Nelson Mullins draws on extensive knowledge of and experience with higher education to serve the complex legal needs of public and private colleges, universities, and academic medical centers, including

• Strategic counsel and advocacy 

• Title IX and Civil Rights

• College Athletics

• Construction, land acquisition, and tax/public financing

• Employment and labor

• Intellectual Property

• Accreditation 

• Privacy and information security

• Tax

 

Nelson Mullins attorneys have the right experience and skill to help our university clients meet the unique needs of the higher education industry 

Our Higher Education attorneys bring a holistic and client-focused perspective to our university representations based on our deep understanding of unique campus cultures and goals. We work with university leaders, administrators, counsel and athletic departments to identify best practices and meet the challenges of today’s higher education industry. 

 

Multidisciplinary team

• Former U.S. Secretary of Education and Governor of South Carolina

• Acting Special Assistant Attorneys General

• Former and current professors, administrators and board members

• Regulatory compliance experience

• Litigators to anticipate issues and successfully tackle disputes

 

Our attorneys help leaders in higher education make impactful decisions for the success and reputation of their institutions

 

Strategic Matters

• Strategic planning initiatives

• Risk management

• Accreditation and school improvement

• Policy development and drafting

 

College Athletics

• Construction and finance matters

• Licensing and intellectual property

• Changing conference affiliations and sports offerings

• Legal aspects related to alternative revenue streams

• Strategic planning projects

• Title IX compliance, investigations and litigation

• NCAA compliance, investigations and appeals

 

Title IX Matters

• Campus investigations

• Defense of government investigations and litigation

• Sexual misconduct policies and procedures

• Audit and compliance reviews

• Training for investigators and adjudicators

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Intellectual property and licensing

• Patent prosecution and litigation

• Licensing, merchandising and branding

• Copyrights and trademarks

• Trade secrets

 

Labor and Employment

• EEOC investigations, position statements, and defense

• Benefits/Affordable Care Act

• Workplace conduct training

• Internal investigations related to claims involving contracts, discrimination and other matters

• FMLA, Disability/ADA, workers compensation, ERISA, whistleblower and restrictive covenants

• Collective bargaining and union avoidance strategies

• Litigation

• Coach contracts and executive contracts

• Pay equity

• Wage and hour issues (FLSA)

 

Student behavior

• Litigate student discipline issues

• Issues arising from Title IX

• Development of effective student handbooks and relevant college policies

 

Immigration 

• Employee and student matters

• Work authorizations, visas, permanent residence matters

 

Construction, real estate finance and development

• Public Private Partnerships

• Contract drafting and negotiation

• Real estate transactions

• Construction agreements and litigation

• Bond and loan financing

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Tax

• Executive compensation

• Donor issues

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Privacy and data security

• Cybersecurity

• Data breach preparedness and responses

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