Comprehensive Counsel for Today’s Campus Challenges

Colleges and universities face an increasingly complex legal landscape—one that touches every aspect of campus life. From student conduct and Title IX compliance to tax matters and emerging technologies, institutions must navigate evolving regulations while staying focused on their academic mission.

Manley Burke LPA brings deep litigation expertise and extensive experience representing colleges and universities in high-exposure matters, including class action defense and complex civil litigation. Our team has defended institutions in COVID-19 tuition refund cases; biometric privacy claims from remote proctoring; faculty wage and hour disputes; student claims concerning reported ranking data; and post-graduate employment reporting disputes.

We defend Title VI, VII, and IX claims, along with high-risk matters involving hazing, sexual assault, alcohol and drug incidents, suicide, fatalities, and other catastrophic losses. Our team also handles Section 1983 and 1981 claims; ADA and Section 504 issues; accommodation and civil rights disputes; procurement challenges; and First Amendment and other constitutional claims.

We represent institutions in Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, and Department of Justice investigations, congressional inquiries, grant and False Claims Act matters, and DEI reviews. We also advise on intellectual property and authorship disputes involving academic and research works.

Manley Burke LPA provides strategic, practical legal guidance tailored to the unique needs of higher education institutions. Our attorneys partner with colleges and universities of all sizes—serving as outside general counsel where needed—to address both day-to-day operations and high-stakes matters with clarity and confidence.

Our Higher Education team supports institutions in:

• Government investigations and regulatory reviews
• Campus-wide compliance audits (including Clery Act, Title IX, Title IV, Title II, and minors on campus)
• Comprehensive policy development, review, and implementation
• High-profile litigation and crisis response, including matters involving hazing, student injury or death, discrimination claims, faculty disputes, and ADA compliance

We understand that legal challenges in higher education often unfold in the public eye. Our approach is proactive, discreet, and solutions-oriented—protecting both institutional integrity and community trust.

Full-Spectrum Campus Counsel

Manley Burke advises colleges and universities across a wide range of legal areas, including:

• Faculty and employee relations — tenure and promotion, benefits, FMLA, and discrimination claims
• Regulatory compliance across academic and administrative functions
• Health care compliance, including HIPAA
• Nonprofit and tax matters
• Institutional affiliations, mergers, and restructuring transactions
• Litigation defense, including complex and class action matters
• Intellectual property and technology protection
• Cybersecurity and data privacy, including FERPA and GDPR compliance
• Transactional matters — vendor agreements, real estate, public finance, and research partnerships
• Endowment planning, estates, and trust matters

A Partner in Your Institution’s Mission

At Manley Burke, we recognize that colleges and universities are more than institutions—they are communities. Our attorneys deliver thoughtful, forward-looking counsel designed to mitigate risk, ensure compliance, and support long-term institutional success.