Allison Taller Reich Photo

Allison Taller Reich

Partner

Overview

Allison focuses on all aspects of construction law, from the very beginning of a project through completion and resolution of any claims.  She represents owners and developers, construction managers, design-build contractors and general contractors, subcontractors, sureties, and other design and construction industry professionals.  Like much of the Construction Practice Group, Allison immerses herself in the construction industry and is clients’ first call for all types of issues including project delivery methods and contract forms, claim and change management, project close-out processes, and dispute resolution and litigation. She strives to obtain the best possible result for her clients at the earliest opportunity. Allison is committed to her clients and understands that the issues they face—large and small—can make or break for each client. Allison’s interest in and passion for construction law dates back to her days at The Ohio State University where she obtained a bachelor of science degree in architecture.
                   
Allison is also very involved in the community, including participating in the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association’s 3Rs Program, and participating in several nonprofit organization boards. She is also involved in several legal and professional associations including the National Association of Women in Construction and the ABA Construction Forum. 


Super Lawyers Rising Star 2023

Practices

    • Revised, reorganized, and drafted multi-project delivery method master services agreement, exhibits, and project-specific agreements for national and international manufacturing and construction client contracting for design, design-build, construction, engineer-procure-construct, professional services, and time and material services throughout all 50 states and provide guidance and training to company on implementation and use.
    • Represented a company on planning and negotiating construction, renovation, sale, sale-leaseback, lease, and corporate headquarters involving executive and staff offices and distribution activities, including advice on taxes, incentives, zoning and land use, labor and employment issues.
       
       
    • Obtained 8th District of Ohio decision affirming favorable summary judgment on behalf of owner and developer clients involving unjust enrichment claims by an unsecured lower tier subcontractor where the party in privity with the lower tier subcontractor breached its contracts and failed to honor its obligations to complete the project or pay its lower tier contractors.
       
       
    • Obtained a complete defense award in arbitration, and recouped arbitration fees, for our general contractor client. The dispute involved claims for additional costs for alleged extra work performed on a public school project. The arbitrator issued a 20-page opinion rejecting Claimant’s damage claims in their entirety, and ordering the Claimant to reimburse our client for its portion of the arbitrator’s fees and expenses. 
    • Secured a $0 complete defense award in favor of a surveying client in an arbitration involving a $1.6 million claim related to errors and omissions in design and from other contractors.
    • Successfully resolved several related pieces of litigation involving claims of nonpayment from lower-tier subcontractors after subcontractor defaulted on project on behalf of a contractor client.
    • Successfully and quickly resolved potential litigation for nonpayment on behalf of a specialty trade that furnished and installed material at a large commercial project.
    • Successfully resolved claims arising out of a brokerage deal involving manufacturing equipment.
    • Advise clients regarding guaranteed maximum price contracts and monitoring and managing cost overruns and requests for compensation.
    • Successfully resolved claims alleging defective and nonconforming work against contractor client that supplied and installed decorative granite and stone.
    • Successfully obtained summary judgment on behalf of a loading and hauling company involving claims by a broker that material was loaded for or hauled to an incorrect customer.
    • Successfully resolved design defect claim against design and construction management client.
    • Provided guidance to client regarding SEC regulations related to web application/social media technology.
    • Evaluated, advised, and represented client related to lien and bond claim by lower tier, including analysis of corporate restructuring and asset sale by subcontractor and  impact upon indemnification obligations.
       
    • Evaluated, advised, and represented surety client related to appropriateness of termination, claim submission and documentation, completion costs, tender and completion agreement, completion/replacement contractor and contracts, and potential impact on bond.
    • Advised and represented client regarding dispute resolution and claim prosecution with a long-standing subcontractor performing on-going work at a number of client’s manufacturing customer’s locations
    • Drafted, revised, and updated entire suite of contracts and related contract documents and exhibits for a client using AIA Contract forms tailored for the client’s needs.
    • Drafted, revised, and updated entire suite of contracts and related contract documents and exhibits for a client using Consensus Docs forms tailored for the client’s needs.
    • Drafted, revised, and updated entire suite of contracts and related contract documents and exhibits for an Owner owning, operating, and maintaining hundreds of properties and facilities including Master Service Agreements and Job Order Contracts, Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) contracts, technology and equipment supply and install contracts.
    • Advise and consult with entrepreneurial clients regarding manufacturing and retail build-outs and equipment procurement agreements including design, installation, and construction contracts.
    • Advise clients and revise/draft contract provisions related to escalation, delays, labor and material shortages due to COVID-19 and pandemic-related construction industry and supply-chain conditions and disruptions.
    • Advise and represent Energy Engineering Procurement and Construction client regarding joint venture and licensing agreements as well as selling, purchasing, and transferring company stocks and amending shareholder agreements.
    • Advise and represent Energy Engineering Procurement and Construction client regarding contracts with clients, subcontractors, suppliers, and partners and prepare and execute strategies to prosecute, defend against, and resolve claims.
    • Evaluated and prosecuted claim for additional work, costs, time, and compensation related to substantial design changes resulting from bid estimates and contracts being based on incomplete structural steel design drawings that were later substantially revised as well as defend steel design, manufacturing, and construction client against delay and breach of contract claims by project owner.
    • Advise and represent Engineering Procurement and Construction contractor client regarding multi-million dollar delay, escalation, changed and additional work and changed and additional scope claim against power plant owner and defend against delay and breach of contract claims by owner against EPC client resulting in successful resolution of all claims.
    • Successfully resolved claims by owner-client against property manager for failing to properly value, lease, maintain, and renovate properties.
    • Successfully resolved claims by and against construction management client by lower-tiers related to alleged change order work, additional work, payment issues, defective or delayed work, and geotechnical issues, among others.
  • Education

    • Cleveland State University College of Law/CSU College of Law, J.D., 2009
    • The Ohio State University, B.S., Architecture, 2006

    Admissions

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

    • American Bar Association Forum on Construction Law—Member (2010-Present); Diversity Fellow (2019-Present); Division 13 Steering Committee (2019-Present); Division 12 Steering Committee (2020 – Present); Technology Steering Committee (2019-Present)
    • FDCC Ladder Down Cleveland Program—Class of 2019; Program Committee (2020)
    • Construction Employers Association (CEA)—Future Executives Committee (2018-present)
    • National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) (Cleveland Chapter)—Member (2010-Present); Board Member (2018-2019); Membership Committee Co-Chair (2018-2020)
    • Ohio State Bar Foundation—Fellow (2018-Present)
    • Ohio State Bar Association, Construction Law—Member (2010-Present)
    • Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, 3Rs Program—Mentor (2011-Present); Promoting and Growing White Allyship Group for the Racial Equality And the Law (REAL) Groups (2021-Present)

    Community Involvement

    • United Way of Greater Cleveland - Board of Directors (2018-Present)
    • Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland, Bridge Board—Member (2010-Present); Chair (2015-2016)
    • United Way Young Leaders Cabinet—Member (2012-2017); Co-Chair (2016-2017)
    • Cleveland State Law Alumni Association—Trustee (2013-Present); Immediate Past-President (2022-present), President (2021-2022); President-Elect (2020-2021); Vice President (2019-2020); Secretary (2018-2019); Treasurer (2017-2018)
    • College Now—Mentor (2013-2018)
    • Downtown Cleveland Alliance—Step Up Downtown Advisory Committee Member (2013-2018); City Advocate (2011-2013)
    • Cleveland Leadership Center, Civic Leadership Institute (Class of 2015)

    Firm Involvement

    • Named to the Ohio Super Lawyers list (2024)
    • Named to The Best Lawyers in America in the area of Commercial Litigation (2024)
    • Inducted into the Cleveland State University College of Law Hall of Fame as a "Leader on the Rise" (2022)
    • Named to the YWCA Greater Cleveland 2022 Women of Professional Excellence list (2022)
    • Recipient of Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Alumni Association President’s Award (2018)
    • Named to the Ohio Super Lawyers Rising Stars list (2018-2022)
    • Recipient of the Ohio State Bar Foundation Community Service Award for Attorneys 40 and Under for District 12 (2017)
    • Recognized as “One to Watch” by Cleveland Magazine’s Community Leader (2016)
    • “A Day in the Life – Managing Your Practice,” Cleveland State University College of Law/CSU College of Law Presentation (February 2023)
    • "Fast Tracking Your Way to Success: An In-Depth Look at the Hidden Risks in Fast Tracking Construction and Techniques to Avoid Them," Frantz Ward Construction Webinar (February 2021) 
    • "The Client Perspective: A Conversation with Female Decision Makers," Ladder Down Cleveland Meeting (November 2020) 
    • "Best Practices and Potential Dangers for Sureties Bonding Set-Aside Contracts," National Bond Claims Association (NBCA) Annual Seminar, Greensboro, GA (October 2019) 
    • "Legal Update: Contract Claims are Barred After 10 Years," Construction Employers Association (CEA) Podcast (September 2019) 
    • “Construction Contract Risk Management,” Turner Construction Company’s School of Construction Management, Cleveland, OH (April 2019)
    • "The Most Ignored Contract Terms and Project Documentation Requirements on Your Project," NAWIC Frantz Ward Legal Seminar, Cleveland, OH (April 2019) 
    • "Ohio's Statute of Repose- New Riegel Local School District Case," Advice from the Trenches- Frantz Ward Construction Practice Seminar, Cleveland, OH (February 2019) 
    • "Limitations on Insurance Coverage- Ohio Northern University Case," Advice from the Trenches- Frantz Ward Construction Practice Seminar, Cleveland, OH (February 2019) 
    • "Preserving and Protecting Against Waiver of the Attorney-Client Privilege," Ohio Farmers Insurance Company Legal Seminar, Cleveland, OH (November 2018)
    • “Types of Construction Contracts: Evaluating Their Risks and Rewards for Different Parties" and "Contract Termination” The National Business Institute CLE Seminar, Cleveland, OH (June 2018)
    • "Importance of Project Claim Documentation," Construction Employers' Association Future Executives Committee, Cleveland, OH (May, 2018).
    • "Collection Techniques for Subcontractors," Lorman Live Webinar (February 2018)
    • "Construction Law," Kent State University/Turner Construction School of Construction Workshop Series, Cleveland, OH (January 2018)
    • "A Day in the Life - Managing Your Practice," Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Associations' New Lawyer Bootcamp, Cleveland, OH (December 2017)
    • "What Do You Do When the Plans and Specifications are Deficient?” National Business Institute, Cleveland, OH (May 2017)
    • “Generation Give,” Ideastream Philanthropic and Non-Profit Leader Panel Discussion, Cleveland, OH (December 2016)
    • “Types of Construction Contracts: Evaluating Their Risks and Rewards for Different Parties,” National Business Institute, Cleveland, OH (December 2016)
    • “Integrating Associate Boards and Professional Boards,” Engage! Cleveland, Cleveland, OH (November 2015)
    • “Overview of Project Delivery Methods,” Lorman Education Seminars, Cleveland, OH (December 2014)