Associate
1001 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Suite 800
Washington, DC 20036
Telephone: (202) 955-5600
Fax: (202) 955-5616
afultz@kaplankirsch.com
Vcard

Allison I. Fultz's practice emphasizes the areas of transportation, development and construction. She is also a licensed architect and holds a certificate from the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. Ms. Fultz devotes a significant portion of her practice to representation in land use matters concerning transportation projects. Ms. Fultz has broad experience representing state and municipal governments before the Surface Transportation Board and various state and federal courts in connection with the acquisition and abandonment of railroad rights-of-way, environmental reporting and agency rulemaking. Ms. Fultz also represents regional transit agencies in negotiations with freight railroads for the acquisition and shared use of rail corridors and provides counsel on contracts for operations and signal maintenance services. Ms. Fultz also advises clients with respect to coordinated land use and multi-modal transportation planning, historic preservation issues and the construction of passenger rail facilities.

Ms. Fultz has represented clients in a wide variety of construction-related matters in both the transportation and development spheres, including drafting and negotiating contracts for construction, demolition and materials management, construction management, and architectural and engineering consulting services. She has represented clients in drafting and negotiating contracts for new construction, alteration and expansion of commuter rail systems, retail centers, hotels, condominium hotel developments, recreational developments, data centers, offices, hospitals, museums, large-scale redevelopment and adaptive reuse of historic properties.

Ms. Fultz's real estate practice has involved transactions of all types, including acquisitions and dispositions, multi-asset transactions, entity structuring, debt and equity financing, commercial lending, historic preservation and public-private partnerships. Ms. Fultz has represented clients in connection with many varieties of real estate, including office buildings, retail centers, multi-family residential developments, hotels, flex space, data centers, and industrial properties.

Ms. Fultz recently served for over seven years on the Montgomery County, Maryland, Board of Appeals, including four years as Chair. This quasi-judicial zoning board hears and decides cases for variances, special exceptions and administrative appeals under the Zoning Ordinance for Montgomery County, a jurisdiction of approximately one million residents in the Washington, D.C. area.

Prior to entering the practice of law, Ms. Fultz practiced architecture in the United States and Canada. She directed feasibility studies, master plans and building projects for institutional, government and educational clients from the project programming stage through construction. Ms. Fultz has extensive experience providing development review consulting to community groups and municipalities in connection with comprehensive re-zoning schemes. She also contributed to an Access Board publication for architects and building owners outlining the application of the Americans with Disabilities Act Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities to historic properties.

Recent Seminars and Publications

  • Panelist, "Legislative Update - The Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008", American Public Transportation Association Legal Affairs Seminar, 2009
  • Panelist, "Positive Train Control - Recent Legislation and Regulation", American Public Transportation Association Rail Conference, 2009
  • Panelist, "Federal Preemption in the Rail Context", Association of Transportation Law Professionals - Annual Meeting, 2009

Education and Clerkships

  • J.D., magna cum laude, Order of the Coif, American University Washington College of Law, 2004
  • Editor in Chief - American University Journal of Gender, Social Policy and the Law, 2002 - 2003
  • M. Arch., Princeton University, 1986
  • A.B., summa cum laude, Architecture, Princeton University, 1984

Bar Admissions

  • Maryland
  • District of Columbia
  • United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit

Professional and Civic Activities

  • Montgomery County, Maryland, Board of Appeals (2001 - 2009), Chair (2004-2009)
  • American Bar Association
  • Maryland Bar Association
  • District of Columbia Bar Association
  • American Institute of Architects
  • American Planning Association