Allison Taller Reich and
Nora Loftus, construction attorneys at Frantz Ward, are proud to join dedicated women in the construction industry and serve in leadership roles with the Cleveland Chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC). Allison will serve as a Director on the Board of Directors. In addition, she will join Nora as a co-chair of the group’s Membership Committee.
The mission of NAWIC is to enhance the success of women in the construction industry – from tradeswomen to business owners. The organization has more than 140 chapters in almost every U.S. state. It has also grown worldwide with affiliation agreements in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom and South Africa.
Both Allison and Nora devote their practice to the construction industry representing owners, architects, engineers, general contractors, subcontractors, manufacturers, suppliers, and sureties. They are frequent authors in construction-related media and routinely speak on topics such as risk management, contracting issues, and claim documentation. The pair co-authored a chapter in the recently published American Bar Association Forum on Construction Law’s A201 Deskbook, providing insight into common issues and practical solutions to address these issues.
Allison is routinely recognized for her contributions to the community, including recently being recognized among the 2017 “Honor Roll” identified by the Association of Fundraising Professionals to individuals who are making an impact in philanthropy, and Cleveland. She currently serves as a board member for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Cleveland’s Bridge Board, a member of the United Way of Greater Cleveland’s Development Committee, and as Secretary of the Cleveland-Marshall Law Alumni Association. She also serves on the Advisory Committee in the Downtown Cleveland Alliance – Step Up Downtown. Allison is involved in all aspects of construction law, including drafting, negotiating, and revising contracts; assisting clients manage claims, projects, and schedules in real time to keep projects moving; and resolving disputes between her clients. She strives to obtain the best possible result for her clients at the earliest opportunity. Because of this, Allison engages in negotiations and mediations before and in addition to arbitration hearings and litigation proceedings including trials. She goes “all-in” for her clients because she understands the issues they face—large and small—can make or break for each client. Allison received her J.D. from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and her B.S. in Architecture from The Ohio State University.
Nora serves as a Construction and Commercial Panelist for the American Arbitrator Association. She also serves as the Chair of the Frantz Ward Diversity & Inclusion Committee focused on promoting diversity and inclusion and raising awareness of its importance throughout the firm. Nora is also active in the community serving on the Board of the Friends of Breakthrough Schools and Lakewood Catholic Academy. From front-end contract review and assisting clients with project documentation to ensure they are in the best position to defend or prosecute claims, Nora helps clients identify, avoid, and resolve project disputes both while the project is progressing to prevent issues from escalating, through litigation and alternative dispute resolutions if necessary. With a focus on risk management, Nora believes in helping clients spend their time where it should be spent—developing their businesses. Nora has represented owners, architects, engineers, general contractors, subcontractors, manufacturers, suppliers, and sureties, which enables her to spot issues and risks from all sides. Nora received her J.D. from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and her B.A. in English Literature from Miami University.