Allison maintains a diverse practice both as a litigator and as a client counselor, advising clients in all phases of government contracting and construction. In addition to her experience litigating construction matters in the District of Columbia and Maryland, she has experience in government contracts litigation before the Boards of Contract Appeals and the United States Court of Federal Claims, as well as bid protest experience at GAO.
In addition to her work in government contracts, Allison specializes in complex commercial development contract drafting and negotiation. She has developed an extensive library of custom form construction contracts, tailored for differing jurisdictional requirements, client needs and asset types, which her clients regularly draw upon for projects throughout the country. Allison is certified as a Construction Risk and Insurance Specialist (CRIS®) by IRMI and is particularly experienced in construction risk transfer issues, including indemnification provisions and state-specific statutes, as well as insurance provisions and requirements.
Her clients include Fortune 500 investment banks, international hospitality companies, and specialized regional commercial real estate developers.
Among the matters she’s handled, Allison:
- Represented a condominium developer in its default termination of a general contractor, resulting in judgment in the developer’s favor and the successful defense of approximately $1 million in counterclaims.
- Acts as one of two primary outside counsel responsible for negotiation of agreements for construction for a Fortune 500 investment bank and financial services company for projects across the country, with an aggregate yearly construction value of over two billion dollars.
- Represented small and disadvantaged businesses in state and federal certification processes.
- Assisted in the successful representation of both large and small construction companies in asserting delay claims against the Department of Veterans Affairs.
- Negotiated and drafted all construction-related agreements for the development of a $17 million 50-room boutique hotel in downtown Charleston, SC with approximately 40,000 sq ft of space, which opened in 2021 and is now ranked as the top hotel in Charleston.
- Drafted requests for equitable adjustment and certified claims totaling over €3 million on behalf of a Spanish contractor doing business with the U.S. Navy in Rota, Spain.
- Acts as lead outside counsel responsible for negotiation of agreements for construction of new hotels for one of the world’s largest hospitality companies, and assists with ongoing project management and counselling for construction administration issues and purchase and sale agreements.
Education and Professional Associations
Allison was previously an adjunct professor at the George Washington University Law School, where she also received her J.D., graduating in the top 12% of her class. While in law school, she was a member of the Moot Court Board and the Alternative Dispute Resolution Board. Allison was also an Articles Editor for the Public Contract Law Journal, where her work has been published. Additionally, she was both a participant in and co-chair of the Gilbert A. Cuneo Government Contracts Moot Court Competition, in 2013 and 2014 respectively. She is an active member of the National Contract Management Association and was a recipient of the Association’s Outstanding Academic Achievement Award in Government Contracts. Allison is also a member of the American Bar Association Section of Public Contract Law and Forum on Construction Law, the Maryland State Bar Association Construction and Administrative Law Sections, the Federal Circuit Bar Association, and the Board of Contract Appeals Bar Association. Allison is admitted to practice before the Court of Appeals of Maryland, the District Court of Maryland, the D.C. Court of Appeals, the District Court and Bankruptcy Court of D.C., the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
Honors and Awards
- Emerging Women Leader in Law, DCA Live, April 2023
- Up and Coming, Construction in District of Columbia, Chambers USA Guide 2022, 2023
- Associate to Watch, Construction in District of Columbia, Chambers USA Guide 2021
- Rising Star, Construction Litigation, Washington, DC Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters (2020-2023)
- Outstanding Academic Achievement Award in Government Contracts, National Contract Management Association, May 2014
- Excellence in Oral Advocacy, McKenna Long & Aldridge Government Contracts Moot Court Competition, May 2013
- George Washington Scholar, The George Washington University Law School, Top 1-15% of class, Fall 2012, Spring 2013
- Thurgood Marshall Scholar, The George Washington University Law School, Top 16-35% of class, Fall 2011, Spring 2012, Fall 2013
Publications and Speaking Engagements
- Author, Construction Risk Management: Additional Insured Endorsements (May 25, 2023).
- Speaker, Working and Thriving in the Pandemic Economy, National Contract Management Association (March 8, 2022).
- Speaker, COVID-19: Prepare Your Change and Claims with Confidence, National Contract Management Association (June 9, 2020).
- Co-author, “This Too Shall Pass Through,” 4th Annual Federal Government Contracting Seminar 2019, Virginia CLE (September 2019).
- Speaker, Government Contracts Trial Practice Tune-up, 4th Annual Federal Government Contracting Seminar 2019, Virginia CLE (September 2019).
- Co-Author, Builders Beware: General Contractors on the Hook for Unpaid Wages of Subcontractor (and Sub-Subcontractor) Employees (September 14, 2018).
- Contributor, “Equitable Adjustments and Claims, Chapter 15, Federal Government Construction Contracts, Third Ed.,” ABA Forum on Construction, Third Eds. (October 2017).
- Co-Author, The American Institute of Architects Releases 2017 Updates (August 2, 2017).
- Contributor and Editor, 50 State Construction Lien and Bond Law, Third Edition (December 2016).
- Co-Author, Six-Year Statute of Limitations and Cost Reasonableness: The 2014 McKenna Long & Aldridge “Gilbert A. Cuneo” Government Contracts Moot Court Competition, The Public Contract Law Journal.
Trainings and Certifications
- Certified Construction Risk and Insurance Specialist (CRIS®), International Risk Management Institute, Inc. (IRMI) (May 2023).
- Contractual Risk Transfer in Construction, Training Certificate
- Commercial Liability Insurance for Contractors, Training Certificate
- Property Insurance for Contractors, Training Certificate
- Commercial Auto, Surety, CIPs, and Miscellaneous Lines, Training Certificate
Recent Articles and News
ASM and Partners Ranked by Chambers USA (June 1, 2023)
Construction Risk Management: Additional Insured Endorsements (May 25, 2023)
ASM Partners Recognized by Washington DC Super Lawyers 2023 (May 24, 2023)
ASM and Five Attorneys Ranked In Chambers USA 2022 (June 2, 2022)
Super Lawyers Recognizes ASM Partners (May 11, 2022)
Chambers Recognizes ASM and Four of Its Attorneys (May 20, 2021)
Six ASM Lawyers Named in 2020 Washington D.C. Super Lawyers (April 16, 2020)
The American Institute of Architects Releases 2017 Updates (August 2, 2017)
