Best Lawyers in America for Education Law
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State
David R. Boyd is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation and Education Law. David R., who practices law in Montgomery, Alabama, has been recognized since 1995. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Jeffrey J. Nolan's litigation and counseling practice with Holland & Knight, LLP focuses on: representing employers and institutions of higher education before courts and administrative agencies in employment and student-related matters; advising employers and institutions of higher education on the resolution and legal implications of employment and student-related issues; and assisting employers and institutions of higher education in the development and implementation of appropriate po...
For more than 30 years, Eric Herlan has been representing public school districts on a wide variety of legal issues, focusing on both special education and general school law questions. Eric gives clients practical guidance on how to resolve problems consistent with the law, often coming up with creative solutions to help them achieve their goals, even with the most complicated legal issues. He has represented Maine and New Hampshire school districts in more than 100 special education due pro...
Melissa Hewey is an accomplished litigator with substantial experience across a broad range of practice areas, including insurance defense, school law, higher education law, employment matters, and complex commercial litigation. Melissa has represented a diverse set of clients, such as insurance companies, schools, colleges and universities, municipalities, law firms, hospitals, individuals, and businesses in a variety of industries. Melissa has tried a wide range of cases and argued signific...
Tom Smith is dedicated to representing public and private institutions, businesses, and municipalities in litigation and compliance matters. With over 25 years of practice, Tom has handled a diverse array of cases in both state and federal courts. His work includes resolving disputes related to shareholder issues, employment discrimination, commercial contracts, and land use and development challenges. Tom has significant experience as lead counsel in labor negotiations for municipal district...
Peter Barry devotes a substantial portion of his practice to advising tax-exempt organizations, including healthcare and education clients with regard to their activities, with particular emphasis in complex contractual matters, including mergers, affiliations, acquisitions and divestitures. Peter is recognized as a Top-Rated Lawyer in health care by Martindale-Hubbell®, has served as a member of the Advisory Committee to the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Public Charities Divisio...
Janica Pierce Tucker is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Education Law, Employment Law - Individuals, Employment Law - Management, Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Janica Pierce, who practices law in Columbus, Ohio, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Janica Pierce is held by other top lawyers...
Scott Richardson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Education Law. Scott, who practices law in Little Rock, Arkansas, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Scott is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Kathleen represents both private and public educational institutions, as well as other private and public sector employers, in all areas of employment law, including hiring, discipline and discharge, wage and hour requirements, discrimination and wrongful discharge claims and family and medical leave requirements. She assists employers in the development of personnel policies and negotiating and drafting of employment agreements. Kathleen has represented employers in both state and federal co...
For over 40 years, Jerry Zelin has devoted his practice to representing New Hampshire school districts in a wide array of student-related matters including special education, inter-district residency disputes, juvenile court cases, pupil discipline, civil rights, the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), and limits on the state and federal governments’ authority to regulate local school districts. Jerry has successfully represented school districts in some of New Ha...
David L. Jones is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Construction Law, Education Law and Litigation - Construction. David L., who practices law in Little Rock, Arkansas, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Stephen M. Sedor focuses his practice in the areas of education law, employment litigation and labor disputes. He defends public and private sector employers in lawsuits involving wrongful discharge, employment discrimination, wage and hour disputes, First Amendment and retaliation claims, unfair labor practice charges, restrictive covenants and other disputes. Stephen provides general counseling and advice to public and private sector employers on a wide range of labor and employment matters...
James G. Thomeczek is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Education Law. James G., who practices law in St. Louis, Missouri, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which James G. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.