Grace focuses her practice on education law, employment law, risk management and non-profit governance and represents independent and private schools as well as nonprofit organizations. Grace serves as a trusted advisor to boards, heads of school, business officers and human resources professionals, and works with clients to mitigate risk and develop best practices, while supporting the advancement of each client’s operational needs and mission.
Grace advises schools and nonprofits in all aspects of employment matters, such as negotiating and drafting employment and executive agreements, preparing employee handbooks and employment policies, addressing claims of harassment, discrimination, and retaliation, and advising on disability accommodation issues, leaves, wage and hour compliance and employee misconduct and discipline.
Grace also advises schools on all aspects of student and parent issues, including preparing enrollment agreements and student handbooks, managing effective student and parent relationships, addressing concerns of harassment, bullying and student misconduct, as well as advising on student discipline, privacy, disability accommodations, mandated reporting, tuition disputes and breach of contract claims. Grace regularly advises on legal considerations pertaining to diversity, equity and inclusion, including how to engage in such work while mitigating risk.
Grace works extensively in the area of non-profit governance, including advising on governance structure, board functions and operations, conflict of interest issues, fiduciary duties and membership termination procedures, as well as preparing governance documents such as articles, bylaws and board and corporate policies.
A sought-after presenter and trainer, Grace regularly gives presentations, workshops and speaking engagements with expertise and relatability for schools, associations and regional, statewide and national conferences on a variety of employment, student and governance issues, ranging from crisis management, investigations, professional boundaries, diversity, equity and inclusion, wage and hour issues, employment contracts, harassment prevention, disability issues and leaves.
