Williams Kastner’s School Law Practice Team provides transactional and litigation support for clients in academia so they can continue enriching communities by providing education. Student discipline, teacher terminations, internet usage policies, school security, increased regulatory scrutiny, and document management issues challenge the accomplishment of this goal every day. We provide educators with the knowledge and tools necessary to provide quality education to their students, in a traditional or virtual classroom environment, while facing these challenges. In addition, our school law attorneys assist clients in expanding their educational service platform through solid business planning, assistance with corporate governance, entity formation and the establishment of joint ventures.
Our School Law Practice Team has the experience, resources, and knowledge to provide exceptional legal services in the areas of risk management, labor and employment, finance and investment, governance, domestic and international transactions, contract law, litigation, premises liability, tribal law, and regulatory law including regulations under FERPA, Title IV, and Washington’s Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board. Our school law attorneys are experienced and have represented a variety of academic institutions including: pre-schools, K-12, tribal schools, school districts, public and private colleges and universities, and vocational/technical career schools.
- Compliance with accrediting standards and state and federal regulations
- Risk of exposure audits
- Tenure disputes and appointments
- Litigation, arbitration, alternative dispute resolution
- Crisis management
- Education and training for employees, managers, and in-house counsel
- Drafting or reviewing contracts, disclosures, and arbitration agreements
- Obtaining 501(c)(3) status as private foundations or public charities
- Establishing profit ventures under a non-profit parent
- Joint ventures between U.S. and non-U.S. educational institutions
- Performing due diligence for transactions
- Immigration issues regarding employees
- Personal injury
- Premises liability
- Civil rights
- Discrimination (age, disability, gender, race, etc.)
- Wrongful termination
- Breach of contract
- Negligent hiring, training, or supervision
- Sexual abuse and grooming
- Collective Bargaining Agreements
- Board of Governors, City University of Seattle
- The Association of Governing Boards of Universities & Colleges
- Northwest Career Colleges Federation
- Board of Advisors for Gonzaga University School of Law
- Education Law Association
- Council on Law in Higher Education