Lathrop GPM has a strong tradition of advising educational institutions. We offer a complete array of legal services.  Whether helping a school as its general counsel by regularly attending board meetings and advising on the day-to-day operations of the institution, serving as defense attorneys for specific litigation matters, crafting an early voluntary retirement program for faculty or staff members, or guiding the Board of Trustees through a presidential search, educational institutions turn to Lathrop GPM’s experienced attorneys for all facets of their legal needs.

Our multidisciplinary team regularly represents universities, colleges, K-12 schools and school districts, medical and professional schools, technical and trade schools, for-profit colleges and universities, online colleges and universities, and educational foundations, and has deep experience in their particular fields of practice, from employment and real estate law to technology and corporate governance. As a result, we have experience in the issues unique to the industry — critical issues our clients deal with day in and day out. Among them:

  • Faculty hiring, compensation, evaluation, discipline and termination
  • Union negotiations
  • Title IX, VAWA, and the Clery Act
  • Special education and disability issues
  • Student privacy and FERPA
  • LGBTQ+ policies and practices
  • Other student affairs issues
  • Child safety response and prevention efforts
  • Employment matters including grievances, arbitration, mediation, due process and all administrative hearing proceedings and appeals of these hearings
  • First Amendment issues, including free speech, prayer and association, and access issues
  • Development, charitable giving and donor relation issues
  • Institutional governance and finance
  • Intellectual property and ownership rights
  • Issues unique to faith-based institutions
  • Assistance and emotional support animals
  • Title IV funding issues
  • Accreditation

Our practical experience, combined with active memberships in professional organizations such as the National Association of College and University Attorneys, enables us to remain on the cutting edge of developments in education law. Additionally, our members gain a greater understanding of the needs of education clients through experience serving on the boards of many schools and colleges. What sets us apart is our deep knowledge of the education sector and our decades of experience guiding colleges, universities and schools through their most challenging business and regulatory issues. 

Meet the Team

Primary Contacts