Education

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Baker Donelson's Education Group, comprised of more than 40 attorneys, has extensive experience advising colleges, universities, academic medical centers, independent schools, charter schools and other educational institutions throughout the United States.

SubIndustries

Higher Education

Independent Schools and Charter Schools

Industry Overview

We regularly provide guidance and counsel on the following areas:

Strategic advice
Labor and employment
Immigration
Student discipline
Title IX
Internal investigations
Real estate, public finance and construction
Intellectual property
Privacy and information security
Policies and training
Tax
Health care
Lobbying
Regulatory
Training

Visit our Higher Education and Independent Schools and Charter Schools pages to learn more about our specific capabilities.

"The 113th Tennessee General Assembly Adjourns Sine Die – Highlighted Overview" (April 2024)
"It's Time to Revise Your Title IX Policy and Procedures: The Biden Administration Rolls Back Trump-Era Title IX Regulations and Expands Protections " (April 2024)
"Gov. Lee's Strategy: A New Era for Tennessee's Growth & Prosperity" (February 2024)
"Top Privacy and Cybersecurity Issues to Track In 2024," Republished February 5, 2024, in CPO Magazine (January 2024)
"The EEOC Settles Its First Lawsuit Alleging AI-Based Discrimination in Employment" (August 2023)
"Supreme Court Strikes Down College Affirmative Action Programs," republished August 4, 2023, in HR Daily Advisor (July 2023)
"AI in the Classroom – New Guidance From the Department of Education," republished July 14, 2023, in Texas Lawyer (June 2023)
"2022 Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Open for Hospitals and Education Systems" (December 2022)
"Tax-Exempt Private Schools Treated Equally to Federally Funded Schools, Subject to Title IX Requirements" (July 2022)
"Key Changes to the Title IX Regulations in 2022 Proposed Amendments" (July 2022)
"Tennessee General Assembly Enacts COVID-19 Legislation that Impacts Tennessee Employers" (November 2021)
"Ahead of Revised Title IX Regulations, Biden Administration Policy Directive Extends Title IX Protections to Gay and Transgender Students" (August 2021)
"New CDC Guidance for K-12 Schools: Update Your COVID-19 Policies and Protocols for Back-to-School" (July 2021)
"Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Open for Hospitals and Education Systems" (April 2021)
"Updated Title IX Regulations Expected from Biden Administration" (March 2021)
"COVID-19 Relief: New Funding Available for Schools" (March 19, 2021)
"COVID-19 Vaccinations: Will K-12 Students Be Mandated to Take Them?," republished in New Orleans CityBusiness (December 2020)
"New Title IX Regulations – Key Changes and New Employer Obligations" (July 2020)
"Thousand Talents Program Exposes New Legal Risks for Universities" (July 2020)
"From the Classroom to Court: Tuition Reimbursement Lawsuits" (June 4, 2020)
"File Your Patents & Trademarks NOW!," republished in IPWatchdog® (May 13, 2020)
"USDA Opens Second Application Window for Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program" (April 9, 2020)
"Coronavirus: What K-12 Schools Should Do Now" (March 10, 2020)
"More States Step Up to the Plate With New Legislation to Address Student Athlete Compensation and the NCAA Passes the Ball to Congress," republished February 14, 2020, in IAM Sports Litigation Alert (January 2020)
"Trading Amateurism for Assets: NCAA to Allow Student Athletes to "Benefit" from Personal Intellectual Property" (November 2019)
"Is Your Institution Immune from the College Admissions Scams? Thorough Self-Audit is the Only Way to Know" (March 2019)
"Title IX Pathway to More Male Students and Tuition Dollars," Diverse (June 2018)
"DOE Replaces Obama Title IX Guidance with New, Interim Q&A Document" (September 2017)
"Changes Coming to DOE Title IX Rules" (September 2017)
"Trump Administration Releases Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Proposal" (May 2017)
"Play is Not Work: Judge Dismisses Former USC Linebacker's Wage and Hour Lawsuit" (May 2017)
"'Play' is Not 'Work'" – USC Football Player Loses FLSA Suit Seeking "Employee" Wages (May 2017)
"Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Expanding the Rights of K-12 Special Education Students" (April 2017)
"Seventh Circuit Sidelines Claims That Student-Athletes Are "Employees" Under The FLSA" (December 2016)
"Stop the Presses – The Overtime Rule is in Overtime" (November 2016)
"NLRB Permits Graduate Students to Unionize at Private Institutions" (August 2016)
"Just Play the Game: Sixth Circuit Says Student-Athletes Have No Right of Publicity in Game Broadcasts" (August 2016)
"Overtime Overhaul — DOL Tells Higher Education Not To Worry, But Should You?" (May 2016)
"NCAA, Colleges Defeat FLSA Lawsuit Claiming Student-Athletes Are Employees" (February 2016)
"Is Your Institution Ready for the October 1 Clery Report Deadline?" (September 2015)
"Prepare for the July 1 SaVE Act Deadline" (June 2015)
"Charles K. Grant: Giving Back First," Diversity Matters (March 2014)

"Charter School Mythbusters!", 2021 Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools Charter School Conference (December 2021)
Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools Annual Conference (December 2019)
"Tipsy, Sloppy Drunk or Wasted?," University of Memphis Title IX Conference (July 2018)
"Interviewing with Intention," University of Memphis Title IX Conference (July 2018)
"Report Writing," University of Memphis Title IX Conference (July 2018)
"The CFO's Critical Role in Achieving Title IX Compliance," National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Convention, Washington, D.C. (June 2018)
"Commission on College Basketball," National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Convention, Washington, D.C. (June 2018)
"2016 NACUA Title IX Workshop on Sexual Misconduct on Campus: Prevention, Compliance, Response and Beyond" (January 2016)

Distressed Institutions of Higher Education: An Exploration of Options (November 2021)
Return to School Plan: Key Legal, Policy, and Operational Considerations for Independent Schools (August 2020)
DOE's Final Title IX Regulations – Key Modifications and Practical Guidance on What To Do Now! (May 2020)
Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools (May 2020)
College Admissions Scams: Mitigate Your Risks of Being the Next Headline (April 2019)
DOE's Proposed Title IX Regulations – Practical Guidance on What You Need to Know (December 2018)
Title IX Update: Case Law Developments, Proposed Department of Education Regulations, and Lessons Learned (November 2018)
Key Updates in Employment Law for Higher Ed (September 2018)
Navigating the Complexities of U.S. Immigration (May 2018)
Patent Trial and Appeal Board Proceedings: Friend or Foe? (April 2018)
The Latest in Data Breach Preparedness and Responses for Higher Education (March 2018)
The December 2017 Tax Act – What Educational Institutions Need to Know (February 2018)
Stumped by Trump? Employment Law for Higher Ed Under the Trump Administration (November 2017)
Design-Build: Is It Right for Your Campus Construction Project? (October 2017)
Title IX Investigations: Process, Pitfalls and Tips Revealed Through Recent Case Law (September 2017)
Managing University Patents: Discussion of Legal Issues Commonly Faced by University Administrators (June 2017)
How Trump's Travel Ban May Impact the Health Care, Higher Education and Tech Industries (February 2017)
Transgender Rights on Campus (September 2016)
Top Ten Construction Contract Issues Facing Colleges and Universities (August 2016)
Overtime Overhaul – The Final Regulations are Finally Here (Higher Education) (May 2016)
Ethical Considerations in Internal Investigations: Title IX and Beyond (April 2016)
Training Days: Key Considerations for Designing and Implementing an Effective Title IX Training Program (March 2016)
"Fireworks" in July 2016 – The Final DOL Overtime Regs Are Coming! (February 2016)
Patent Law Landscape – Recent Shifts and What You Need to Know (November 2015)
Who is Your Employee? Issues Involving Adjunct and Part-Time Professors, Independent Contractors, Interns and Athletes as Employees (October 2015)
Disasters and Public Health Emergencies on Campus – Planning and Preparing for New and Emerging Risks (September 2015)
Friend Me? When Social Media, Higher Ed and the Law Collide (July 2015)
Defending Your Intellectual Property: The Limits of Academic Fair Use Under Copyright Law and Defending Your School Logo Under Trademark Law (June 2015)
SaVE-ing Your Campus: The Role of the Responsible Employee and Key Components for Effective Title IX Grievance Procedures (May 2015)
It’s Not Just FERPA: Privacy and Security Issues in Higher Education (April 2015)
Title IX Athletics Compliance in the Age of Full Cost of Attendance Scholarships and Perpetual Budgetary Pressures (March 2015)
Risks of In-House Processing of Immigration Petitions for Foreign Faculty and Staff (February 2015)
Lawsuit Claims Your Student-Athletes Are FLSA Employees – Now What? (November 2014)

Baker Donelson Launches Charlotte Office, Expands Foothold in Carolinas with Addition of Eight Shareholders (March 4, 2024)
Former Tennessee Senior Legislative Advisor Jacob D. Baggett Joins Baker Donelson as Public Policy Advisor (January 9, 2024)
Baker Donelson Attorneys Named to 2024 North Carolina Super Lawyers List (January 5, 2024)
Three Baker Donelson Attorneys Elected to the Board of Directors (January 4, 2024)
44 Baker Donelson Attorneys Named to 2023 Mid-South Super Lawyers; 32 Named to Mid-South Rising Stars (November 28, 2023)
Angie Davis of Baker Donelson Appointed to ABA Labor & Employment Law Section Leadership Roles (October 19, 2023)
Baker Donelson's Linda A. Klein Admitted to American College of Construction Lawyers (September 28, 2023)
Governor Bill Lee Appoints Baker Donelson Attorney Lang Wiseman to Nuclear Energy Advisory Council (August 3, 2023)
Baker Donelson Continues to Expand Baltimore Team with Addition of Louis Cannon as Shareholder (July 31, 2023)
Baker Donelson Attorneys Recognized by Lawyers of Color for Commitment to Advancing Diversity in the Legal Profession (July 24, 2023)
Gregory E. Bodin Named Managing Shareholder of Baker Donelson's Baton Rouge Office (May 22, 2023)
American Arbitration Association - International Centre for Dispute Resolution Elects New Council Member and Council Chair (May 11, 2023)
Seven Baker Donelson Attorneys Named to 2023 Edition of Georgia Super Lawyers (February 10, 2023)
Baker Donelson Attorneys Named to 2023 Edition of North Carolina Super Lawyers (January 20, 2023)
Jennifer Curry, Managing Shareholder of Baker Donelson's Baltimore Office, Selected to Participate in Upcoming Maryland Daily Record Women's Perspectives Webinar (December 12, 2022)
Jill Walters Joins Baker Donelson as Shareholder in Corporate Restructuring & Bankruptcy Practice in Raleigh (October 11, 2022)
Baker Donelson Attorney Nakimuli Davis-Primer Named a Rising Star by Minority Corporate Counsel Association (August 17, 2022)
Nakimuli Davis-Primer Recognized by Bloomberg Law as Leading Attorney Under 40 (August 1, 2022)
Baker Donelson's Robert Wells Named to Savoy Magazine's 2022 Most Influential Black Lawyers (February 17, 2022)
Jennifer L. Curry Named Co-Managing Shareholder of Baker Donelson's Baltimore Office (February 10, 2022)
Dena H. Sokolow Named Managing Shareholder of Baker Donelson's Tallahassee Office (February 7, 2022)
Baker Donelson Continues Expansion with Addition of Former Deputy Governor & Chief Counsel Lang Wiseman (January 10, 2022)
Health Care Regulatory Attorney Robert Wells Joins Baker Donelson (November 17, 2021)
The Daily Record Names Jennifer Curry a 2021 "Leading Women" Honoree (October 13, 2021)
Baker Donelson Grows Health Law Practice and Geographic Reach, Adding Team of North Carolina Attorneys (October 12, 2021)
Baker Donelson Recognizes Angie Davis for Commitment to Women in the Legal Profession (August 16, 2021)
ADL Recognizes Linda A. Klein with 2020 Elbert P. Tuttle Jurisprudence Award (August 10, 2020)
Jennifer L. Curry Receives Baker Donelson's Work-Life Warrior Award (July 20, 2020)
Nakimuli Davis-Primer Named to American Bar Association's "On the Rise – Top 40 Young Lawyers" (June 17, 2020)
Kent A. Lambert Named Managing Shareholder of Baker Donelson's New Orleans and Mandeville Offices (April 1, 2020)
Baker Donelson's Angie Davis Inducted as Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers (November 21, 2019)
Baker Donelson Adds Melissa M. Grand to Business Litigation Group (October 16, 2019)
Linda A. Klein Appointed to Carter Center Board of Councilors (June 20, 2019)
Linda A. Klein Earns Honors from National Association of Women Judges, The Veterans Consortium (October 16, 2017)
Baker Donelson's Linda A. Klein Becomes President of American Bar Association (August 9, 2016)
Baker Donelson's Linda A. Klein Becomes President-Elect of American Bar Association (August 5, 2015)
Baker Donelson's Linda A. Klein to Speak at Global Issues Forum on Magna Carta (March 16, 2015)
Baker Donelson's Linda A. Klein Selected as American Bar Association's President-Elect Nominee (February 9, 2015)

Jennifer Curry Comments in Medscape on Resident Unionization Efforts (June 3, 2022)
Chief Growth Officer Mark Carlson and Director of Lateral Recruiting and Integration Meagan Nebel Discuss the Firm's Lateral Growth in Bloomberg Law (May 13, 2022)
Nashville Post Highlights Baker Donelson's New Director of Lateral Recruiting and Integration Meagan Nebel (May 12, 2022)
Chief Growth Officer Mark Carlson Quoted in Law360 on Firm's New Director of Lateral Recruiting and Integration Meagan Nebel (May 10, 2022)
Jennifer Curry Talks with Part B News About Challenges Physician Practices May Face with CMS Vaccine Mandate Implementation (January 24, 2022)
American Lawyer Highlights Baker Donelson's New Chief Growth Officer Mark Carlson (December 8, 2021)
Baker Donelson Chief Growth Officer Mark Carlson Featured in Law.com "How I Made It to Law Firm Leadership" Q&A (December 8, 2021)
Mark Carlson Talks with Law360 About His New Role as Firm's Chief Growth Officer (December 7, 2021)
Jennifer Curry Profiled Among The Daily Record's Leading Women Award Honorees (December 3, 2021)
Jennifer Curry Quoted in American City Business Journals on Employers Considering Penalties Versus Incentives for Vaccine-Hesitant Employees (September 7, 2021)
Jennifer Curry Discusses Bostock, Section 1557 and Latest Ruling on Transgender Patient Protections in Part B News (August 30, 2021)
Jennifer Curry Quoted in Healthcare Risk Management on Health Care Employer Vaccine Mandates (August 1, 2021)
Jennifer Curry Comments on Vaccine Mandates for Long Term Care Workers in McKnight's Long-Term Care News (May 18, 2021)
Jennifer Curry Discusses Legal Concerns for Health Care Employers Regarding COVID-19 Vaccines in Healthcare Risk Management (February 1, 2021)
Jennifer Curry Quoted in Maryland Daily Record on Legal Issues of Workplace Vaccine Mandates (December 17, 2020)
Jennifer Curry Featured on Johns Hopkins Public Health on Call Podcast Discussing Challenges COVID-19 Presents for Employers (August 26, 2020)
Robert Johnson Discusses International Charter Academy of Georgia in the Atlanta Journal Constitution (March 17, 2019)
Charles Grant and Lori Patterson Quoted in Chalkbeat Tennessee on Lawsuit Challenging State's System of Funding Public Schools (September 25, 2018)
Robert Johnson Discusses Georgia's First Public Dual Language Japanese-English School in Global Atlanta (September 18, 2017)
Linda Klein Quoted in Indiana Lawyer on the ABA's Online Tool Legal Checkup for Veterans (July 26, 2017)
Linda Klein Quoted in Texas Lawyer About ABA's Veterans Legal Services Commission (November 10, 2016)
Elon Law Profiles Linda Klein (October 10, 2016)
Dena Sokolow Quoted in Chief Executive on New Overtime Rule (May 25, 2016)
Whitney Harmon Discusses Classification of Independent Contractors in Memphis Business Journal (May 11, 2016)
Linda Klein Talks with Legal Talk Network About Technology's Impact on the Practice of Law (May 4, 2016)
Linda Klein Featured in Atlanta Business Chronicle's "2015 Who's Who in Law & Accounting" (October 9, 2015)
Alisa Chestler Comments on Cybersecurity Concerns in the Mississippi Business Journal (August 21, 2015)
Alisa Chestler Quoted in Hotel News Now Article on Upcoming Changes in Credit Card Security Liability (August 12, 2015)
Alisa Chestler Comments on Data Breaches in Hotel News Now (August 10, 2015)
ABA President-Elect Linda Klein Featured in Daily Report (August 4, 2015)
Alisa Chestler Comments on Cyber Security in Commercial Appeal (July 22, 2015)
Dena Sokolow Talks with SHRM About E-Mail Curfews for Newly Nonexempt Employees (July 20, 2015)
Alisa Chestler Talks with Wolters Kluwer Health Law Daily About Patient Data Security (July 8, 2015)
Linda Klein Profiled in Daily Report as 2015 "Lifetime Achievement Award" Honoree (June 16, 2015)
Southface Journal Q&A with Linda Klein (June 16, 2015)
Linda Klein Featured in ABA Journal (May 1, 2015)
Linda Klein Addresses House of Delegates at ABA Midyear Meeting (February 9, 2015)
Linda Klein Highlighted in Atlanta Business Chronicle's 2014 "Women Who Mean Business Awards" (October 24, 2014)
Linda Klein Featured in Atlanta Business Chronicle's "2014 Who's Who in Law & Accounting" (October 10, 2014)
Baker Donelson Launches Title IX, Higher Education Group (October 9, 2014)

Return to School Plan: Key Legal, Policy, and Operational Considerations for Independent Schools (August 12, 2020)
DOE's Final Title IX Regulations – Key Modifications and Practical Guidance on What To Do Now! (May 27, 2020)
DOE's Proposed Title IX Regulations – Practical Guidance on What You Need to Know (December 4, 2018)
Title IX Update: Case Law Developments, Proposed Department of Education Regulations, and Lessons Learned (November 15, 2018)
Key Updates in Employment Law for Higher Ed (September 18, 2018)
Navigating the Complexities of U.S. Immigration (May 15, 2018)
Patent Trial and Appeal Board Proceedings: Friend or Foe? (April 23, 2018)
The Latest in Data Breach Preparedness and Responses for Higher Education (March 12, 2018)
The December 2017 Tax Act – What Educational Institutions Need to Know (February 26, 2018)
Stumped by Trump? Employment Law for Higher Ed Under the Trump Administration (November 16, 2017)
Design-Build: Is It Right for Your Campus Construction Project? (October 17, 2017)
Title IX Investigations: Process, Pitfalls and Tips Revealed Through Recent Case Law (September 19, 2017)
Managing University Patents: Discussion of Legal Issues Commonly Faced by University Administrators (June 20, 2017)
How Trump's Travel Ban May Impact the Health Care, Higher Education and Tech Industries (February 28, 2017)
Transgender Rights on Campus (September 20, 2016)
Top Ten Construction Contract Issues Facing Colleges and Universities (August 16, 2016)
Overtime Overhaul – The Final Regulations are Finally Here (Higher Education) (May 26, 2016)
Ethical Considerations in Internal Investigations: Title IX and Beyond (April 19, 2016)
Training Days: Key Considerations for Designing and Implementing an Effective Title IX Training Program (March 15, 2016)
"Fireworks" in July 2016 – The Final DOL Overtime Regs Are Coming! (February 17, 2016)
Patent Law Landscape – Recent Shifts and What You Need to Know (November 23, 2015)
Who is Your Employee? Issues Involving Adjunct and Part-Time Professors, Independent Contractors, Interns and Athletes as Employees (October 20, 2015)
Friend Me? When Social Media, Higher Ed and the Law Collide (July 21, 2015)
Defending Your Intellectual Property: The Limits of Academic Fair Use Under Copyright Law and Defending Your School Logo Under Trademark Law (June 15, 2015)
It's Not Just FERPA: Privacy and Security Issues in Higher Education (April 21, 2015)

Key Contacts

Melissa M. Grand

T: 225.381.7055

Email Professional

Nakimuli O. Davis-Primer

T: 601.973.3612

Email Professional

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The 113th Tennessee General Assembly Adjourns Sine Die – Highlighted Overview

Publication / April 26, 2024

It's Time to Revise Your Title IX Policy and Procedures: The Biden Administration Rolls Back Trump-Era Title IX Regulations and Expands Protections

Publication / April 25, 2024

Baker Donelson Launches Charlotte Office, Expands Foothold in Carolinas with Addition of Eight Shareholders

Press Release / March 4, 2024

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Baker Donelson is a national law firm with more than 650 attorneys and public policy advisors representing more than 30 practice areas to serve a wide range of legal needs. Clients receive knowledgeable guidance from experienced, multi-disciplined industry and client service teams, all seamlessly connected across 23 offices in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.