Today's colleges and universities must balance current student needs with preparing to teach in-demand skills required in an evolving economy. Waller's multidisciplinary Higher Education team can assist in navigating these and other issues.

Our attorneys help develop and implement effective employment policies and procedures to reduce the risk of employment-related disputes. Our experience includes high-profile and confidential investigations involving allegations of discrimination, harassment, retaliation and sexual misconduct, faculty and staffing contracting, education compliance (including Title IX, FERPA and CLERY), strategic oversight of educational activities and curricula, and Teach-Out requirements. We also assist higher education clients with recruitment and retention of international faculty members, administrators and physicians at academic medical centers.

Our higher education clients also rely on us for advice and representation on matters involving:

• Tax status - Waller advises institutions regarding tax-exempt status and works closely with executive leadership and boards of directors on governance and management matters.
• Employee benefits - Waller assists with the development and implementation of employee benefit programs, including tax-qualified retirement plans, non-qualified plans, wellness programs, and executive compensation and 162(m) plans.
• Real estate - With a deep understanding of the factors influencing local and regional real estate markets, Waller assists in real estate acquisition and development projects for campus expansions. We work with clients on design and construction agreements, project development, financings, and land use and zoning issues.
• Government relations - Higher education institutions depend on Waller's experienced government relations team for representation before state legislative and executive branches. Our attorneys also lobby to promote or oppose legislation that could directly impact a school's operations or objectives.
• Academic medical centers - Waller leverages the firm's healthcare experience to provide counsel on joint ventures, acquisitions and other transactional and regulatory matters.