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Turning 125: Nelson Mullins Celebrating 125 Years of Legal Service in 2022
In January 1897, attorney P.H. Nelson left his position as solicitor of the Fifth Judicial Circuit to set up a private law practice in Columbia, S.C. The State newspaper contained a short but prescient news item on Jan. 26 about the endeavor, which noted that "the new firm should meet with great success."
And they were right. Today, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP offers legal services in 15 states and the District of Columbia from 31 offices with 930+ attorneys, policy advisors, and professionals. It is the 71st largest law firm in the nation based on 2021 gross revenues, according to The American Lawyer’s Am Law 100, a legal news organization that tracks law firm growth.
Throughout 2022, Nelson Mullins will be sharing seminal events from its history that highlight its growth from a one-man firm in 1897 to where we are today. Click here to learn more.
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September 14, 2022
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Arthur L. Coleman
Partner
Suite 900
Washington, D.C., 20001
Art is managing partner and co-founder of EducationCounsel LLC. He provides policy, strategic, and legal counseling services to national nonprofit organizations, school districts, state agencies, and postsecondary institutions throughout the country, where he addresses issues associated with:
- student access, diversity, inclusion, expression, and success;
- faculty diversity, inclusion, and expression; and
- institutional accountability and accreditation.
Art previously served as deputy...
Art is managing partner and co-founder of EducationCounsel LLC. He provides policy, strategic, and legal counseling services to national nonprofit organizations, school districts, state agencies, and postsecondary institutions throughout the country, where he addresses issues associated with:
- student access, diversity, inclusion, expression, and success;
- faculty diversity, inclusion, and expression; and
- institutional accountability and accreditation.
Art previously served as deputy assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR), where, in the 1990s, he led the department’s development of the department’s Title VI policy on race-conscious financial aid, as well as OCR’s first comprehensive Title IX sexual harassment policy guidance.
Art was instrumental in the establishment of the College Board's Access and Diversity Collaborative (ADC) in 2004, which he has helped lead since its inception. With a focus on issues of diversity and inclusion, he has authored amicus briefs in Grutter v. Bollinger (2003), Gratz v. Bollinger (2003), and in Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin (I and II, 2013 and 2016). His advocacy work also includes the development of a federal amicus strategy and numerous briefs on behalf of transgender students in federal court litigation throughout the United States.
A former litigator, Art has testified before the U.S. Senate and the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.
assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR), where, in the 1990s, he led the department’s development of the department’s Title VI policy on race-conscious financial aid, as well as OCR’s first comprehensive Title IX sexual harassment policy guidance.
Art was instrumental in the establishment of the College Board's Access and Diversity Collaborative (ADC) in 2004, which he has helped lead since its inception. With a focus on issues of diversity and inclusion, he has authored amicus briefs in Grutter v. Bollinger (2003), Gratz v. Bollinger (2003), and in Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin (I and II, 2013 and 2016). His advocacy work also includes the development of a federal amicus strategy and numerous briefs on behalf of transgender students in federal court litigation throughout the United States.
A former litigator, Art has testified before the U.S. Senate and the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.
Experience
Experience
Arts work centers on:
- Development of college and career-ready policy, with a focus on issues of accountability and assessments; accreditation and systems improvement; and access for students with disabilities and English language learners in ways that comply with federal nondiscrimination law
- Development of higher education access and diversity policies, including a focus on enrollment-related and employment policies designed to enhance access and the educational benefits of diversity
- Development of fully inclusive school and university safety and conduct policies, with a focus on student bullying and harassment policies, as well as on issues relevant to constitutionally protected expression and speech
- Design of strategies and the implementation of plans to support non-profit organizations that seek to align their educationally focused goals with policy, demographic, and related trends and developments
- Providing legal advice and institutional guidance regarding federal non-discrimination laws, including those that provide protections against race, ethnicity, sex, disability, and language-based discrimination
Previous Professional Experience
- Served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights following a three-and-a-half year tenure as Senior Policy Advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (June 1997–January 2000)
- Responsible for developing federal civil rights policy in education and enforcing relevant federal laws centered on issues relating to standards reform, test use, students with disabilities, English language learners, affirmative action, desegregation, sexual and racial harassment, and gender equity in athletics
- Began his legal career as a litigator with Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough (1984–1993)
Education
- Duke University School of Law, JD, honors (1984)
-
University of Virginia
(1981)
- Phi Beta Kappa
Admissions
- District of Columbia
Practice Areas
Industries
Experience
Arts work centers on:
- Development of college and career-ready policy, with a focus on issues of accountability and assessments; accreditation and systems improvement; and access for students with disabilities and English language learners in ways that comply with federal nondiscrimination law
- Development of higher education access and diversity policies, including a focus on enrollment-related and employment policies designed to enhance access and the educational benefits of diversity
- Development of fully inclusive school and university safety and conduct policies, with a focus on student bullying and harassment policies, as well as on issues relevant to constitutionally protected expression and speech
- Design of strategies and the implementation of plans to support non-profit organizations that seek to align their educationally focused goals with policy, demographic, and related trends and developments
- Providing legal advice and institutional guidance regarding federal non-discrimination laws, including those that provide protections against race, ethnicity, sex, disability, and language-based discrimination
Previous Professional Experience
- Served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights following a three-and-a-half year tenure as Senior Policy Advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (June 1997–January 2000)
- Responsible for developing federal civil rights policy in education and enforcing relevant federal laws centered on issues relating to standards reform, test use, students with disabilities, English language learners, affirmative action, desegregation, sexual and racial harassment, and gender equity in athletics
- Began his legal career as a litigator with Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough (1984–1993)
Media
Recognitions
- Legal 500 United States, Government: Government relations (2020–2022); Industry Focus: Education (2021–2022)
Professional Activities
- Panel member, NACAC Commission on Redesigning College Admission and Financial Aid Through a Racial Equity Lens
- Board of Directors, National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements
- Board of Directors, Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN)
- Board of Trustees, The Lab School of Washington
- Past Chairperson, Board of Directors, Institute for Higher Education Policy
- National Association of College and University Attorneys
- Testified before the U.S. Senate and the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
- Speaks and writes on topics regarding legal and policy issues in education
- Served as an adjunct professor at two law schools and at one graduate school of education
- Adjunct professor, University of Southern California's Rossier School of Education teaching enrollment management law and policy
Leadership
- Deputy Group Leader, Nelson Mullins' Government Relations Practice Group
Art is managing partner and co-founder of EducationCounsel LLC. He provides policy, strategic, and legal counseling services to national nonprofit organizations, school districts, state agencies, and postsecondary institutions throughout the country, where he addresses issues associated with:
- student access, diversity, inclusion, expression, and success;
- faculty diversity, inclusion, and expression; and
- institutional accountability and accreditation.
Art previously served as deputy...
assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR), where, in the 1990s, he led the department’s development of the department’s Title VI policy on race-conscious financial aid, as well as OCR’s first comprehensive Title IX sexual harassment policy guidance.
Art was instrumental in the establishment of the College Board's Access and Diversity Collaborative (ADC) in 2004, which he has helped lead since its inception. With a focus on issues of diversity and inclusion, he has authored amicus briefs in Grutter v. Bollinger (2003), Gratz v. Bollinger (2003), and in Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin (I and II, 2013 and 2016). His advocacy work also includes the development of a federal amicus strategy and numerous briefs on behalf of transgender students in federal court litigation throughout the United States.
A former litigator, Art has testified before the U.S. Senate and the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.
Experience
Following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.Experience
Arts work centers on:
- Development of college and career-ready policy, with a focus on issues of accountability and assessments; accreditation and systems improvement; and access for students with disabilities and English language learners in ways that comply with federal nondiscrimination law
- Development of higher education access and diversity policies, including a focus on enrollment-related and employment policies designed to enhance access and the educational benefits of diversity
- Development of fully inclusive school and university safety and conduct policies, with a focus on student bullying and harassment policies, as well as on issues relevant to constitutionally protected expression and speech
- Design of strategies and the implementation of plans to support non-profit organizations that seek to align their educationally focused goals with policy, demographic, and related trends and developments
- Providing legal advice and institutional guidance regarding federal non-discrimination laws, including those that provide protections against race, ethnicity, sex, disability, and language-based discrimination
Previous Professional Experience
- Served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights following a three-and-a-half year tenure as Senior Policy Advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (June 1997–January 2000)
- Responsible for developing federal civil rights policy in education and enforcing relevant federal laws centered on issues relating to standards reform, test use, students with disabilities, English language learners, affirmative action, desegregation, sexual and racial harassment, and gender equity in athletics
- Began his legal career as a litigator with Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough (1984–1993)
Education
- Duke University School of Law, JD, honors (1984)
-
University of Virginia
(1981)
- Phi Beta Kappa
Admissions
- District of Columbia
Practice Areas
Industries
- Legal 500 United States, Government: Government relations (2020–2022); Industry Focus: Education (2021–2022)
- Panel member, NACAC Commission on Redesigning College Admission and Financial Aid Through a Racial Equity Lens
- Board of Directors, National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements
- Board of Directors, Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN)
- Board of Trustees, The Lab School of Washington
- Past Chairperson, Board of Directors, Institute for Higher Education Policy
- National Association of College and University Attorneys
- Testified before the U.S. Senate and the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
- Speaks and writes on topics regarding legal and policy issues in education
- Served as an adjunct professor at two law schools and at one graduate school of education
- Adjunct professor, University of Southern California's Rossier School of Education teaching enrollment management law and policy
- Deputy Group Leader, Nelson Mullins' Government Relations Practice Group
Highlights from the Firm’s Idea Exchange
