We regularly provide legal and counseling services to board members, presidents, chief operating and financial officers, academic administrators, communications and governmental relations teams, human resources staff, student affairs professionals, facilities teams, campus safety leaders, compliance offices and more.
Our board experience includes providing advice and counsel on high-profile matters, regularly preparing and presenting both routine and special reports to boards and committees, advising on bylaws and meeting procedures, drafting resolutions, ensuring appropriate fiduciary policies are in place and more.
We regularly provide legal and counseling services to board members, presidents, chief operating and financial officers, academic administrators, communications and governmental relations teams, human resources staff, student affairs professionals, facilities teams, campus safety leaders, compliance offices and more.
Our board experience includes providing advice and counsel on high-profile matters, regularly preparing and presenting both routine and special reports to boards and committees, advising on bylaws and meeting procedures, drafting resolutions, ensuring appropriate fiduciary policies are in place and more.
We are trusted counselors to presidents and senior leadership, regularly participating in leadership and cabinet meetings, providing sound judgment and risk assessments on both issues and opportunities. Several team members have served directly on senior leadership teams. We outline options and their impact, brainstorm solutions and help build consensus. Our experience makes us strong issue spotters, ready to run down answers with experts on our team. We see institutions through crises, working hand-in-hand with communications experts, including outside public and governmental affairs professionals. And we have helped navigate obstacles to ensure institutions can smoothly execute major priorities and initiatives. Examples of recent high-profile, mission-critical work by lawyers on our team include:
- Advising on all aspects of response to post-October 7, 2023, Hamas attack and impact on campus life, including development of industry-leading comprehensive response plan and coordination of legal defense of Title VI lawsuit, including negotiating in successful mediation in partnership with board chair and president.
- Providing legal considerations for post-COVID reopening planning, including advising on health and safety protocols; vaccine mandate and exemption processes; and managing class actions seeking tuition and fee refunds due to transition to remote work.
- Providing legal advice in preparation for, and in the aftermath of, the ban on race-conscious admissions decision, and related advice and service on working group on strategies to maintain diversity, equity and inclusion work in a meaningful and lawful manner.
- Advising senior leadership and strategizing with communications professionals during strike action by adjunct faculty.
Academic Affairs
Our academic affairs work includes the development and review of academic policies and faculty handbooks; counsel to faculty committees charged with conducting hearings for faculty grievances; review of promotion, tenure and nonrenewal cases; the termination of academic programs; the development of compliance programs to address federal regulatory demands; and representation of institutions in accreditation inquiries, appeals and hearings.
Student Affairs
Our student affairs practice touches every aspect of student life, from issues arising out of housing, dining, enrollment management, financial aid, student conduct and student-on-student discrimination, religious life, student health and wellness, accommodations, academic integrity, alumni, career services, programs for minors and more. Our advice helps school staff feel supported and confident, whether they are navigating difficult situations, designing opportunities for students or proactively managing risk.
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