Emotional Support Animals (ESA)
Emotional Support Animals (ESA): What You Need to Know
Navigating Emotional Support Animal requests can be confusing—and getting it wrong can be costly. This in-person session provides apartment industry professionals with a clear understanding of ESA guidelines, documentation, and best practices for handling requests with confidence and consistency. Learn how to balance fair housing compliance with resident relations while protecting your property and team.Topic areas include:
What qualifies as an Emotional Support Animal
Understanding documentation and verification requirements
Fair housing considerations and common misconceptions
How to handle requests, denials, and reasonable accommodations
Best practices for communication and recordkeeping
Attendees will gain practical guidance and clarity to confidently manage ESA requests while maintaining compliance and positive resident experiences.
Meet Your Instructors
Chris Loebsack
Loebsack & Brownlee, PLLC
Chris is the founder and Managing Principal of the eviction-services law firm Loebsack &
Brownlee, PLLC. He graduated from Duke University School of Law in 1996 and Clemson
University in 1993. Chris lives in Charlotte, NC, and his Firm provides services throughout the
Carolinas, Georgia, and Virginia.
Chris’ legal practice focuses primarily on representing national Multifamily, Single-Family, and
BTR property management firms. He is also a Certified Mediator. Chris has been named to the
NC SuperLawyers list each year from 2016 to the present.
Finally, Chris volunteers much of his spare time serving several apartment industry entities. He’s
been a Board member for the Wilmington Apartment Association since 2022; he is a past
member of the Apartment Association of North Carolina Board; he was a member of the Greater
Charlotte Apartment Association Board from 2017-2020; and since 2015 has been a member of
the Clemson University Humanities Advancement Board, of which he is currently the past-
Chair.
Finally, Chris was the 2024 recipient of the Greater Charlotte Apt. Assn. “Lex Marsh Award”
and was a 2025 inductee into the Apartment Association of North Carolina (AANC) Hall of
Fame, both recognizing him for his substantial contributions, accomplishments, and service to
the multifamily housing industry during his legal career.
Jim Sinkway
Loebsack & Brownlee, PLLC
James M. (“Jim”) Sinkway IV serves as Supervising Counsel – FL for Loebsack & Brownlee, PLLC,
where he leads the firm’s Florida operations. He is a bar licensed attorney in the states of Florida,
Georgia, and South Carolina. Jim graduated with honors from the Georgia State University College of
Law. Prior to law school, Jim earned his MBA from Louisiana State University’s Shreveport Campus
and his undergraduate degree in Biochemistry from the College of Charleston’s Honors College.
As Loebsack & Brownlee, PLLC, limits its practice strictly to residential evictions, Jim’s exclusive
focus is to serve as an advocate and counselor to property owners and managers as they navigate
the eviction process. Jim works diligently to achieve favorable results for his clients, providing
representation through each stage of the eviction process—from filing to setout.
Additionally, Jim actively works to advance the industry. He currently sits on the Board of Directors
for the Coastal Georgia Apartment Association and the Apartment Association of Greater Augusta.
Furthermore, Jim co-chairs the Government Affairs Committees of the Coastal Georgia Apartment
Association, Apartment Association of Greater Augusta, and the Mid-Georgia Apartment
Association. Jim is also a proud member of the Georgia Apartment Association’s Grassroots
Advocacy Council, the Government Affairs Committees for First Coast Apartment Association and
Bay Area Apartment Association, and the Legal & Regulatory Committee and BTR Committee for the
Florida Chapter of the National Rental Home Council.
https://lb-tradeshow-tester.my.canva.site/jim-personal-site
Meet Your Instructors
Chris Loebsack
Loebsack & Brownlee, PLLC
Chris is the founder and Managing Principal of the eviction-services law firm Loebsack &
Brownlee, PLLC. He graduated from Duke University School of Law in 1996 and Clemson
University in 1993. Chris lives in Charlotte, NC, and his Firm provides services throughout the
Carolinas, Georgia, and Virginia.
Chris’ legal practice focuses primarily on representing national Multifamily, Single-Family, and
BTR property management firms. He is also a Certified Mediator. Chris has been named to the
NC SuperLawyers list each year from 2016 to the present.
Finally, Chris volunteers much of his spare time serving several apartment industry entities. He’s
been a Board member for the Wilmington Apartment Association since 2022; he is a past
member of the Apartment Association of North Carolina Board; he was a member of the Greater
Charlotte Apartment Association Board from 2017-2020; and since 2015 has been a member of
the Clemson University Humanities Advancement Board, of which he is currently the past-
Chair.
Finally, Chris was the 2024 recipient of the Greater Charlotte Apt. Assn. “Lex Marsh Award”
and was a 2025 inductee into the Apartment Association of North Carolina (AANC) Hall of
Fame, both recognizing him for his substantial contributions, accomplishments, and service to
the multifamily housing industry during his legal career.
Jim Sinkway
Loebsack & Brownlee, PLLC
James M. (“Jim”) Sinkway IV serves as Supervising Counsel – FL for Loebsack & Brownlee, PLLC,
where he leads the firm’s Florida operations. He is a bar licensed attorney in the states of Florida,
Georgia, and South Carolina. Jim graduated with honors from the Georgia State University College of
Law. Prior to law school, Jim earned his MBA from Louisiana State University’s Shreveport Campus
and his undergraduate degree in Biochemistry from the College of Charleston’s Honors College.
As Loebsack & Brownlee, PLLC, limits its practice strictly to residential evictions, Jim’s exclusive
focus is to serve as an advocate and counselor to property owners and managers as they navigate
the eviction process. Jim works diligently to achieve favorable results for his clients, providing
representation through each stage of the eviction process—from filing to setout.
Additionally, Jim actively works to advance the industry. He currently sits on the Board of Directors
for the Coastal Georgia Apartment Association and the Apartment Association of Greater Augusta.
Furthermore, Jim co-chairs the Government Affairs Committees of the Coastal Georgia Apartment
Association, Apartment Association of Greater Augusta, and the Mid-Georgia Apartment
Association. Jim is also a proud member of the Georgia Apartment Association’s Grassroots
Advocacy Council, the Government Affairs Committees for First Coast Apartment Association and
Bay Area Apartment Association, and the Legal & Regulatory Committee and BTR Committee for the
Florida Chapter of the National Rental Home Council.
For More Information:
