Best Lawyers in America for Education Law

Michelle C. Laubin is a senior partner in the firm's Milford office. Her practice focuses on education law, particularly special education law and student matters. Ms. Laubin has represented school districts in countless student discipline and special education matters, including attending planning and placement team (PPT) meetings, negotiation of settlement and mediation agreements, representation in expulsion and due process hearings, as well as resolution of State Department of Education c...

Margaret A. Hesse primarily practices in the areas of education law, employment law, and litigation. She has represented school districts in employment matters, including Title VII, the Safe Schools Act, Title IX, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the Equal Pay Act. She has represented employers in labor matters before the United States Department of Labor/Wage and Hour Division, the Illinois Commission on Human Rights and the Illinois Educatio...

Melissa Schilling represents public and private sector employers in labor and employment matters. In that role, she has successfully represented clients in state and federal cases involving a broad range of labor and employment laws, including Title VII, the American with Disabilities Act, and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. Melissa also has extensive experience investigating and handling matters filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) and related...

W. Stuart Stuller is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Education Law. W. Stuart, who practices law in Boulder, Colorado, has been recognized since 2012. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which W. Stuart is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Dick Spencer specializes in complex problems which require effective advocacy at the local and state levels and before administrative agencies, the state courts, and the Maine Legislature. He is among Maine’s leading experts in diverse areas including land use and conservation, municipal law, and public finance. Dick also advises multi-generational families on how best to transfer their Maine seasonal and other properties to the next generation. Dick’s approach to problems is intu...

Adrian D. Thompson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Education Law, Labor Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Adrian D., who practices law in Cleveland, Ohio, has been recognized since 2012. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Adrian D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Teresa Maginn is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Education Law and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Teresa, who practices law in South Bend, Indiana, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Teresa is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Fred Stormer is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Education Law. Fred, who practices law in Amarillo, Texas, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Fred is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Elizabeth A. Kaleva is an attorney in Missoula, Montana, focusing her practice on representation of public and private school districts throughout the state of Montana, as well as the Montana High School Association. Bea graduated from Boston College in 1991, and the University of Montana School of Law in 1995. After clerking for a year, Bea joined the Montana School Boards Association as a staff attorney. She rose to the General Counsel position and remained with the MTSBA until 2003, when s...

Christopher Heller works primarily in the areas of Commercial Litigation, Labor and Employment Law and Education Law. The majority of his practice consists of trial and appellate work. He primarily represents businesses and public entities in class actions and other cases involving natural resources, insurance, trade secrets, employment, civil rights, education, contracts and other issues. Chris is listed in The Best Lawyers in America for Commercial Litigation, Bet-the-Company Litigation, La...

Anne has over 25 years experience partnering with clients to efficiently manage employment matters, whether that entails walking through an employee disciplinary issue, training supervisors on FMLA, early settlement of an EEOC charge or a jury trial. She has worked with clients throughout the Southeast to develop handbooks, administer FMLA and USERRA leave, oversee reductions in force, negotiate employment agreements (including non-competes), and all aspects of employee training. Anne has han...

Jocelyn P. Kramer is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Education Law. Jocelyn P., who practices law in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jocelyn P. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Emily Runyon is a litigation and trial attorney who defends insurance carriers, corporations and health care institutions in personal injury, wrongful death, medical malpractice and bad faith lawsuits. Combining her years of experience as a litigator with her previous experience as an Arkansas Supreme Court clerk, Emily provides her clients with comprehensive counsel in litigation and insurance coverage matters. From the onset of any matter, Emily strives to understand her clients’ busi...

Alex Stalvey is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Education Law and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Alex, who practices law in Greenville, South Carolina, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Alex is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Michelle H. Basi practices primarily in the areas of education, special education, litigation, and labor and employment law. Michelle regularly advises school districts and charter schools on student matters, including special education and Section 504 compliance, First Amendment rights, Title IX compliance and student discipline. Michelle also advises schools districts and charter schools on employment matters, including Title VII, the ADA, the ADEA, the FMLA, and the Teacher Tenure Act. Mic...

Janilyn Daub defends employers in labor and employment litigation in federal and state courts, as well as before various governmental agencies, such as the OFCCP, EEOC and NLRB. She is dedicated to helping her clients with the legal issues that arise when managing a workforce, navigating them through the challenges they face while seeking to mitigate future problems and liability. With a practice that is national in scope, Janilyn frequently advises clients on issues related to affirmative ac...