Education

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Sections

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Industry Support

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Industry Involvement

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Relevant Practices

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Overview

Educational institutions operate in a uniquely complex legal environment, one where administrative decisions, student safety, personnel matters, and public accountability obligations intersect daily. Rupp Pfalzgraf provides comprehensive guidance across the education industry, with an experienced team that understands the unique pressures institutions and individuals in this space operate under, and how to address them effectively.

Our Education Law team is dedicated to partnering with school districts, boards of education, and administrators throughout New York State on everything from day-to-day governance and compliance to defending districts in claims and administrative proceedings. We emphasize prevention first, helping districts develop sound policies, meet regulatory obligations, and address issues before they escalate, while also bringing extensive litigation and investigation experience when necessary. This work is further supported by our Business Law and Business Litigation teams, whose experience in regulatory compliance, governance, and complex litigation strengthens the counsel we provide to education clients.

We also represent students and families facing disciplinary matters at colleges and universities. Allegations involving Title IX, academic dishonesty, hazing, substance violations, or bias-related complaints can threaten enrollment, scholarships, and long-term opportunities. Our Campus Disciplinary Defense attorneys represent clients through each stage of the process, helping them understand their options, prepare effectively, and ensure that proceedings are handled fairly.

From institutional support to individual representation, our team brings the experience and cross-disciplinary depth to handle the full range of legal matters that arise in the education sector.

How We Support the Education Industry

  • Defense of school districts in tort liability and negligence claims
  • Independent investigations involving student safety and reporting concerns
  • Board governance counseling and administrative decision support
  • FOIL requests, FERPA compliance, and Open Meetings Law guidance
  • Policy drafting and regulatory modernization for districts and BOCES
  • Title IX compliance reviews and investigative support
  • Crisis response and risk mitigation planning
  • Counsel during public controversies, social media incidents, and community-facing disputes
  • Capital project contracting and facilities modernization matters
  • Transportation and operational compliance issues
  • Labor and employment coordination impacting educational institutions
  • Administrative hearings and special proceedings across New York State
  • Strategic advisory services for district leadership and boards of education
  • Title IX defense and campus sexual misconduct allegations
  • Representation during school investigations, interviews, and disciplinary hearings
  • Academic dishonesty proceedings involving plagiarism and cheating allegations
  • Bias-related misconduct and hate crime allegations
  • Substance violations involving drugs and alcohol
  • Hazing and bullying matters, including social media-related accusations
  • Student-athlete eligibility disputes and scholarship-impacting allegations
  • Strategic evidence preservation and documentation requests
  • Appeals of campus disciplinary decisions
  • Administrative and legal challenges to disciplinary outcomes, including Article 78 proceedings
  • Due process advocacy and fairness enforcement in university procedures

Industry Involvement

  • Partner Jill Yonkers, leader of our Education Law and Campus Disciplinary Defense groups, serves as a member of the State University of New York at Geneseo Association of Council Members and College Trustees and the State University of New York at Geneseo Roundtable Athletic Association

Representative Matters

  • Assisted a New York school district with contracting and legal oversight related to a $19.5 million capital improvement project modernizing district facilities.
  • Conducted an independent investigation for a major public school district involving student safety protocols, stakeholder interviews, and policy recommendations adopted for systemwide improvement.
  • Advised school leadership on governance and compliance matters impacting district-wide operational decision-making.
  • Successfully vindicated a community college student accused of sexual assault by engaging before the initial interview, analyzing institutional procedures, preparing the student for questioning, and securing a favorable outcome.
  • Successfully exonerated three college students accused of bias-related misconduct involving alleged hate speech, resolving the matter without a hearing after witness development and strategic advocacy.
  •  Achieved a unanimous appellate victory overturning a SUNY Buffalo State University disciplinary finding, with the court annulling the decision and ordering the student’s record expunged due to lack of substantial evidence.
  • Obtained a fee award for a college student who challenged and prevailed against an adverse disciplinary decision.
  • Successfully challenged the wrongful removal of a local high school student based on a purported emergency based on a false accusation of impropriety, allowing the student’s immediate return, without restrictions.

Relevant Practices

Education Law

Campus Disciplinary Defense

Business Law

Business Litigation

Team

Cantil-J

Jonathan Cantil

Jonathan

Cantil

Partner

Buffalo, NY

Jager-P

Paul Jager

Paul

Jager

Associate

Buffalo, NY

Rupp-T

Tony Rupp

Tony

Rupp

Founding Partner

Buffalo, NY

Woo Kim-Y

Young Woo Kim

Young Woo

Kim

Associate

Buffalo, NY

Yonkers-J

Jill Yonkers

Jill

Yonkers

Partner

Buffalo, NY

Insights

Contact Us

Education