News & Insights

Can Institutions Find Legal Workarounds for State Bans on DEI?

Following Donald Trump’s re-election, many states have passed bans against programs and scholarships that promote diversity, equity and inclusion. According to the Chronicle of Higher Education which tracks such legislation, more than a dozen states have passed anti-DEI laws since 2024, and dozens of additional bills are pending in 30 states and the United States Congress.  ...read more

ICE Detention at Columbia Highlights Need for Clear Protocols in College Law Enforcement Interactions

On February 26, 2026, Columbia University announced, and various media outlets reported, that a Columbia student had been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents that morning.  While there have been many reports of ICE detaining international students over the past year, this incident is notable for how ICE personnel are alleged to have carried out the detention:  By holding themselves out not as ICE agents but as New York Police Department officers looking for a missing child, in order to gain entrance into the Columbia dormitory where the student lived. ...read more

NCAA Eligibility Battles Take to the Courts

In the brave new world of Name Image and Likeness (“NIL”) payments to college athletes, the inevitable question arises – do the NCAA’s eligibility rules violate federal antitrust laws? Those legal issues have taken center stage in courts around the country with mixed results. ...read more

Archer Expands Higher Education Team With Wilkes University General Counsel

In an article for Law360, Elizabeth Leo was interviewed about joining Archer as a partner in the firm’s Higher Education practice after serving as general counsel and Title IX coordinator at Wilkes University. In her new role, Leo will support colleges, particularly smaller institutions, by serving as external general counsel and providing cost-effective access to broad legal expertise, including Title IX, labor and employment, and operational matters. Archer leadership emphasized her deep, inside-the-institution perspective and extensive experience as a significant asset to higher education clients. With decades of experience spanning private practice, healthcare leadership, and higher education, Elizabeth strengthens Archer’s expanding Higher Education team. ...read more

Archer Expands Higher Education Team with Former University General Counsel Elizabeth Leo

Archer is pleased to announce that Elizabeth C. Leo, former General Counsel and Title IX Coordinator of Wilkes University, has joined the firm as a partner in its Higher Education Practice. ...read more