{{slotProps.result.Title}} {{slotProps.result.Title}} {{slotProps.result.Title}} {{slotProps.result.Title}}

Academic institutions and education-related service providers, product partners, and investors have long been at the forefront of innovation. The industry often finds itself in the vanguard of tackling social issues, exploring unique partnership and revenue opportunities, and implementing critical safety protocols. As education institutions and other stakeholders navigate this forward-thinking industry, complex legal and business issues inevitably arise.

Our lawyers have a command of the full spectrum of issues our clients face in the education industry. We serve an expansive range of clients involved in education, including private and public colleges and universities, academic medical centers, governing bodies and boards of trustees, endowment funds, for-profit educational program providers, public and private primary and secondary schools and charter schools, special education and related services, research organizations, investors in educational technology, and other entities in the industry.

Our lawyers collaborate across practices and offices to bring our education industry clients elite, comprehensive legal services. We consider US federal, state, and local regulatory compliance and concerns, as well as applicable global laws and regulations.

Investigations & Disputes

Our lawyers understand that complex and sensitive matters require a detailed knowledge of the legal issues at play and how they could impact our clients’ businesses and reputations. As the legal landscape evolves around Title IX requirements, cybersecurity and privacy, athletics, and intellectual property, our lawyers advise education institutions and related companies on the following: 

  • Crisis management, including matters related to college admission practices, athletic scholarships, and incidents of fraud or bribery
  • Sensitive investigations related to #MeToo allegations or general workplace culture, racial injustice allegations, and diversity and inclusion concerns
  • Title IX counseling and compliance, along with specific disputes, in the wake of guidance from the presidential administration
  • Intellectual property matters, including patent and copyrights surrounding the products of faculty, staff, academic medical centers, and student research and scholarship

Employment Counseling & ERISA/Employee Benefits

Education-related institutions are major employers. As such, they face a host of labor and employment and benefits issues. Our lawyers advise on workplace culture, college athletics, ERISA-related lawsuits, and benefit plan design and administration issues, including the following:

  • COVID-19 impact, response, and defense, including safety protocols, staffing business interruption, tuition reimbursement, and the expansion of online and remote learning 
  • ERISA litigation involving all types of employee benefit plans, including 403(b), pension, and health plans 
  • Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) investments in retirement plans
  • Compliance with US Department of Labor cybersecurity requirements for benefit plans
  • Workforce changes and other employment counseling including tenure buyouts
  • College athletics, including to incorporate new guidance for paid endorsements, unions, sports betting, and scholarships
  • Immigration and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) guidance as schools seek to attract and retain foreign students at US campuses

Investments, Transactions & Governance

With the growing demand for performance returns and the rise of virtual learning, our lawyers advise on the explosion of investments, transactions, and governance issues involving academic institutions and other participants in the education and edtech sectors, including the following:

  • Alternative and other investments by university endowments and education-related plans and foundations 
  • Education and edtech sector-focused investments 
  • ESG-related investments
  • Edtech transactions
  • Initial public offerings
  • Mergers and acquisitions
  • Real estate transactions
  • Finance projects
  • Licensing and intellectual property concerns for edtech, blockchain technology, and the growth of artificial intelligence to aid with grading and basic activities
  • Resource sharing between universities
  • Cryptocurrency payments and investments
  • Tax and corporate laws integral to advancing the missions of tax-exempt academic institutions and other education-focused organizations 
  • Governance best practices for executive teams and boards