Overview

Nora devotes her practice to the construction industry. 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. Nora works with her clients both while the project is progressing to prevent issues from escalating, through litigation and alternative dispute resolutions when 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 has significant experience in all construction related matters, including specialized areas such as bid protests, government set-aside programs, and P3 project delivery methods.

Nora also serves as an arbitrator on the Construction Panel of the American Arbitration Association. She is AV Preeminent, the highest ranking, peer review ranked by Martindale-Hubbell.





Practices

    • Successfully defended mechanical piping contractor and its surety from $30 million claim asserted by owner of ethanol plant for allegedly defective work (no damages awarded against clients).
    • Secured $800,000 award and judgment against general contractor and its surety for bridge painting subcontractor client for disputed extra work and contract balance due.
    • Successfully defended claim by general contractor in excess of $500,000 (no damages awarded against client) for final judgment to client in the amount of $275,972.27 as set off for client’s fees and costs.
    • Settled lawsuit against architect client on behalf of errors and omissions insurer for $40,000 with alleged damages in excess of $3 million plus punitive damages.
  • Education

    • Cleveland State University College of Law/CSU College of Law, J.D., 2005
    • Miami University, B.A., English Literature, 1994

    Admissions

    • U.S. Court of Federal Claims
    • State of Ohio
    • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio and Southern District of Ohio
  • Professional Affiliations

    • Fellow of the American Bar Foundation—Member (2021-Present) 
    • National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) Cleveland—Membership Committee Co-Chair (2018-2020); Member (2010-Present) 
    • American Bar Association, Forum on Construction Law—Member; Chair and Emcee "Infrastructure From the Ground Up: Civil Works Projects for Lawyers" event, Columbus, OH (2018) 
    • American Arbitration Association—Arbitrator, Commercial and Construction Panels (2017-Present)
    • Surety Association of Ohio
    • Ohio Contractors Association—Member (2018-Present) 
    • National Bond Claims Association—Member (2019-Present) 
    • ALFA International, Construction Practice Group—Steering Committee, Construction (2018-Present); Steering Committee, Women's Initiative (2018-Present); Construction Practice Group Client Advisory Board Liaison (2021)
    • FDCC Ladder Down, Cleveland Program—Committee (2019)
    • Ohio State Bar Association—Member
    • Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association—Member; Interrupting the Legal Profession’s Systemic Inequities Group for the Real Equity and The Law Groups (2021-Present)
    • Cleveland Leadership Center, Cleveland Leadership Institute (Class of 2019)
    • Cleveland Leadership Center, Civic Leadership Institute (Class of 2014)

    Community Involvement

    • Lake Catholic Academy—Board Member (2017-Present)
    • Friends of Breakthrough Schools — Board Member (2017-Present)
    • YWCA Greater Cleveland, Quest—(Class of 2017)
    • United Way Investment Committee—Volunteer (2006-2016)
    • Boys and Girls Club of America—Bridge Board (2007-2012)

    Firm Involvement

    • Chair, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee - Frantz Ward LLP
    • Named to Chambers USA: America’s Guide to Leading Lawyers for Business in the area of Construction (2019-2023)
    • Named to the Ohio Super Lawyers list (2021-2023)
    • Named to The Best Lawyers in America in the area of Litigation-Construction (2021-2023)
    • AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated—Martindale-Hubbell 
    • Named to the Women Worth Watching List by Profiles in Diversity Journal (2020) 
    • Named to the Ohio Super Lawyers Rising Stars list (2012-2015)
    • Recipient of the YMCA of Greater Cleveland Women of Professional Excellence Award (2020) 
    • Named as “Associate to Watch” by Chambers USA: America’s Guide to Leading Lawyers for Business in the area of Construction (2012; 2013)
    • Recipient of Full Dean’s Scholarship, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law (2001-2005)
    • Editor, Journal of Law and Health, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law (2002-2003)
    • "Breaking the Mold: Best Practices in Modular Construction and Prefabrication," Advice From the Trenches Frantz Ward Construction Webinar (March 2021) 
    • "Navigating Project Default," ALFA Summer CLE Series Webinar (August 2020) 
    • "Are You Complying With the Latest COVID-19 Safety Regulations and Recommendations?" Construction Employers Association (CEA) Webinar (April 2020)
    • "Navigating Project Default," Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) Webinar (October 2019) 
    • "Best Practices and Potential Dangers for Sureties Bonding Set-Aside Contracts," National Bond Claims Association (NBCA) Annual Seminar, Greensboro, GA (October 2019) 
    • "Risk Management: When Low Bids Win, Does Cutting Corners Begin? How Are You Affected?" Sherwin Williams Protective and Marine Coatings, Webinar (October 2019) 
    • "The Most Ignored Contract Terms and Project Documentation Requirements on Your Project," NAWIC Frantz Ward Legal Seminar, Cleveland, OH (April 2019) 
    • "Developments and Trends in Road and Bridge Projects," Advice from the Trenches - Frantz Ward Construction Practice Seminar (February 2019)
    • “Infrastructure From the Ground Up: Civil Works Projects for Lawyers”, Emcee and Chair, ABA Forum on Construction Law, Columbus, OH (November 2018)
    • "Means & Methods of Resolving Construction Disputes," Panelist, ALFA International Practice Group Seminar, Banff, Alberta, Canada (July 2018)
    • "Key Contracting Issues," Northeast Ohio Association of Corporate Counsel, Cleveland, OH (June 2018)
    • "AIA Contract Documents 2017 Updates - Time Is Running Out," ALFA International Webinar (April 2018)
    • "Collection Techniques for Subcontractors," Lorman Live Webinar (February 2018)
    • "ASBCA Rejects Contractor's "Mistake in Bid" Argument and Denies $4M Exra Work Claim," American Bar Forum on Construction Law (October 2017)
    • "What Do You Do When the Contract is Changed?,” National Business Institute, Cleveland, OH (May 2017)
    • “Critical Project Documentation,” National Association of Women in Construction, Cleveland, OH (October 2015)
    • “Increasing Odds of Getting Paid in Full,” American Bar Association, Forum on Construction Law, Cleveland, OH (May 2015)
    • “Construction Lien Law,” National Business Institute, Cleveland, OH (November 2013)