Higher education and research institutions face unique legal issues whether it is related to campus safety, online learning, employee relations, or Title IX or other investigations. Goodwin’s interdisciplinary team of more than 40 lawyers is intimately familiar with the unique circumstances and needs these institutions face day-to-day. Institutions of higher education rely on Goodwin’s advice and counsel in a broad range of areas including corporate governance, transactional, 501(c)(3) and tax matters, investment management, government investigations, litigation, real estate, energy, intellectual property, planned giving, ERISA, and labor and employment.
Some of America’s leading schools have engaged the firm to advise on:
- Sensitive governance matters, including presidential transitions and restructuring of boards of trustees and senior administrative teams
- Crisis and reputation management, including providing counsel, strategy and hands-on leadership to senior administrators and boards of trustees with respect to highly sensitive matters, legal obstacles, public relations, and regulatory and political issues
- Investment Office activities, including the review and negotiation of private equity, venture capital and hedge fund and other investments, and fiduciary and regulatory compliance
- Management of leading innovation technologies, obtaining federal and state grants, and structuring joint ventures, sponsored research arrangements and private investments, including highly regulated advanced technology partnerships with national laboratories and the departments of energy and defense, among others