HIGHER EDUCATION ATTORNEYS
Ian Cooper
- Ian
has nearly twenty years of experience in handling complex trials and
appeals,
including higher education cases, in state and federal courts throughout
the
Midwest. Ian is lead counsel for
both
private and public colleges and universities in Missouri and Illinois on
a wide
range of issues, including student disability claims, sexual harassment
claims,
faculty contract disputes, staff discrimination claims, first
amendment/academic freedom claims, and a variety of tort claims. Ian has also represented higher
education
institutions in matters involving college athletics, EEO compliance, and
a
variety of academic issues. Ian
is a
frequent lecturer and author on higher education issues and is active in
the
National Association of College and University Attorneys.
Melanie Gurley
Keeney
- Melanie has served as lead counsel in numerous higher education
cases. In addition to expertise in education
issues
and litigation, Melanie is frequently called upon by colleges and
universities
to assist with immigration matters involving both faculty and
international
students. She has served on the
Board
of Directors of the National Council of School Attorneys.
Peter Ruger - Peter Ruger has over thirty years of
experience
representing colleges, universities and other not-for-profit
organizations. He served as
Washington
University's General Counsel from 1974 through 1992, and as General
Counsel of
Southern Illinois University from 1997 to 2004. In 1989, he was
elected
president of the National Association of College and University
Attorneys, and
in 2001, he received that organization's highest award for distinguished
service to higher education.
Both as
in-house and private practice counsel, he has successfully defended
colleges
and universities in litigation involving student rights, tenure
disputes,
terminations of faculty members and staff, defamation, disability and
constitutional issues, and tort liability.
He has also advised medical centers and health care professionals
on a
variety of issues, including professional liability protection. Peter has extensive experience with
policy
development and review, most recently involving the creation of
intellectual
property, distance learning, grievance, HIPAA, affirmative action, and
conflict
of interest policies. Throughout
his
career, Peter has served nonprofit organizations, both as a board member
and as
counsel, often on a pro-bono basis.
His
expertise is recognized and enhanced by his teaching in this field at
the
region's leading universities.
Nonprofit
issues that he has addressed include organization, governance,
employment and
tax issues. Peter's practice
also
includes mediation and arbitration.
Tom Tueth
- For
over 25 years, Tom has represented and advised educational institutions
throughout Missouri. Tom recently successfully represented Missouri
community
colleges in a precedent-setting, multi-million dollar tax
challenge. Tom has also taught education law to
graduate students at Fontbonne University.
In addition, our higher education group
includes:
