Lin-Chi Wang focuses her practice on working with colleges, universities, and K-12 schools across the nation on Title IX, Title VII, and Title VI, anti-discrimination, and sexual harassment grievance processes, which include investigations, hearing officer, appellate officer, and advisor services, policy and practice consulting, training, and interim role services. Ms. Wang is an approved sexual misconduct investigator with United Educators (UE). Ms. Wang also represents individuals involved in an internal school or workplace investigation. Ms. Wang utilizes her experiences with civil rights in the education field to help individuals, schools, and workplaces bridge civil rights’ compliance with humane approaches to achieve outcomes that are not just fair and equitable, but that also promote harm reduction and healing, with trauma-informed and culturally appropriate training and thinking. In previous positions, Ms. Wang served as the Director of Equity & Title IX Coordinator and Associate Dean of Students at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA. In that multifaceted role, Ms. Wang oversaw response and investigation of all institutional reports and complaints of identity-based discrimination and harassment, sexual misconduct, intimate partner violence, stalking, and retaliatory harassment as prohibited by College policies. Ms. Wang served as the primary institutional investigator for such complaints and the primary trainer of students, staff, and faculty on the College’s anti-discrimination policies and procedures. Ms. Wang also oversaw sexual and gender violence prevention efforts at the College. Prior to Muhlenberg College, Ms. Wang served as an institutional civil rights investigator for Michigan State University, personally conducting over 220 informal and formal reports and complaints of discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, relationship violence, stalking, and retaliation. Before her career in higher education, Ms. Wang practiced as an a labor and employment attorney in Michigan. In her various positions, Ms. Wang has developed a deep understanding of how to approach anti-discrimination, sexual harassment, and Title IX work sensitively and effectively within the current regulatory and compliance structure. Ms. Wang believes in doing the work in a trauma-informed and culturally appropriate manner, with humanity, empathy, compassion, and harm reduction at the forefront, while also keeping bias and fairness in check. Ms. Wang maintains her licenses in the practice of law in Michigan and Pennsylvania. Ms. Wang earned her B.M. from the University of Michigan, M.M. from the University of Florida, and J.D. from Michigan State University College of Law.

Patricia Hamill is the Co-Chair of Clark Hill’s Title IX and Campus Discipline practice with a nationwide practice representing college students, faculty members, and administrators in campus disciplinary proceedings and in litigation following flawed disciplinary processes. She is a skillful negotiator who works to resolve matters without the need for litigation. When that is not possible, Patricia has been successful in bringing lawsuits around the nation for violations of Title IX (or other civil rights statutes), breach of contract and tort liability on the basis that colleges’ disciplinary processes failed to ensure fundamental due process rights, discriminated on the basis of sex and breached contractual obligations. With decades of experience in complex litigation matters, Patricia brings a strategic approach to each matter. Her deep legal expertise is matched by her tenacity to push for best outcomes for her clients, and she never forgets that her clients need not only legal expertise but also empathy and support. Patricia’s approach is captured perfectly by a client’s description of her as “an incredibly gifted lawyer who not only knows the detailed nuances of Title IX law and the university processes but also has the street smarts and toughness that only come from years of experience. Her calm, confident, and strategically aggressive style successfully guided our family through a difficult time.” Nationally ranked in the Chambers & Partners inaugural Higher Education practice area, Patricia was noted by clients as “highly regarded for her plaintiff-side Title IX expertise” whose biggest strength is “her great judgment and her human touch when dealing with complicated situations.” Patricia is a frequent speaker on the ever-changing legal landscape involving Title IX case law and regulations. Given her expertise, she has testified numerous times before the Department of Education and was invited to testify on due process issues before the United States Senate’s hearing on “Reauthorizing HEA: Addressing Campus Sexual Assault and Ensuring Student Safety and Rights” in Washington DC (April 2019).

As Co-Chair of the Title IX and Campus Discipline practice at Clark Hill, PLC, Lorie represents college students and faculty members nationwide who are under investigation or who have been disciplined by their colleges or universities for alleged violations of sexual harassment and misconduct policies following campus disciplinary proceedings. She brings litigation against colleges and universities on behalf of college students and faculty members when resolution cannot be reached at the disciplinary level. Lorie also has represented complainants who raise and pursue assault or harassment claims within universities. Lorie works closely with her clients to ensure that they understand the university’s process, seek procedural safeguards, and are afforded a fair hearing. She helps students and their families understand and fully prepare for investigations and hearings and, where appropriate, helps clients who are seeking informal resolutions with the school while navigating the complicated issues accompanying mediation. Lorie also is experienced with situations that may be complicated by mental health concerns or the need for disability accommodations. Given her experience, Lorie has published articles and has been sought out to present nationally on Title IX representation and litigation, including its intersection with criminal law. In addition to her representation of college students, Lorie represents clients in white-collar criminal matters, internal investigations, and professional malpractice litigation. Before entering private practice, Lorie served as a prosecutor in the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office.

As a member of Cozen O’Connor’s Institutional Response Group, Maureen’s practice is focused on helping educational institutions improve policies, procedures, and systems for preventing and addressing sexual assault, interpersonal violence, stalking, harassment, discrimination, retaliation, hazing, and other forms of prohibited conduct under Title IX, the Clery Act, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act, and related federal and state laws. Maureen helps schools design and implement effective institutional responses that integrate the complex federal and state regulatory framework with the unique dynamics of sexual and gender-based harassment and the impacts of interpersonal violence on individuals and communities. She provides hands-on assistance in writing policies and procedures, conducting investigations, serving as an external decision-maker, and developing and delivering training programs for Title IX Coordinators, Institutional Equity personnel, decision-makers, investigators, and other implementers and leaders. Institutions regularly call upon Maureen to conduct external policy audits or reviews of institutional responses to current or historical reports of sexual and gender-based harassment and violence. She also assists schools in meeting federal compliance obligations and responding to investigations by the Office for Civil Rights and the Clery Compliance Division. As a seasoned investigator, Maureen manages and conducts Title IX and civil rights investigations. She is also an external decision-maker in Title IX, discrimination, harassment, and related conduct cases. As part of her practice, Maureen advises on and serves as a facilitator for informal resolutions. As an attorney in IRG, Maureen served as Interim Title IX Coordinator at Baylor University, helping to build Baylor’s Office of Institutional Equity; and Interim Director of Investigations at a large state university, restructuring their intake and investigative processes. She currently leads a team of IRG attorneys who serve as equity consultants for Michigan State University, reviewing policies, procedures, and case files and reporting on legal compliance and effective practices. She is co-chair of the firm’s Education Team, helping identify, develop, and connect education leaders with legal advisors and experienced professionals within and outside Cozen O’Connor.