Educational Institutions & Services
Empowering educational institutions through comprehensive legal solutions.
Education is an evolving industry that requires institutions to achieve not only vocational excellence in academics, but also to master a complex ecosystem affected by a broad range of issues from human resources to construction, finance, and intellectual property protection and enforcement.
The landscape is always changing, and educational institutions have to balance the need for vocational excellence with the demands of a complex ecosystem. We know you face numerous challenges, including human resources, finance, construction, and the protection and enforcement of intellectual property.
Our comprehensive, interdisciplinary legal solutions have solidified Perkins Coie’s standing as a trusted advisor to educational institutions across the spectrum, as well as the associations and organizations that support them.
Our Educational Institutions & Services industry group’s practical experience in addressing a wide spectrum of issues, from the discreet to the highly sensitive, underscores the firm’s comprehensive expertise. Guided by members of the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA), individuals with doctoral credentials, as well as former and present educators, we bring a depth of understanding to the challenges faced by modern institutions of higher learning and their stakeholders. Our representation spans tax and compliance, technology transactions, labor and employment, with a notable focus on Title IX matters.
We frequently represent
- Higher Education Institution
- Campus Organizations
- Healthcare and Academic Medical Centers
- Educational Technology Companies
- Primary and Secondary Education Institutions
Educational Institutions & Services 相关行业
联系方式
![Profile Picture](https://perkinscoie.com/sites/default/files/styles/headshot_100x121/public/media/profile143.jpg?itok=mBzam32u)
![Profile Picture](https://www.perkinscoie.com/sites/default/files/styles/headshot_100x121/public/media/profile400.jpg?itok=59zXPc3W)
Perkins Coie provides a full range of legal services to help academic institutions meet their business goals.
![image of educational building](/sites/default/files/styles/widescreen_16x9_1023x575_1x/public/2024-08/Education%20Institutions%20%26%20Services.jpg?itok=yYdBlLon)
Compliance, Investigations & Crisis Response
Our team of White Collar & Investigations attorneys is nationally recognized and has been at the forefront of guiding and responding to some of the highest-profile investigations for and on behalf of academic institutions and affiliated organizations. These have encompassed inquiries into a broad spectrum of issues, from financial impropriety and research misconduct to environmental regulations and campus security. We have worked collaboratively with these institutions to establish and enhance compliance protocols designed to mitigate and forestall such challenges.
Practice Spotlight
At Perkins Coie, we are recognized on a national level for our rigorous, independent investigations of sexual abuse. Our methodology is grounded in a trauma-informed, survivor-centered approach. We are proud to have managed some of the most sensitive and high-profile university and college investigations in recent years. This includes cases involving a former Ohio State University team physician and the Aurora, Colorado “theater shooter” (and former University of Colorado graduate student), James Holmes.
Learn more about our White Collar & Investigations practice here.
Construction & Real Estate
As a recognized leader in school construction and real estate law, our team is dedicated to assisting you in every phase of your construction and development projects. From property acquisition to building successful design, engineering, and construction teams, our attorneys are here to support you. We have represented school districts, community colleges, and universities, and other public and private property owners in the creation of thousands of design, engineering, construction, and related agreements for tens of billions of dollars in school construction projects.
Practice Spotlight
We take pride in our representation of the University of Washington, a key player in the continuous development of downtown Seattle’s “Metropolitan Tract,” an impressive 1.9 million square feet of office space and 600,000 square feet for retail. Our collaboration with the university extends across a variety of construction and real estate initiatives.
Intellectual Property
Safeguarding intellectual property stands as a cornerstone for the academic community. Distinguished educational and research institutions engage the services of Perkins Coie to ensure the protection of their discoveries and concepts. Our patent team boasts a cadre of lawyers with advanced degrees in key fields such as electrical engineering, computer science, and the life sciences. Their experience, coupled with their technical acumen, enables them to adeptly prepare and prosecute patent applications, foreseeing both licensing possibilities and potential disputes. Our approach to portfolio management is comprehensive, shepherding innovative technologies through every stage of development across an array of industries, including computer science, electronics, semiconductors, telecommunications, life sciences, biotechnology, medical devices, aerospace, and consumer products.
Practice Spotlight
The University of California, San Diego (UCSD) has retained Perkins Coie to handle patent matters in various areas, such as biomedical sciences, nanotechnology, communications, and electronics. Among the notable inventions are UCSD’s electrochemical sensor technologies for skin-detectable, minimally invasive biosensors. Perkins Coie is also managing patent work for university inventions on microfluidic systems for bioengineering and nanomotors for targeted drug delivery in the circulatory system.
Labor & Employment
Educational institutions are confronted with a myriad of social and compliance risks that have the potential to thrust them into the public spotlight and political debates. Our dedicated team of Labor & Employment lawyers partners with educational organizations to provide proactive, strategic guidance to anticipate, evaluate, and tackle these challenges. We offer the wealth of experience and proficiency needed to address a broad spectrum of institutional concerns, from delicate claims to the intricacies of policy development and compliance issues stemming from federal and state regulations by entities such as the Department of Labor (DOL), the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) among others.
Our team offers strategic guidance on all facets of employment law, from equal employment opportunities to employee discipline, faculty selection, and beyond. Whether it’s navigating the complexities of union activities or addressing immigration and employee benefits, we’re here to provide thorough representation, be it in administrative procedures, mediation, trials or appeals.
Our team has spearheaded and supported institutional responses to some of the nation’s most prominent investigations. These have encompassed inquiries regarding sexual abuse and harassment, discrimination, and hostile work environments.
Practice Spotlight
Perkins Coie was retained to conduct an internal investigation on behalf of The Ohio State University concerning allegations of sexual misconduct by a former university employee. Perkins Coie also represented two large state universities in connection with audits by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), resulting in settlements for zero dollars.
Litigation
Our litigation team is guided by leaders with extensive experience in matters related to higher education and who have demonstrated dedication to the NACUA. Our areas of expertise include but are not limited to accreditation, government contracts, employment and labor, and the protection of intellectual property. We are well-versed in handling the complexities that have emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic, from class actions to insurance claims. Our focus on athletics-related concerns encompasses everything from NCAA regulations to state and federal disability laws, providing comprehensive support to our clients. We prioritize proactive advisory services to ensure compliance with statutes, regulations, and contracts, aiming to prevent litigation where possible. Additionally, we offer guidance in responding to investigations from federal and state agencies.
Privacy & Data Security
As we examine the multitude of data collection points our students, staff, and administrators face daily, our attention turns to the intricate web of relationships with third-party vendors, the rise of “smart campuses,” and the challenges presented by the internet of things and remote learning. These intricacies underscore the paramount importance of prioritizing data privacy and information security. With state and federal laws, including the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and laws from at least 41 states, the 2020 EDUCAUSE study rightfully pointed out privacy as the second-most critical IT challenge for higher education. Our team, composed of esteemed industry leaders, is dedicated to helping institutions diligently protect the privacy rights of their constituents and uphold the responsibility for safeguarding restricted data.
Public-Private Partnerships
Public-private partnerships are our specialty, enabling public-sector organizations to harness private-sector resources for capital improvement and growth. From start to finish, our attorneys support higher education institutions across the full spectrum of P3 transactions. This encompasses the development, financing, construction, operation, and management of a wide range of facilities—from student housing to cutting-edge clinical and research centers.
Practice Spotlight
Our recent P3 engagements illustrate our commitment to representing myriad stakeholders in the creation of transformative spaces. Whether it’s a university in Oklahoma embarking on student housing and more, a California-based academic institution expanding with a new facility, or a university in Alaska enhancing their student dining experience, we stand ready.