A team of attorneys who practice education law has joined Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP in its Atlanta office. Led by D. Glenn Brock, the team of seven represents public school districts and education professionals in matters ranging from drafting and oversight of legislation and policy to accreditation issues and litigation on constitutional matters and other education-related disputes.
To download a high resolution photo of Mr. Brock, click here.
The team’s addition in Atlanta will create synergies and enhance the Firm’s ability to provide an array of services to its education clients. The team has represented schools throughout Georgia in legal matters surrounding compliance, governance, labor and employment, litigation, special education, and student matters including First Amendment and disciplinary hearings.
For the past 25 years Mr. Brock has focused on school district representation, serving as outside general counsel to superintendents, school boards, and administrators. He also has served as counsel to the Georgia Department of Education. He has been involved in some high profile education matters, including assisting a metro Atlanta school system to become the first large system charter district in the state, representing a large urban school system regain accreditation, and serving as managing attorney for the prosecution of more than 150 employee discipline matters arising from a publicized cheating scandal.
The group will complement the work of the law firm’s affiliate, EducationCounsel LLC in Washington, D.C., which provides clients with birth-to-postsecondary policy, legal, strategic planning, and advocacy services, focused on federal and national reform and compliance issues. Former U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley, who served in the position from 1993-2001, now is senior counsel in EducationCounsel LLC, which is affiliated with the law firm.
“This group’s experience in working with school districts will complement the policy and practice focus of EducationCounsel and vice versa,” Sec. Riley said. “These teams of thought leaders and practitioners are excited about their ability to work together to help education leaders pursue their important work of providing a high quality education for all students.”
“We are excited for the opportunity to partner with Secretary Riley and EducationCounsel,” Mr. Brock said. “While we have a unique practice, we see this move as an opportunity to complement the work of EducationCounsel and to allow us to further grow our practice. Our clients will benefit from the range of resources that we will be able to draw on in Nelson Mullins.”
The law firm has more than 470 attorneys and government relations professionals practicing in more than 40 diversified areas of law with offices in the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia.
“This group is a great fit for our office and our firm,” said Atlanta Managing Partner Michael Hollingsworth. “We have sought to grow the office since its opening in 1992, and just since 2009 we have grown from 76 to 103 attorneys. We continue to pursue growth in a variety of practice areas to enhance and further support our clients and their legal needs.”
Others joining the Firm on Mr. Brock’s team are:
- Nina Gupta (partner), who has experience in special education and counsels clients in compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and related statutes. To download a high resolution photo of Ms. Gupta, click here.
- Carol Callaway (of counsel), who handles matters including policy decisions, contract agreements, litigation, public meeting law and public record requests, and employment matters, particularly teacher disciplinary matters.
To download a high resolution photo of Ms. Callaway, click here. - Suzann Wilcox Jiles (of counsel), who represents clients in development and oversight of policies and procedures, privacy concerns, No Child Left Behind, student issues and discipline, special education issues, and constitutional matters. To download a high resolution photo of Ms. Jiles, click here.
- Laura Lashley (senior counsel), who draws on her experience as legal counsel and the first Petitions Program Manager for the Georgia Charter School Commission to provide clients with advice, consultation, and strategic restructuring initiatives such as charter districting. To download a high resolution photo of Ms. Lashley, click here.
- Kathryn Ams (associate), who assists clients with special education compliance, employment matters including teacher disciplinary proceedings, policy development, and litigation. To download a high resolution photo of Ms. Ams, click here.
- Brandon Moulard (associate), who represents clients in matters including proceedings under the Georgia Fair Dismissal Act, charges with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and litigation in state and federal court concerning claims brought under Title VII, the American with Disabilities Act, and other employment-related statutes. To download a high resolution photo of Mr. Moulard, click here.
