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Melissa A. Jones
Partner
(216) 515-1437
mjones@frantzward.com
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Overview
Melissa focuses her legal practice in multiple disciplines of commercial credit management and enforcement remedies. She provides comprehensive representation to businesses nationwide in all phases of multifaceted recovery claims. Melissa is also highly skilled in lien management and foreclosure within the construction industry. She frequently lectures on complex creditor’s rights procedures, including lien rights and remedies, and on ethics in the legal profession.
Practices
Credit Management and Enforcement Remedies
Bankruptcy & Creditors' Rights
Construction
Litigation
Representative Experience
Representing Fortune 500 waste haulers and national insurance carriers in commercial recovery claims throughout Ohio.
Preserving multi-million dollar lien claims for construction industries on a nationwide basis.
Counseling national skilled nursing facilities, staffing agencies, publicly-traded real estate management and material supply companies in account balance recovery options.
Securing high balance commercial debt through perfecting and enforcing security interests on behalf of manufacturers, food service industries and aircraft providers.
Locating assets through discovery and detailed research to identify hidden property and potential fraudulent transfer claims.
Education & Admissions
Education
Cleveland State University College of Law/CSU College of Law, J.D., 2002
The Ohio State University, B.A., with Honors, 1996
The University of York, United Kingdom, Study Abroad Program, 1995
Admissions
State of Ohio
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio and Southern District of Ohio
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Ohio and Southern District of Ohio
Involvement
Professional Affiliations
American Arbitration Association—Arbitrator, Consumer Panel (2021-Present)
American Bar Association—Member (2002-Present)
Ohio State Bar Association—Member (2002-Present)
Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association—Member (2002-Present)
Surety Association of Ohio
Community Involvement
City of Hudson Planning Commission (2021-Present)
Hudson City Council Charter Review Commission (2020)
Hudson High School Music Association—Board Member (2019-Present)
Akron Children’s Hospital—Holiday Tree Festival Volunteer and Decorator (2010-2014)
Lifebanc—"Over the Edge" Rapel Participant (2021); Gift of Life Walk and Run Planning Committee Member (2009-2011)
Firm Involvement
Chair, Women's Initiative Committee—Frantz Ward (2018-2019)
Awards & Honors
Recipient of the YWCA of Greater Cleveland Women of Professional Excellence Award (2021)
Publications
"Easing the Seasonal Labor Shortage,"
Properties Magazine
(March 2022)
"Restaurant Revitalization Fund: First Results,"
Frantz Ward Client Alert (May 2021)
"Keep the Water Moving: Clarity on Important Surface Drainage Requirements,"
Frantz Ward
On the Level
(April 2021)
"Will PPP Loan Questionnaires Impact Forgiveness?"
Properties Magazine
(March 2021)
"Forgiveness is Divine: Looking at the 2021 PPP?"
Podcast Host, Shoveling Smoke - A Frantz Ward Lawcast (February 2021)
"Caselaw Update: Ohio Court Clarifies Contractual ADR Provisions Do Not Defeat Mechanic’s Lien Rights and Enforcement,"
Frantz Ward Client Alert (December 2020)
"PPP Loan Forgiveness Updates: October 22, 2020,"
Frantz Ward Client Alert (October 2020)
"PPP Roundup as of June 16, 2020,"
Frantz Ward Client Alert (June 2020)
"The CARES Act: Paycheck Protection Program,"
Frantz Ward Client Alert (March 2020)
"Federal Disaster Relief Loans Now Available to Ohio's Small Business and Non-Profits Affected by COVID-19,"
Frantz Ward Client Alert (March 2020)
"The Impact of Coronavirus on Business Contracts: Tips to Minimize Risk,"
Frantz Ward Client Alert (March 2020)
"Managing the Unexpected,"
Properties Magazine
(February 2020)
"Lien Waivers: What You Don't Know Can Cost You,"
The Builder's Exchange eNewsletter
(January 2020)
"Can You Serve a Notice of Furnishing Too Early? Maybe..."
Frantz Ward On The Level (September 2019)
“Creditor’s Beware: Present Your Claim to a Decedent's Estate Before You Pursue the Surviving Spouse,”
Frantz Ward Client Alert (December 2018)
"Civil
AND
Criminal Liability for Breaching a Contract? Yes Virginia, It Does Exist,"
Frantz Ward
On the Level
(July 2018)
"What Do You Mean I May Not Get a Refund?," Frantz Ward Client Alert (May 2018)
“Arbitrating Claims With Non-Signatories,”
Properties Magazine
(July 2015)
"Lien Law Traps: What You Should Know,”
The
Builders Exchange eNewsletter
(December 2010)
Presentations & Lectures
"The Aftermath of Government Lending Programs Created During the Pandemic," Association of Corporate Counsel, Cleveland, OH (August 2021)
"COVID Commentary: Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness: Tips, Tricks and Updates," Frantz Ward Webinar (September 2020)
“COVID Commentary: Payroll Protection Program - Updates and Lessons Learned for Round 2 and Keys to Forgiveness for Both Rounds,” Frantz Ward Webinar (April 2020)
"COVID Commentary: Protecting and Turning Back On Your Revenue Stream," Frantz Ward Webinar (April 2020)
"SBA/Paycheck Protection Loan Program," Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association (CMBA) Webinar (March 2020)
"Bankruptcy," Association of Corporate Counsel, Cleveland, OH (August 2019)
"Ohio Lien Law- A Referesher and Updates," Advice From the Trenches, Frantz Ward Construction Practice Seminar, Cleveland, OH (February 2019)
“How to Obtain a Judgment,” National Business Institute Seminar, Collection Law: The Ultimate Guide, Cleveland, OH (December 2018)
"Collection Techniques for Subcontractors," Lorman Live Webinar (February 2018)
"Skip Tracing and Locating Assets Techniques," Lorman Education Services, Webinar (December 2017)
“Collecting from a Business,” National Business Institute, Cleveland, OH (October 2017)
"What Do You Do If You Do Not Get Paid?" and "Ethical Considerations,” National Business Institute, Cleveland, OH (May 2017)
“Skip Tracing and Locating Assets Techniques,” Lorman Education Services, Webinar (April 2017)
“Bank Levies and Wage Garnishment,” National Business Institute, National Presentation (December 2015)
“Strategies for Legal Research on the Web,” National Business Institute, Cleveland/Akron, OH (November 2015)
“Mechanic’s Liens in Ohio,” National Business Institute, Cleveland, OH (June 2015)
“2014 Guide to Collection Law,” National Business Institute, Cleveland, OH (May 2014)
“Collection Law Tips and Strategies,” National Business Institute, Cleveland, OH (May 2013)
“Collection Law,” LawReviewCLE, Columbus, OH (August 2012)
“Collections: Seeking and Collecting a Judgment,” National Business Institute, Cleveland, OH (July 2012)
“Collection Law: Debtors, Assets, and Judgment,” LawReviewCLE, National Presentation (June 2012)
“Nuts and Bolts of Collection Law,” National Business Institute, National Presentation (February 2012)
“Advanced Skip Tracing and Finding Hidden Assets,” National Business Institute, Cleveland, OH (December 2011)
“Find It Free and Fast on the Net,” National Business Institute, Cleveland, OH (November 2011)
“FDCPA and Collecting the Judgment,” National Business Institute, Cleveland, OH (July 2011)
“Commercial Collections: Legal Strategies From A-Z,” National Business Institute, Cleveland, OH (April 2011)
Media Coverage
Featured in,
"Hudson woman rappels down 23-story building for a good cause,"
Akron Beacon Journal
(October 2021)
Partner Melissa A. Jones Elected Vice President of Hudson Hi...
Partner Melissa Jones Published in Properties Magazine
PPP Roundup as of June 16, 2020
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48 Frantz Ward Attorneys Recognized by The Best Lawyers in America
Awards
August 17, 2023
Being Required to Arbitrate When You Did Not Agree to Arbitrate: Can It Happen? Maybe...
Blog
October 18, 2022
Partner Melissa Jones Published in Properties Magazine
News
March 18, 2022
Three Frantz Ward Attorneys Go “Over The Edge” for Lifebanc
News
September 2, 2021
Partner Melissa Jones Recognized Among Distinguished Women in Northeast Ohio
Awards
May 24, 2021
Restaurant Revitalization Fund: First Results
Client Alert
May 9, 2021
Keep the Water Moving: Clarity on Important Surface Drainage Requirements
Client Alert
April 30, 2021
Partner Melissa Jones Published in March 2020 Issue of Properties Magazine
News
March 15, 2021
Podcast: Forgiveness is Divine: Looking at the 2021 PPP
Events
February 15, 2021
Partner Melissa A. Jones Appointed to the City of Hudson Planning Commission
News
January 25, 2021
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