Our education clients range from large public and private universities to small colleges and private secondary schools. Regardless of size, educational institutions facing disputes have to contend with unique factual and legal challenges that have business and organizational effects on the institution and, in turn, require considerations and tactics distinct from those usually found in corporate settings. Through our extensive and diverse experience representing schools, and our close monitoring of relevant legal developments, we have a strong understanding of the education industry and its dynamics. This enables us to address our school clients’ particular challenges through effective collaboration that guides them in a clear and practical manner toward resolutions that meet their goals.

Our Services

In the education sector, we are well-versed in direct negotiation, mediation, binding arbitration, and traditional litigation, often employing several of these resolution techniques over the course of a dispute when appropriate. Our substantive experience spans the following areas:

• Crisis management
• Campus safety
• Student affairs
• Regulatory compliance
• Governance
• Data privacy and cybersecurity

We counsel clients on the following:

• Complying with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
• Implementing social media policies, practices, and procedures
• Conducting internal investigations
• Complying with, or opposing, compelled production in the form of subpoenas, civil investigative demands, and informal requests for information and search warrants
• Working with local law enforcement—from investigations through prosecution—regarding on-campus crime activities
• Advising, counseling, and representing in litigation concerning student disciplinary proceedings
• Determining the interplay of student privacy, civil liability, and criminal law in cases of sexual assault or other crimes involving students
• Drafting and reviewing student handbook requirements on student discipline and other issues
• Interpreting risk management issues pertaining to on-campus and school-sponsored trips
• Defending against claims of employee misconduct

Our Team

The Education Group consists of seasoned litigators who are fluent in the substantive areas of education law. We work closely with the following practice groups within the firm to apply a collaborative approach in meeting our clients’ goals:

• Data Privacy and Cybersecurity
• Finance
• Intellectual Property
• Litigation
• Labor, Employment, Benefits + Immigration
• Construction
• Environmental, Energy + Telecommunications
• Real Estate + Development