General University Investigations.

Overview.

We provide proven, effective and timely service to campus leadership, working under the attorney-client privilege of your general counsel or outside counsel.

Our team of specialized investigators can respond to: white collar/financial matters, allegations of personal or professional misconduct, collection of evidence and testimony in support of litigation, and systems or process reviews.

Members of the BartlettJames, LLC team have over 35 years’ experience working within the office of general counsel in large university settings. This includes over 20 years’ experience as general counsel of these institutions. We know and understand the unique challenges of conducting investigations in a university setting, including the sometimes complicating nature of state public records laws. We are experienced in working with university counsel to privilege investigations when appropriate. Most critically, we understand the unique nature of the university setting, faculty privileges and responsibilities, and the necessary sensitivity and discretion that must accompany any investigation at a university or college. This includes personnel, financial, and other matters that represent potential liability for an institution. We are competitively priced, and we understand and value the need for thorough and expeditious investigations.

Bringing Decades of Experience and Inside Knowledge to Higher Education Investigations

Every institution of higher education has its own identity and culture, with many constituents, including students, faculty, and staff as well as parents and alumni. These constituents contribute to and support campus culture through active and vibrant institutional dynamics, manifested in academic and social interactions, athletics, student associations, and more.

Given the interconnected components comprising an institution, allegations and investigations often have the potential to affect multiple units, if not all, of the institution as well as its reputation.

At BartlettJames, we understand and value the need for expeditious and accurate investigations in light of the significant impact that allegations may have in a higher education setting. Our team has over 35 years of experience as general counsel and associate general counsel at large public and private universities. We are experienced in conducting both large and small-scale, high-profile investigations for universities. We are uniquely familiar with the nature of a college campus and the imperative to understand your institution’s policies and priorities. We also are well-acquainted with the federal laws and regulations under which educational institutions must operate. Our investigative services are detailed, fast, competitively priced, and sensitive to the need for discretion.

If your organization is facing the need for an investigation, contact our team to learn more about how we can assist. We are available on short notice.

University and College Investigative Services: How We Help.

When a college or university comes under public or internal scrutiny for alleged wrong-doing, the pressure is on the institution to prove itself rigorous in obtaining the underlying facts and determining an appropriate course of action based on those facts. The fact-gathering process must be sensitive to the needs of students and faculty and staff members, and at the same time it must adhere to institutional policies and legal requirements. Even the most committed institutions with proactive compliance training may experience allegations of misconduct or serious deviations from policy or practice, and our team is here to assist if the need for an independent investigation arises.

The BartlettJames team brings an in-depth understanding of the regulatory and legal requirements and societal pressures faced by colleges and universities today. Our investigative services are suitable and available for large and small colleges and universities. We are available to investigate misconduct allegations, whistleblower claims, and any other situation that requires a rapid and thorough understanding of the underlying facts. BartlettJames can conduct the following:

  • Misconduct investigations. BartlettJames is available to conduct investigations concerning a wide range of issues and allegations, including Title IX complaints, academic misconduct allegations, Title VII claims, NCAA regulation issues, research misconduct claims, and other alleged breaches of contract, illicit behavior, and violations of institutional policy.
  • Internal compliance investigations. Fact-based inquiries can assist educational institutions in identifying compliance issues that are often otherwise difficult to ascertain without experienced investigative assistance. Examples of such areas of inquiry include NCAA compliance in athletics departments, Title IX compliance, Clery Act compliance, and the protection of research data and technology.
  • Background investigations. Our background work begins where other services finish. We go beyond public, commercially available records and investigate otherwise private matters, such as past Title IX allegations, to discern the suitability of new faculty and athletics hires such as head coaches and athletics directors.

Our team is highly responsive and equipped to assist on short notice. If you have questions about our investigative services, don’t hesitate to contact us as soon as possible.

Team.

James P. Pottorff, Jr.

Director, Higher Education Operations

Jim is our Higher Education Team Leader and a member of the BartlettJames Executive Committee.

Margaret Person Currin

Margaret has conducted countless Title IX investigations. The wisdom and experienced she earned during her highly-distinguished career routinely proves invaluable to our higher education clients. She enjoyed more than 30 years of service as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, as a renown legal educator and law school administrator, and as a staff member for a United States Senator. She has also served on multiple boards of directors and engaged in a private law practice representing clients before state and federal administrative agencies. Margaret is based in North Carolina.

Peter J. Paukstelis

Pete provides guidance on all matters pertaining to collegiate athletics. Pete has more than 25 years of diversified experience representing a wide array of corporate, institutional, and individual clients in a host of different litigation and transactional matters. Pete is based in North Carolina.

A Client-Focused Approach to Investigating for Educational Institutions.

Educational institutions are not required to offer informal resolution options, but doing so can create a restorative opportunity for the parties to process their grievances and collaborate toward a resolution that is satisfactory to all.

The BartlettJames team is nationally recognized and has conducted large-scale, high-profile investigations for colleges and universities. We operate with the client in mind as we conduct exceptionally thorough, discrete, and timely investigations.


Work with BartlettJames, a Team of Leaders in Higher Education & Administrative Law Proceedings

Members of the BartlettJames team have over 35 years experience working within the office of general counsel and a collective 80+ years of judicial experience in administrative and criminal law proceedings. Our first-hand experience as general counsel, attorneys, and investigators enables our team to provide highly effective services that bring objectivity and clarity to disputes in educational institutions.

We are acquainted with and can anticipate the unique challenges of conducting investigations in a university setting, including navigating state public records laws. Most critically, we understand faculty privileges and responsibilities, and the necessary sensitivity and discretion that must accompany any investigation at a university or college. This includes personnel, financial, and other matters that represent potential liability for an institution.

When educational institutions need the most accurate, robust, and sensitive investigations, BartlettJames can deliver.

If you are seeking investigative services that are competitively priced and complimentary of your institution’s efforts, reach out to us today.

Contact us today.

Made with ♥ by Rise Marketing
© 2024 BartlettJames. All rights reserved.