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Schools & Colleges
Burns & Levinson has been successfully representing schools, colleges, universities, and other educational institutions for over 40 years. By combining the legal expertise and industry knowledge available across our full-range of service areas, Burns & Levinson attorneys have the resources to assist educational institutions, and other organizations working in the education industry, in navigating through a continually-changing and complex legal and regulatory landscape. Whether related to intellectual property protection of ground-breaking scientific discoveries or the development of world-class performing arts centers or research facilities, Burns & Levinson has the depth and breadth of legal expertise to provide sound legal counsel.
Our diverse range of clients includes many of the leading liberal arts colleges and research universities throughout New England and the nation as well as primary and secondary private and public schools. Our attorneys work directly with general counsel, senior management, trustee boards, and administrators to provide pragmatic legal advice and effective representation in a wide variety of matters, including education law and compliance, governance and organizational issues, tax, intellectual property, capital project development, real estate, finance, student affairs matters, employment law, and litigation. Burns & Levinson attorneys also have significant experience advising public charter schools on a broad range of legal and regulatory matters from school formation through governance and operational issues.
In addition to representing educational institutions, many of our attorneys also hold board positions with schools, colleges, and other educational organizations. Our attorneys are active and engaged leaders serving as trustees, public school committee members, leaders in alumni organizations, and in other similar capacities.
A partial list of services that Burns & Levinson provides to educational industry clients appears below. To find out more about how Burns & Levinson attorneys can work with your school or organization, please contact one of our co-chairs of the practice listed below.
Education Law & Compliance
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
No Child Left Behind Act
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
Student Right to Know and Campus Security Act
Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act compliance
ADA, Section 504, and state disability law compliance
Digital Millennium Copyright Act
Governance & Organizational Issues
Development and amendment of corporate articles and by-laws
Development and amendment of conflict of interest policies for trustees, officers, and senior management
Electronic communications and record-keeping
Advice regarding general governance and organizational matters
Advice regarding trustee liability, insurance, and indemnification
Public procurement of supplies and services
Taxation
Intellectual Property
Provisional and patent application filings and prosecution (U.S. and foreign)
Trademark and copyright issues
Government contract, licensing, and other technology transfer arrangements
Distance education
Intellectual property litigation
Capital Projects & Facilities
Site acquisition and permitting for new capital facility projects
Design and construction contracting strategy and advice
Environmental permitting and compliance
Project finance and procurement strategy and advice
Leasing
Public school construction and procurement
Institutional Financing
Capital financing strategy and advice
Taxable and tax-exempt bond financing transactions
Public school financing
Formation and administration of charitable and planned giving programs
Student Affairs
Development and amendment of student handbook and other policies
Advice on compliance with special education laws, disciplinary proceedings, and due process issues
Representation in litigation arising from student mental health issues, discrimination and civil rights cases, crimes on campus, and student disciplinary proceedings
Labor & Employment
Compliance with state and federal employment, discrimination, and wage and hour laws
Tenure disputes
Drafting and reviewing employee and faculty handbooks and policies
Sexual harassment and discrimination matters
Employee Benefits
Tax-qualified benefit, defined contribution and cash balance plans
Design and implementation of retirement and deferred compensation plans for faculty, staff, and executives, including 403(b), 401(a), and 457 plans
Non-qualified deferred compensation arrangements
Section 125 cafeteria plans
Tuition assistance and rebate programs and childrens scholarship plans
Employee housing
Litigation
Intellectual property disputes
Disability and discrimination claims
Employment benefit and contract disputes, wrongful termination claims, and sexual harassment
Construction-related disputes, ADR, and litigation
Advice on risk management and avoidance strategies
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