I coordinated the agency’s review of borrower defense claims requesting a discharge of Federal Student Aid loans with regard to allegations that higher education institutions violated state consumer protection statutes. I was also the lead attorney with regard to developing a claims management platform to review, track, and report on the status of borrower defense claims. I investigated institutions’ compliance with legal requirements for Federal Student Aid under Title IV of the Higher Education Act, other lending requirements, accrediting agency policies, and state educational agency licensure requirements. Further, I worked with other agency staff to promulgate regulations under the Higher Education Act, including within the required negotiated rulemaking processes.

I was an associate with the Education Team in the Government & Regulatory Affairs Practice Group. My practice covered all aspects of the Higher Education Act (HEA), particularly matters related to the Title IV student financial aid programs, accreditation issues, and state regulatory issues. I counseled postsecondary institutions and educational entities in a proactive manner to avoid regulatory noncompliance. I acted as regulatory counsel for institutions of higher education with regard to negotiating purchase, service, lending, and licensing agreements.Specialties: Higher Education ActAccrediting standards and proceduresState regulatory issuesTransactional/Corporate LawElementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965/No Child Left Behind Act/Every Student Succeeds Act

I represented state education agencies, school districts, and institutions of higher education in litigation, agency reviews, and administrative proceedings against the U.S. Department of Education concerning the administration of federal education programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965/No Child Left Behind Act, the Higher Education Act, the Workforce Investment Act, and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. I also represented these entities to resolve program monitoring reviews and Office of the Inspector General (OIG) audits conducted by the U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Further, I researched, drafted legal memoranda, and conducted client presentations and training sessions regarding compliance with federal fiscal and programmatic grants management requirements, such as the Education Department General Administration Regulations (EDGAR), the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA), the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), the cost principles within the Office of Management and Budget Circulars, the No Child Left Behind Act, the Higher Education Act, the Perkins Act, the Workforce Investment Act, and the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act.

I served as a law clerk for Judge Edward T. Miller and Judge Stephen L. Purcell. In that capacity, I drafted opinions and responses to motions and conducting complex legal research in federal administrative, labor and employment law areas, including:- Whistleblower protection statutes (Sarbanes-Oxley Act; AIR 21; ERA);- Government contracts/procurement cases (Board of Contract Appeals; Davis-Bacon Act); and- Federal workers’ compensation programs (Black Lung Benefits Act; Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act; Defense Base Act).I drafted legal memoranda advising judges on a variety of substantive and procedural issues involving Code of Federal Regulations, United States Constitution, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and Rules of Practice and Procedure before Administrative Law Judges.

I worked as a part-time law clerk, assisting the in-house attorneys with litigation matters, including drafting interrogatories, motions and briefs, both in the Boston, MA and Metairie, LA offices.