Joshua W. B. Richards

Joshua W. B. Richards
Primary Office
Overview

Josh Richards helps clients involved in civil and regulatory disputes address challenges through litigation, appeals, and strategic responses to government enforcement, particularly for colleges and universities. Josh approaches his work for education and nonprofit clients from a mission-driven perspective, providing practical advice that protects institutions from undue risk without compromising their ability to fulfill their primary purposes. 

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Applying this mindset in both his roles as de facto outside general counsel for smaller institutions and his more focused roles on complex matters, Josh frequently advises institutions on a variety of topics, including, but not limited to: 

  • Student conduct matters.
  • Civil rights claims, including Title VI, Title IX, and Section 504.
  • Diversity initiatives and compliance.
  • Employment disputes.
  • Faculty relations and tenure and promotion disputes.
  • Investigations by a variety of government agencies. 
  • Accreditation.
  • Minors on campus.
  • Civil tort claims.
  • Clery Act compliance.
  • Combination and affiliation transactions.

Josh provides advice and conducts investigations for institutions across the country, and he has litigated cases in numerous federal trial courts, the Second, Third, Fourth, Sixth, Ninth, and Eleventh Circuit Courts of Appeals, three cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, and state appellate courts.

As a frequent presenter at conferences on higher education law, a member of Board of Directors of the National Association of College and University Attorneys from 2019-2022, a current trustee at a college in Philadelphia, and a regular advisor to higher education associations and insurers about emerging legal risks, Josh is continuously engaged with impactful issues for educational institutions.
 

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