Farnaz Thompson > McGuireWoods LLP > Washington DC, United States > Lawyer Profile

McGuireWoods LLP
2001 K STREET N.W.
SUITE 400
WASHINGTON, DC 20006-1040
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
United States

Career

Farnaz is a skilled litigator and investigator with extensive experience in representing corporations and institutions of higher education in high-profile litigation and government investigations. She is the firm’s Education Industry Team Leader and a trusted advisor with a keen eye for due diligence in education-related transactions, including in the edtech industry. She advises clients on employment and education laws to help identify and resolve issues before they become adversarial in nature. She also zealously represents clients before federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Labor and U.S. Department of Education.

Farnaz successfully has defended employers, state agencies, government officials, institutions of higher education, and academic medical centers, as first chair before federal and state courts as well as trial and appellate courts. She handles a variety of civil litigation including cases concerning civil rights, torts, breach of contract, employment, and constitutional claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.

Lawyer Rankings

United States > Industry focus > Education

McGuireWoods LLP provides full-service advice encompassing litigation, investigation and advisory work in all aspects of education law for K-12 schools, public and private colleges, universities and academic medical centers. The team routinely represents colleges and universities in government investigations before federal agencies and represents them in high-stakes litigation, often concerning allegations of sexual assault and harassment. Another strength of the team includes advice on Title IV eligibility and compliance as well as advice on civil rights lawsuits including discrimination and disability claims. Harrison Marshall jointly leads the team out of North Carolina with Washington DC-based litigator Farnaz Thompson, who previously worked at the U.S Department of Education. The group is complemented by Virginia-based tax expert Michele McKinnon who advises non-profit and tax-exempt organizations on federal tax and governance matters, while Atlanta-based Shelby Guilbert represents higher education institutions in insurance recovery actions.