Frantz Ward LLP is pleased to announce that and , partners in the firm’s Construction Practice Group, have accepted the invitation to join the Fellowship of the Construction Lawyers Society of America (CLSA). Ian and Marc were among those invited as Charter Fellows and also carry the designation of Barristers of the Order of Equitas.

The CLSA is an international honorary association of preeminent lawyers in construction law and related fields. Fellowship is limited and selective, with lawyers being invited into Fellowship upon a proven record of accomplishment. Lawyers nominated or selected may be in any discipline in the construction law arena but also must have superior ethical reputations.

Ian Frank, Chair of the Frantz Ward Construction Practice Group, dedicates his entire practice to all facets of construction and surety law. Ian counsels project participants in developing, managing, resolving, and litigating complex commercial construction disputes, with a focus on claim management, risk mitigation, default/performance issues, schedule claims, surety bond claims, and federal government contracting and compliance. He regularly negotiates and develops EPC, design-build, design-assist, specialty trade and other contracts utilizing a vast array of project delivery methods. Ian represents clients in diverse construction disciplines, including road and bridge construction, heavy civil/tunneling projects, structural steel fabrication and erection, and all aspects of general trades and commercial building construction. Ian is well known as a leader in construction, having been recognized in the area of construction by third-party rankings such as the prestigious Chambers USA: America’s Guide to Leading Lawyers in Business, The Best Lawyers in America, and Martindale-Hubbell, where he is peer-review ranked AV Preeminent, their highest ranking. He has served numerous leadership roles in national construction organizations such as the Chair of Division 9 of the American Bar Association Forum on Construction Law, and Chair Emeritus of the ALFA International Construction Practice Group. Ian received his J.D., magna cum laude, from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and has a B.A., magna cum laude, from Baldwin Wallace University.

Marc Sanchez is a partner in Frantz Ward’s Construction Group and represents general contractors, specialty trades and subcontractors, including the arbitration, mediation and litigation of claims. Marc advises clients on claim management and avoidance, risk management and insurance, scheduling and safety issues as well as minority certification and compliance. He negotiates and drafts all types of construction contracts, perfects and enforces mechanics’ liens, prosecutes and defends defective workmanship claims and surety bond claims. Marc has counseled clients on a wide variety of issues including delay and acceleration, defective workmanship, insurance coverage, competitive bidding disputes, surety bond claims, personal injury and wrongful death claims and termination claims. Marc has been recognized in the area of construction by the prestigious Chambers USA: America’s Guide to Leading Lawyers in Business, is named to The Best Lawyers in America and is peer-review ranked AV Preeminent, the highest ranking, by Martindale-Hubbell. Marc received his J.D. from Stanford Law School and has an A.B., with Honors, from Duke University.