What Frantz Ward LLP does

Frantz Ward LLP is a full-service business law firm founded in Cleveland, Ohio in January 2000 by 14 partners who departed a large national firm to build a practice emphasizing practical, cost-effective counsel. The firm operates from two Ohio offices — a headquarters at 200 Public Square in Cleveland and a regional office at 20 E Broad Street in Columbus — and serves clients ranging from Fortune 500 corporations and mid-market companies to small businesses, startups, and high-net-worth individuals across more than 20 practice areas, including Litigation, Labor & Employment, Construction, Corporate/M&A, Healthcare, Real Estate, Cannabis, Transportation & Logistics, Manufacturing, Data Privacy & Cybersecurity, and Tax. Approximately 80+ attorneys and 101–250 total personnel staff the firm, with practice-group chairs leading each major service line and Christopher G. Keim serving as inaugural Managing Partner since 2017. The firm holds Chambers USA Band 1 rankings for Ohio Labor & Employment (continuously since 2004) and Construction, and 48 attorneys are recognized in Best Lawyers in America 2026.

The firm's business model is traditional professional services: hourly billing is the primary revenue stream, supplemented by alternative fee arrangements (fixed, flat, and success fees) where clients prefer them. Pricing is quote-based and varies by matter complexity, attorney seniority, and practice area, with no publicly disclosed fee schedule. Go-to-market is relationship-driven direct enterprise and mid-market sales within Ohio and nationally, augmented by membership in the ALFA International network — a selective global affiliation of 140+ independent law firms covering 95 of the 100 largest US metropolitan areas, which extends the firm's effective geographic reach. Distribution is reinforced through thought-leadership channels including practice-specific blogs (Cannabis Law Blog, Construction On the Level, Labor & Employment Law Navigator), the "Shoveling Smoke" podcast, and ongoing promotion of Chambers USA, Best Lawyers, Ohio Super Lawyers, and Top Workplace recognitions. Technology consists of standard law firm case management, document management, and client collaboration tools, with no proprietary platform or API offering.

Name

Frantz Ward LLP

Legal name

Frantz Ward LLP

Website

https://frantzward.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Frantz Ward LLP is a Cleveland-founded, full-service Ohio law firm with 80+ attorneys and offices in Cleveland and Columbus, serving Fortune 500, mid-market, and small business clients across more than 20 practice areas.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Cleveland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Legal Services - Hourly Billing: Traditional law firm billing for legal services rendered, representing the primary revenue stream for the firm. Attorneys bill clients based on hourly rates for matters spanning litigation, corporate transactions, employment law, construction law, and other practice areas.
2. Legal Services - Alternative Fee Arrangements: The firm handles matters on alternative fee arrangements including fixed fees, flat fees, and success fees depending on matter type and client preference.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Frantz Ward LLP is a full-service law firm providing legal counsel across more than 20 practice areas, including Litigation, Corporate/Business, Labor & Employment, Construction, Mergers & Acquisitions, Real Estate, Cannabis, Health Care, Bankruptcy, Environmental, Tax, Estate Planning, and Transportation. Services are delivered by 80+ attorneys through offices in Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio, with global reach via the ALFA International network. Engagement is structured on hourly billing and alternative fee arrangements (fixed, flat, or success fees) tailored to matter complexity.

Product overview

Frantz Ward LLP is a full-service law firm offering comprehensive legal services across multiple practice areas rather than a unified software product. The firm's services are organized into distinct practice areas including Alternative Dispute Resolution, Appellate Litigation & Advocacy, Bankruptcy & Creditors' Rights, Beer/Wine/Spirits, Cannabis, Construction, Corporate/Business Law, Data Privacy & Cybersecurity, Environmental Law, Estate Planning & Probate, Franchising, Health Care, Insurance Coverage, Labor & Employment, Lending & Financial Institutions, Litigation, Manufacturing, Mergers & Acquisitions, Nonprofit Organizations, Real Estate, Tax Law, and Transportation & Logistics. Each practice area operates as a distinct service line, and clients typically engage specific practice groups based on their legal needs rather than accessing a single integrated platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Alternative Dispute Resolution

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ALFA InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2000Frantz Ward is a member of ALFA International, the premier global legal network of independent law firms with 140+ member firms worldwide. With member firms covering 95 of the United States' 100 largest metropolitan areas, the network acts as an extension of Frantz Ward, enabling representation and trusted legal resources globally. Membership is highly selective, admitted based on experience, reputation, and commitment to excellence.
• Associated General Contractors of AmericaminorOthersThe firm is a member of the Associated General Contractors of America, granting attorneys access to over 27,000 member firms and improving quality of insights in the construction industry.
• American Bar Association Forum on Construction LawminorOthersAttorneys serve in leadership roles in industry groups including the American Bar Association Forum on Construction Law, providing educational programming and best practice exchange.
• The Builders ExchangeminorOthersFirm attorneys participate in The Builders Exchange for construction industry networking and information exchange.
• Construction Management Association of AmericaminorOthersFirm attorneys serve in leadership roles in the Construction Management Association of America.
• National Cannabis Industry AssociationminorOthersFrantz Ward attorneys belong to the National Cannabis Industry Association, participating in industry conferences and staying current on developments.
• Ohio Cannabis CoalitionminorOthersFirm maintains membership in Ohio Cannabis Coalition for state-level cannabis industry engagement.
• International Cannabis Bar AssociationminorOthersFirm attorneys are members of the International Cannabis Bar Association for national and international cannabis law networking.
• American Trucking AssociationminorOthersTransportation team is actively engaged in the American Trucking Association for industry advocacy and networking.
• National Tank Truck Carriers AssociationminorOthersFirm maintains involvement in National Tank Truck Carriers Association for transportation industry engagement.
• Ohio Craft Brewer's AssociationminorOthersFirm serves as counsel to the Ohio Craft Brewer's Association, providing legal guidance on franchise, distribution, and regulatory matters.
• FDCC Ladder Down ProgramminorOthersFirm participates in and sponsors the FDCC Ladder Down Program focused on training women lawyers in leadership, business development, and mentorship.
• Saint Martin de Porres High School Corporate Work Study ProgramminorOthersFirm participates in the Corporate Work Study Program, hosting two students each year to work in the firm while splitting time between school and work.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ulmer & Berne LLP: Cleveland-based full-service business law firm with overlapping practice areas and a comparable Ohio-anchored client base, regularly competing with Frantz Ward for mid-market corporate, litigation, and labor & employment engagements.
• Benesch (Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP): Cleveland-headquartered full-service business law firm of comparable size, with similar industry specializations (healthcare, construction, manufacturing, real estate) and overlapping client base across Ohio — the most direct peer in the Cleveland legal market.
• Thompson Hine LLP: Cleveland-based full-service business law firm with similar size and practice breadth, competing head-to-head for Ohio enterprise and mid-market clients across corporate, litigation, labor & employment, and real estate matters.
• Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP: Cleveland-based full-service business law firm with comparable size and similar industry specializations, including strong corporate, M&A, and litigation practices serving Ohio-based enterprises and mid-market companies.
• Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP: Cleveland-headquartered full-service business law firm of similar size, with comparable practice breadth across litigation, corporate, real estate, and employment matters and overlapping Ohio enterprise client base.
• Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP: Ohio-based (Cincinnati HQ with Cleveland, Columbus, and other offices) full-service business law firm of comparable scale, competing with Frantz Ward for Ohio-based corporate, M&A, labor & employment, and litigation work.
• Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP: Columbus-based full-service business law firm with comparable size and practice breadth, competing for the same Ohio enterprise and mid-market clients across corporate, litigation, labor & employment, and real estate.
• Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP: Ohio-based full-service business law firm with similar Columbus presence and broader multi-office Ohio footprint, regularly competing with Frantz Ward for corporate, M&A, labor & employment, and litigation engagements.
• Tucker Ellis LLP: Cleveland-based full-service business law firm of similar size with comparable industry specializations (including healthcare, construction, and manufacturing), competing directly with Frantz Ward for Ohio enterprise clients.
• Reminger Co., LPA: Cleveland-based full-service law firm with strong litigation, insurance coverage, and professional liability practices, competing with Frantz Ward for Ohio-based litigation, insurance coverage, and professional liability mandates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/frantzward

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Frantz Ward LLP