We advise educational institutions on a comprehensive array of business, regulatory, technology and litigation issues. We are capable of handling the often sensitive legal issues involving students, faculty and employees that colleges, universities and other educational institutions regularly face.
A full service firm, we are experienced advisors on technical issues that can arise in environmental law, public finance, taxation, intellectual property, estates, real estate and land use. In addition, we are experienced in tax exempt, tax incentive and other forms of financing, as well as charitable solicitations, planned giving, estate planning, capital campaigns, pledges, endowed and restricted gifts, grant agreements and revenue generating membership programs.
As outside general counsel, we advise clients on the fiduciary and governance responsibilities of trustees, directors and officers, and are experienced in drafting a wide array of policies including, for example, policies for Title IX, campus housing, service and therapy animals and student codes of conduct.
We are experienced in advising educational clients on, among other things:
In April 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a final rule updating its regulations for Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to specifically require that state and local government websites, mobile applications and other digital tools be accessible to individuals with disabilities. Public colleges and universities are now entering a decisive two-year window for compliance with the U.S. Department of Justice’s final rule.
On August 26, 2025, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law A5448B/S4559B, which amends New York Education law, adding §6436-a, requiring every college and university in New York State to appoint a Title VI anti-discrimination coordinator (similar to the Title IX coordinator and their role). The Title VI coordinator’s role is to ensure compliance with Title VI of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin, including shared ancestry or ethnic traits, in programs and activities of any entity that receives federal financial assistance. Governor Hochul said the law is meant to “combat antisemitism and all forms of discrimination head-on.”
Since January, multiple fundamental developments have dramatically altered the Title IX landscape, signaling a seismic shift in its interpretation and enforcement. These developments include a rapidly escalating and public feud between the Trump administration and the Maine Department of Education over Maine’s refusal to ban transgender girls from participating in school athletic competitions designated exclusively for girls. These interpretation and enforcement developments implicate issues of constitutional law, states’ rights and practical politics, and it is critical for those working in education and receiving federal funding to understand and navigate the changes.
Effective March 14, 2021, the Maryland General Assembly overrode Governor Larry Hogan’s veto and enacted a digital products tax as part of the “21st Century Economy Fairness Act” (the “Act”). See House Bill 932 (2020 Legislative Session). Simply stated, the Act extends Maryland’s existing 6% sales and use taxes to digital goods.
87 lawyers from Whiteford have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2027. The attorneys selected are based in the firm’s Delaware, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Virginia and Washington, DC offices. Client comments are posted on the Best Lawyers website, at bestlawfirms.com.
Betsy Davis is widely recognized as one of the leading employment lawyers in Virginia. Based in Richmond, she has earned recognition from Chambers USA, Benchmark Litigation, Best Lawyers in America, Virginia Lawyers Weekly and Virginia Business. She serves Whiteford on its Executive Committee, as its Co-General Counsel and as Co-Chair of the Labor and Employment Group.
Whiteford is pleased to announce that “Best Law Firms” has awarded the firm exemplary rankings for 2026. Twenty-three of the firm’s practices are ranked at the national level, with the firm’s Bankruptcy, Construction Litigation and Real Estate Litigation practices receiving national Tier 1 rankings.
83 lawyers from Whiteford have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026. The lawyers selected are based in the firm’s Delaware, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Virginia and Washington, DC offices. Client comments are posted on the Best Lawyers website, at bestlawfirms.com.
Whiteford is pleased to announce that “Best Law Firms” has awarded the firm exemplary rankings for 2025. Twenty-two of the firm’s practices are ranked at the national level, and the firm’s Bankruptcy, Construction and Labor & Employment litigation practices have been recognized with national Tier 1 rankings.
87 lawyers from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2024 (copyright 2023 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken S.C.). New practice areas of recognition include CleanTech Law and Entertainment and Sports Law. The lawyers selected are based in the firm’s Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington offices. Client comments are posted on the Best Lawyers website, at bestlawfirms.com.
Whiteford, Taylor and Preston is pleased to announce that U.S. News and World Report - Best Lawyers ® “Best Law Firms” has awarded the firm exemplary rankings for 2023.
73 lawyers from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2023 (copyright 2022 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken S.C.). The lawyers selected are based in the firm’s Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington, D.C. offices. Client comments are posted on the U.S. News & Best Lawyers web site, at bestlawfirms.com.
Whiteford, Taylor and Preston is pleased to announce that U.S. News and World Report - Best Lawyers ® “Best Law Firms” has awarded the firm exemplary rankings for 2022. Twenty-one of the firm’s practices are ranked at the national level, and the firm’s bankruptcy and Construction Litigation practices have been recognized with national Tier 1 rankings. At the state level, new recognitions include Admiralty & Maritime Law, Nonprofit/Charities Law, Patent Law and Privacy and Data Security Law.
A record 75 lawyers from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2022 (copyright 2021 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken S.C.). The lawyers selected are based in the firm’s Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington offices. Client comments are posted on the U.S. News & Best Lawyers web site, at bestlawfirms.com.
Whiteford, Taylor and Preston is pleased to announce that U.S. News and World Report - Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” has awarded the firm exemplary rankings for 2021. Twenty-two of the firm’s practices are ranked at the national level, and the firm’s Bankruptcy and Environmental Law practices have been recognized with national Tier 1 rankings.
A record 71 lawyers from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2021 (copyright 2020 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken S.C.). The lawyers selected are based in the firm’s Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington offices. Client comments are posted on the U.S. News & Best Lawyers web site, at bestlawfirms.com.
Whiteford, Taylor and Preston is pleased to announce that U.S. News and World Report - Best Lawyers ® “Best Law Firms” has awarded the firm exemplary rankings for 2020. Twenty of the firm’s practices are ranked at the national level, including two bankruptcy practices with national Tier 1 rankings. At the state level, an additional forty-two practices have been ranked in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and VA.
64 lawyers from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2020. The lawyers selected are based in the firm’s Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington offices. Client comments are posted on the U.S. News & Best Lawyers web site, at bestlawfirms.com.
Baltimore – Whiteford, Taylor & Preston is pleased to announce that U.S. News and World Report - Best Lawyers ® “Best Law Firms” has awarded the firm exemplary rankings for 2018. Nineteen of the firm’s practices are ranked at the national level, including three practices with national Tier 1 rankings: Litigation, Bankruptcy and Real Estate. At the state level, an additional fifty practices have been ranked in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and VA.
