Meet the Higher Education Team at CCHA Law

CCHA Law’s Higher Education Practice Group represents colleges and universities throughout Indiana and across the country, from private liberal arts and religiously affiliated institutions (with enrollments in the hundreds) to community college districts to public research universities (with enrollments over 100,000). CCHA Law provides day to day legal services to educational entities in a variety of structures. We represent suburban, urban, and rural schools with differing populations.

We have represented and advised over a dozen colleges in universities in Indiana and many more from coast to coast across the country. The nature of our practice and the history of our client base and representation allow us to provide a unique, experienced perspective on resolving legal issues for educational and institutional clients.

Dedicated Higher Education and K-12 practice groups

Many of the attorneys on our Higher Education practice team have had work experiences prior to CCHA Law that has provided a deeper understanding of our clients’ needs. For instance, our team’s past work experience includes work as university counsel, at the NCAA, as a D1 Conference Commissioner, as general counsel at a Greek organization, at an AM100 law firm, and at the Indiana Office of Inspector General.

CCHA Law’s Higher Education group also includes several specialists with valuable industry experience (including in various roles on campus and at national governance bodies) that allows them to support and supplement the work of the Higher Education attorneys at a lower cost to clients.

Reach out to us if you are looking for a team to act as counsel for your institution in response to OCR and EEOC complaints or in defending litigation related to Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, and ADA, and the First Amendment.

Services We Offer

The attorneys in the Higher Education practice group bring a range of experience that allows our team to proactively collaborate with higher education institutions and serve them in a variety of areas, including:

• Title IX (Investigations, Advising on Complaints/Investigations/Hearings, Litigation, Gender Equity Athletics Assessments)

• Athletics and Investigations

• Business and Transactions

• Faculty Affairs/Employment/Benefits

• First Amendment Issues

• General Litigation (Including Insurance Defense and Appellate)

• Institutional Reviews

• Student Affairs (Including Disability Accommodations, Student Disciplinary Matters, and Bias Incidents)

Expertise

Our attorneys and specialists hold memberships and leadership positions with various national organizations including:

• National Association of Colleges and University Attorneys

• Women Leaders in College Sports

• National Association for Athletic Compliance

• National School Attorneys Association

Our attorneys regularly litigate and speak on these matters, keeping us at the forefront of changes in the Title IX legal landscape.

For example, our attorneys have recently presented on the developments in Title IX to members of the National Association of College and University Attorneys, the National School Attorneys Association, and the Indiana Civil Rights Commission.

Meet the Team

James Nussbaum

James focuses his practice on sports and higher education law and helps institutional clients manage difficult matters involving students, faculty, and staff members and conducts institutional reviews. In his time as in-house counsel to a university, James was the primary athletics attorney system-wide and provided legal advice on matters such as Title IX, name, image, and likeness, and potential major NCAA infractions cases.

-

Kelleigh Irwin Fagan

In her sports law practice, Kelleigh actively represents institutions in a broad spectrum of areas that involve athletics, including NCAA rules compliance, Title IX, allegations related to hazing or misconduct, and conducting institutional reviews. In NCAA compliance work, Kelleigh and the sports law team have successfully represented Division I and II institutions; involved individuals (coaches, administrators); and student-athletes in Level I/Level II infractions cases through the infractions process. Kelleigh has appeared numerous times in front of the NCAA’s Committee on Infraction and Infractions Appeals Committee. She devotes significant time to representing institutions and student-athletes in various NCAA waiver and reinstatement proceedings, including transfers, eligibility extensions, and hardship waivers. She also conducts proactive NCAA compliance assessments consistent with NCAA bylaws.

-

Amy Steketee Fox

Amy devotes a significant portion of her practice to assisting schools, colleges and universities navigate an increasingly complex legal environment in order to promote their institutional goals, while ensuring compliance and mitigating exposure. Amy advises on a variety of legal matters including student disability issues, employment matters and labor negotiations, public access laws, FERPA and other records requirements, policy review, Title IX and other civil rights laws, and student discipline.In addition to providing training and day-to-day client counseling, Amy defends educational institutions and employers in federal and state court proceedings and before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR), and other administrative agencies.

-

Julia Church Kozicki

As a partner at CCHA Law, Julia focuses her practice on supporting businesses and schools. She is a Noblesville native, a Jeopardy! champion, and a graduate of Noblesville High School, Indiana University, and Loyola University Chicago School of Law. Julia was elected to the Noblesville Schools Board of School Trustees in May 2006 and re-elected in May 2010 and November 2014, with her 12 1/2 years the second longest tenure in board history. She was named one of 25 Noble Millers for the Noblesville Schools 150th Anniversary, served as the Region 5 director for the Indiana School Board Association, and served on the board of the Noblesville Schools Education Foundation.

-

Todd Shumaker

Todd's practice focuses primarily on higher education and includes representing clients in NCAA regulatory matters such as waivers and infractions, as well as Title IX gender equity reviews and sexual harassment investigations. Todd also regularly presents on current trends in college sports including name, image and likeness; NCAA infractions procedures and Title IX processes and works with both secondary and post-secondary clients to develop education related to Title IX and athlete well-being. With his extensive experience in state government, Todd advises on matters specific to Indiana public employees such as conflicts of interest and the Code of Ethics.

-

Connor Glass

Connor’s primary practice involves NCAA compliance and infractions, Title IX gender equity reviews, and Title IX investigations, often involving college athletics. Connor represents schools, coaches, and student-athletes in NCAA-related infractions cases, focusing on NIL and other emerging issues in the college athletics landscape. He also educates clients by providing updates regarding the evolving sports scene and higher education.

-

Paia Palombara

Paia’s background in higher education provides her with a wealth of experience and expertise in assisting our clients. She has extensive experience working at a Power 5 University as well as the NCAA National Office. Her comprehensive expertise includes NCAA investigations, student-athlete eligibility matters, and NCAA compliance reviews. Paia is a former Vice Chair of the NCAA Division I Student-Athlete Reinstatement Committee, a member of the NCAA Division I Board of Directors Infractions Process Committee and served on the NAAC Board of Directors.

Paia’s comprehensive expertise encompasses a wide range of areas, including: NCAA investigations, case processing, and infractions appeals, Student-athlete eligibility matters (reinstatement, amateurism, transfer and legislative relief waivers, academic eligibility, and limited immunity), Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) support (policy creation, collective and third-party support, risk management, contract review, and institutional best practices), Independent investigations (coach and staff conduct, hazing, sports wagering, Title IX sexual harassment and violence, substance abuse, and student-athlete welfare), NCAA compliance reviews, Program culture and risk assessments, Title IX gender equity reviews, and NCAA Policy on Campus Sexual Violence.

-

Additional team members in the Higher Education practice group include:

Alex Pinegar

Amy Matthews

Brent Borg

Jon Becker

Justin Hays

Libby Roberts

Sam Hughes

Contact the Expert Higher Education Lawyers at CCHA Law

Our dedicated team of Higher Education attorneys is committed to providing client-centered legal services to colleges and universities. We offer expert advice to help you avoid or mitigate future legal issues, and we work tirelessly to find practical solutions. When litigation is necessary, we defend your institution's mission with aggressive representation.

Partner with CCHA Law for Comprehensive Higher Education Legal Services

• Experienced Attorneys: Our Higher Education lawyers have extensive experience in handling a wide range of legal matters for colleges and universities.

• Client-Centered Approach: We prioritize your institution's unique needs and goals, ensuring personalized and effective legal strategies.

• Comprehensive Legal Services: From preventive counsel to litigation, we cover all aspects of Higher Education law to support your institution.

If your college or university needs a reliable and experienced legal team, contact CCHA Law today. Our Higher Education attorneys are here to help you navigate complex legal challenges and protect your institution's interests.