summer 1999.
  • Author: “Taking Another Look at the Housing for Older Persons Act,” Seniors’ Housing News, Spring 2000.

Selected Recent Matters

  • Currently representing a non-profit Section 202 owner/manager in connection with a Title VI Compliance Review.
  • Currently representing two clients against whom an employment discrimination complaint has been filed with the EEOC.
  • Currently defending multiple clients against FHA and Title VI complaints.
  • Prepared an analysis regarding whether proposed development of a disability-specific community, and the local jurisdiction’s involvement in facilitating the successful development of that community, may violate the FHA and/or ADA.

Speaking Engagements

Sheila speaks regularly at various industry association meetings, including the National Leased Housing Association (NLHA), American Bar Association (ABA), LeadingAge, National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), and National Affordable Housing Management Association (NAHMA), including most recently:

  • Speaker, “Management and Occupancy/Fair Housing,” NLHA 2018 Fall Meeting, Washington, DC (October 19, 2018).
  • Speaker, “Assisted Housing Trends and Opportunities”, NLHA Mid-Year Meeting, California (February 6, 2020).
  • Speaker, “Fair Housing and Asset Management,” ABA Forum on Affordable Housing Virtual Conference (May 21, 2021).
  • Speaker, “How Section 504 and Fair Housing Can Impact Your Operations and Transactions,” NLHA Mid-Year Meeting, Florida (January 21, 2022).
  • Speaker, “Fair Housing Hot Topics,” LeadingAge Maryland Weekly Update, Virtual (April 26, 2022).
  • Speaker, “Compliance and Enforcement Update,” NLHA Fall Meeting, Washington, DC (October 19, 2022).
  • Moderator/Speaker, “Navigating Fair Housing/504 Challenges,” NLHA Mid-Year Meeting, Florida (January 27, 2023).

In addition, Sheila conducts various fair housing-related trainings for clients. She is also a certified trainer for NAHMA’s Fair Housing Course.

Awards and Professional Activities

  • Former Chair, Advocacy and Legislative Committee, NAHB 50+ Housing Council, formerly called the Seniors Housing Counsel
  • Recipient, Certificates of Appreciation, NAHB 50+ Housing Council (2003, 2005 and 2009)
  • Recipient, Industry Achievement Award, NAHMA (2014)
  • Member, National Leased Housing Association

Contact

(202) 349 2464

ssalmon@renocavanaugh.com

Education

  • American University Washington College of Law, J.D.
  • Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, B.S. in Finance 

Bar Admission

District of Columbia Bar

Virginia Bar

Hometown

Falls Church, VA