Full-Service Law Firm solving complex challenges through bold thinking, precise execution, and shared purpose.

Full Service Law Firm | Michael Best & Friedrich LLP

Specializing in the Intersection of Business &amp; Government

Meet our team of trusted advisors, strategic thinkers, and community builders dedicated to client success.

Learn about our full-service legal and business solutions, designed to address complex challenges for leading organizations across industries.

Access thought leadership, news, and resources to stay informed about the latest trends, legal developments, and industry innovations.

Discover how partnership, bold thinking, and precise execution drive results for clients nationwide.

Explore how our national reach and local expertise support clients across the United States and beyond.

Grow at a firm designed to bring out your best.

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Strategic Legal Partnership for Higher Education Institutions

Michael Best’s multidisciplinary Higher Education team helps you minimize risks, stay compliant with changing laws, and achieve your objectives. For over 50 years, we have served as a dedicated partner and trusted advisor to higher education institutions, providing strategies and solutions to help you navigate whatever campus issues may arise. Leveraging our deep industry experience, we provide comprehensive counsel aligned with your institution’s values and goals so that you can focus on what matters most: fulfilling your educational mission.

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Our clients include public and private colleges and universities of all sizes, as well as vocational and technical schools. We proudly represent more than 100 higher education institutions across the nation, helping campus leaders, trustees, and in-house counsel guide their institutions through issues ranging from intellectual property and research compliance to employment, litigation, transactional, real estate, environmental, and cybersecurity issues. We also regularly advise on matters specific to academic institutions, such as Title IX, the Clery Act, FERPA, remote learning, freedom of speech, campus political activity, academic freedom, and faculty hearings.

Our Approach: Helping Institutions Fulfill their Missions and Thrive

Backed by decades of industry experience, the Michael Best team provides practical, innovative solutions tailored to address your institution’s needs and challenges.

Navigate Complex Legal &amp; Regulatory Issues

Receive comprehensive guidance spanning employment law, Title IX, compliance reviews, institutional governance, faculty and student matters, and more — enabling you to remain focused on your educational mission.

Our team helps you commercialize research, launch startups and spinouts, and maximize the value of your intellectual property.

Handle faculty, administrator, staff, and student concerns strategically, while managing litigation, organizational changes, and crisis situations with experienced legal guidance.

Receive Actionable, On-the-Ground Support

We integrate seamlessly with your institution through campus visits, professional development, and partnering relationships aligned with your unique culture and objectives.

Comprehensive Counsel Across the Higher Education Landscape

Intellectual Property and Technology Commercialization 

Protect and commercialize your institution’s innovations with confidence. Turn academic research into a potential revenue source with the help of our University Patent &amp; Technology Commercialization program. Our IP team helps you manage patents, licensing, and strategic partnerships, backed by deep experience in technology transfer and university research. We also support brand protection, IP portfolio strategy, and entrepreneurship initiatives.

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Labor &amp; Employment 

Navigate employment, labor, and benefits challenges and disputes with strategic, practical legal guidance. We help you manage workplace issues and policies; investigations; and labor relations.

Immigration

Streamline immigration procedures for your faculty, staff, and students. You'll receive comprehensive support with visa applications, green card processing, and work authorizations, plus guidance on I-9 verification, E-Verify implementation, and international tax compliance.

Title IX &amp; Student Issues

Manage a variety of student-related issues, including complaints filed with the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights, and state boards. We provide counsel on Title IX policy development, investigations, and internal adjudication procedures; advise on the implications of FERPA and the Clery Act; develop internal training sessions; and advocate for you in litigation.

Investigations &amp; Higher Education Compliance 

Rely on our experienced team to conduct and advise on sensitive investigations related to students, staff, faculty, and administration. We understand the complexities of these investigations, including confidentiality concerns, and we handle these matters with the utmost discretion. We also assist with proactive risk mitigation measures, including development of effective policies, procedures, and training.

General &amp; Board Counsel

Partner with seasoned legal counsel for your board and institution-wide matters. You'll receive expert guidance on governance, contractual issues, compliance requirements, student rights, and risk mitigation. Your institution and board will benefit from support with personnel matters, presidential reviews, and other critical areas including HIPAA, safety protocols, and IP management.

Startups &amp; Spinouts

Start new ventures on the right foot. We work closely with university startups and spinouts to protect their innovations, find financial backing, structure deals, and achieve their growth objectives. We provide counsel on financial, organizational, and regulatory considerations, and we offer crucial value-added services, such as advising on business planning and pitch development, making investor introductions, and team-building referrals.

Healthcare &amp; Academic Medical Centers

Navigate the complex legal landscape with our team’s assistance. We advise academic medical centers and teaching hospitals on a range of regulatory, operational, and strategic business matters, encompassing privacy, research compliance and ethics, investigations, malpractice allegations, contracts and transactions, employment matters, Stark Law and anti-kickback statutes, and more.

Athletics

Get essential guidance on protecting your institution in the new world of college athletics. We advise higher education institutions on NIL laws, help navigate complex contracts, ensure NCAA and state compliance, and limit related risks, including employment, labor, and Title IX risks, in a rapidly changing legal and regulatory landscape.

Higher Education Restructuring

Address demographic shifts and financial challenges with strategic solutions. You'll discover new potential revenue opportunities, enhance operational efficiency, and explore potential mergers, affiliations, or reorganizations. When necessary, you'll receive careful guidance through restructuring or closure processes.

Corporate &amp; Finance

Obtain comprehensive legal support for your governance, organizational structure, contracts, and transactions. We also guide nonprofit institutions on tax-exempt status, compliance, strategic partnerships, and sustainable business models that support their missions.

Real Estate &amp; Project Development

We’ll guide your institution through real estate transactions and development projects, including campus housing, adaptive reuse, and public-private partnerships. You'll receive expert guidance on financing structures, land use regulations, leasing agreements, tax benefits, and construction requirements—maximizing your property portfolio's long-term value.

Our work with higher education institutions is grounded in long-term partnerships and a deep understanding of your industry. Here are just brief examples of ways we’ve delivered results for our clients.

We represented a university when it was sued in a state where it does not have campuses or offices over alleged defamatory remarks made in that state. The state Appellate Court ruled that the university could not be sued in the state and dismissed the case because the court did not have jurisdiction over the university. The result we achieved helps prevent universities from being sued in states in which they recruit applicants, fundraise, and conduct other activities related to their mission, but do not have formal operations.

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A university retained us as trial counsel in a hotly contested federal court case filed by two plaintiffs who alleged sex discrimination, retaliation, violation of the Illinois Equal Pay Act, and tortious interference with business advantage. We were able to resolve the case successfully prior to trial.  We also successfully resolved a simultaneous, related employment matter for the university, which included an EEOC Charge and a state court case alleging retaliation. We filed a motion to dismiss based upon the argument that the position plaintiff was seeking was actually a demotion, and therefore there was no adverse action. We were able to achieve a global resolution that included plaintiff voluntarily dismissing the case, and the EEOC deciding not to pursue the matter. The university praised our firm’s outstanding work and resolution of both cases.

Won a federal jury trial victory on behalf of a higher education institution, defending against claims alleged by a terminated police officer. The female officer alleged discrimination, sexual harassment, and retaliation by her male supervisors. The jury rendered a complete defense verdict in favor of the institution.

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Defended a large public university system against allegations related to employment discrimination, the Equal Pay Act, First Amendment retaliation, and the Equal Protection Clause as related to research.

Tenure Disputes: We successfully defend higher education clients against claims of breach of contract, discrimination, and retaliation stemming from the denial of tenure. We partner with clients to navigate the heightened tensions that frequently accompany contested tenure decisions, and assist clients to reach the outcome that best serves their interests, whether through mediation or a victory in court.

Title IX: We represented a college defending a student discipline Title IX decision in state court. The student claimed breach of contract and various other causes of action and sought a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO). We prepared a response to the motion for the TRO and obtained denial of the order and dismissal of the matter.

Investigations: We have successfully handled numerous investigations of complaints lodged against higher education institutions, faculty, administrators, staff, and students, including alleged sexual and other forms of harassment; sex, race, disability, and other forms of discrimination; retaliation; and conflicts of interest. Where appropriate, we have recommended and helped to implement changes that have helped institutions mitigate litigation and other risks and remain focused on fulfilling their missions.

Name, Image, and Likeness: We have advised multiple Power 4 schools regarding implementation of NIL post-House, including preparing template NIL agreements and mitigating employment and Title IX risks.

Benefits: We assisted a higher education institution in evaluating a retirement plan investing in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) funds. We provided guidance to various stakeholders regarding ESG investing compliance considerations, analyzed the institution’s specific circumstances to provide tailored advice, and prepared communications to help decision makers engage in informed discussions about potential ESG investing at their institution.

Real Estate: We represented a consortium of three private universities in the development, construction, operation, and leasing of a shared 18-story dormitory building. The building, which features suite-style and apartment-style units, also contains retail space and a conference center, rooftop garden, workout center, and food court.

Real Estate: Our team recently advised an educational institution on restructuring its long-term lease arrangements so that campus fraternities could raise tax-exempt donations through the university to renovate the fraternity houses.

Restructuring: We have successfully assisted higher education institutions with voluntary separations and involuntary reductions in force; programmatic changes and closures; affiliations, restructuring; and, where necessary, closures, through thoughtful strategy, preparation, and execution that mitigate litigation and other risks.

Data Privacy: Our team advised an educational institution on international and domestic data privacy issues, including helping them develop a GDPR compliance protocol for an education program for students studying abroad in Europe.

IP Protection and Commercialization: Over 15 years ago, our firm opened an office in the same city, and instituted regular office hours on campus, to better serve the client and its faculty and staff. We helped the institution’s technology commercialization office improve its invention harvesting program, and we continue to provide counsel on patent, commercialization, and trademark matters. We still maintain on-campus office hours.

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Lawyers who specialize in Higher Education Law

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Higher Education

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Key Contacts

Trending Conversations for Higher Education

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More Than a Mascot: Why University Brands Need Serious Protection

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