Industries & Practices
Education Law
We are a reliable and cost-effective resource for education leaders.
As the single largest legal group in Ohio dedicated specifically to education, our attorneys represent a wide range of educational entities, including well over 200 public school districts and numerous educational service centers across the state. We work with administrators to put proactive plans in place and, when needed, address any student, employee and community issues that may occur.
Types of clients we represent:
- Pre-K to 12 schools
- Career/technical schools
- Colleges and universities
- Community schools
- Education service centers
- Information technology centers
Developmental disabilities board trial success
Served as counsel for developmental disabilities board in bench trial for case addressing Ohio’s payment of sick leave upon retirement statute, public employer policy, breach of superintenden...
MoreTitle IX Hearing Officer
Title IX Hearing Officer in live cross-examination hearings since September 2019 in the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals jurisdiction (Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee) following ruling re...
MoreProperty acquisition for local school
Assisted a local school district in acquiring property to expand its campus. Our team not only handled the acquisition but also assisted the client in navigating restrictions of the property and va...
MoreProperty acquisition for local school
Assisted local school district in acquiring property to expand its campus. Our team not only handled the acquisition but also assisted the client in navigating restrictions of the property and vari...
MoreSchool district expansion
Bricker assisted a local school district in the acquisition of over 104 acres of property. Our team negotiated and drafted the purchase agreements for the land from two sellers, obtained a lot spli...
MoreSexual harassment investigation
Advised a private school regarding the investigation and termination of a semi-retired teacher after the school discovered harassment complaints occurring at a different school. Assisted school lea...
MoreDefense of public sector employers in unreported l...
Successfully defended public sector employers across Ohio in numerous unreported labor arbitration hearings.
MoreOpen Meetings Act violation defense
Successfully defended a school board against claims that a majority of its members violated the Open Meetings Act through telephone and email discussions.
MoreDeclaratory judgment and breach of contract action...
Successfully brought declaratory judgment and breach of contract actions on behalf of Butler Tech against its former Director of Police Training.
MoreNon-resident tuition recovery
Successfully prosecuted action before the ODE Superintendent of Public Instruction and subsequent court action to recover tuition against non-resident parents.
MoreAreas of Focus
Student Rights & Responsibilities
We advise educators on social, technological and legal student issues. These include student suspension/expulsion, student policies and handbooks, bullying, transportation, open enrollment, student privacy, discrimination, religious speech/activities, school fees and extracurricular activities, to name a few. Our attorneys also practice in every aspect of special education and disability law.
Personnel & Employment
Our attorneys advise administrators on public employment law relating to contracts, nonrenewal/suspension/termination, licensure, misconduct, compensation, benefits, retirement, workers' compensation claims and more. We vigorously defend employers in all phases of employment discrimination claims. We also have extensive skill in collective bargaining matters and have helped hundreds of public sector entities conclude contract negotiations positively, cooperatively and efficiently.
Board Governance
Ensuring compliance with sunshine laws and ethics laws, we help board members, administrators, and other employees of public entities maintain the trust of their public constituents. We also counsel clients regularly on resolutions, policy language and ethical compliance and provide training to prevent problems before they arise.
Finance & Facilities
We adopt a collaborative approach to protect school funding and solve a school finance issues, including tax levy planning, the protection of assessed property valuation, and tax abatement and exemption. Many members of our team had first-hand involvement in DeRolph vs. State, earning a deep understanding of taxation and school funding. Likewise, we help schools acquire or dispose of real estate and personal property, as well as finance and construct new school facilities.
Innovative Options
We advise school districts that may wish to pursue alternative educational delivery options to meet the needs of their communities. Options include creating STEM schools, entering into collaborative agreements with other entities or implementing other innovative programs.
Civil Rights
To protect individuals from discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, sex, race or disability, we help our school clients create and maintain policies and procedures that address allegations quickly and effectively. When a dispute does arise, we represent schools before the Office for Civil Rights, the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and in court in cases involving civil rights laws such as Title IX, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Title VII, and other state and federal laws.
Title IX & Sexual Misconduct
The U.S. Department of Education’s spotlight on Title IX and the Clery Act pursuant to the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) makes this a quickly evolving area of law. We help colleges and universities understand these requirements, put proactive measures in place, and address allegations quickly and effectively by applying experience-based guidance to real-life, rapidly changing situations. We also investigate and develop an appropriate institutional response to high-profile, highly sensitive allegations. Visit our Title IX Resource Center >>
Higher Education
We represent state universities, independent colleges and universities, community colleges, and non-traditional education providers. Our higher education attorneys provide guidance in the areas of institutional governance obligations, student rights, employee rights, tax exemption, real estate and construction, environmental sustainability, government advocacy, intellectual property protection and courtroom representation.
MorePeople
Laura G. Anthony
Partner & Education Law Chair
Brad E. Bennett
Of Counsel
Melissa Martinez Bondy
Partner
Diana S. Brown
Partner
Erin E. Butcher
Of Counsel
Melissa M. Carleton
Partner & Higher Education Chair
Cassandra R. Casto
OSBA Certified Paralegal
Janet K. Cooper
Of Counsel
Kate Vivian Davis
Senior Attorney
Nicole M. Donovsky
Partner
Jessica L. Galanos
Of Counsel
Dane A. Gaschen
Partner
Susan E. Geary
Of Counsel
Warren I. Grody
Senior Attorney
Joseph Hall
Higher Education Specialist
Rebecca A. Joseph
Attorney
Robert T. Kent
Of Counsel
Jeff Knight
Of Counsel
David J. Lampe
Partner
Beverly A. Meyer
Partner & Political Subdivisions Chair
Austin W. Musser
Partner
Joel Nielsen
Higher Education Specialist
Kasey Nielsen
Staff Attorney
Joshua D. Nolan
Partner & Higher Education Chair
Susan L. Oppenheimer
Senior Attorney
Izaak S. Orlansky
Staff Attorney
Karen "Katy" W. Osborn
Of Counsel
Kristin Porter
Education Information Specialist
Kylie E. Stryffeler
Staff Attorney
Jason R. Stuckey
Partner