Testimonials
Title IX and Conduct Code Violations Testimonials
Outstanding professional help from Tara accompanied by personal touch and empathy with perfect results. Highly recommended if you happen to deal with a Title IX situation
As a retired partner of a mid-sized New York law firm specializing in corporate and banking law and related litigation, I was shocked when my grandson was expelled from a well-known university for purportedly co-hosting a small, off-campus gathering in the waning days of the Covid pandemic. The university, without providing notice of the claims or the identities of the persons making the claims, quickly conducted an administrative “hearing” with no real opportunity for my grandson to defend himself from vague charges of impropriety, resulting in the expulsion order. I knew I had to seek out and retain the very best counsel available to address this situation and avoid serious damage to my grandson’s academic career. Consultation with my firm and another prominent NYC firm led me to Andrew T. Miltenberg.
In Mr. Miltenberg I found counsel who was knowledgeable and skillful in forming the foundation for an administrative appeal while also preparing for civil litigation if the administrative appeal was unsuccessful. Fortunately, Mr. Miltenberg’s intervention during the administrative appeal process resulted in a reversal of the expulsion, avoiding the need for litigation and allowing my grandson to remain enrolled at the university
In forty years of practice, I have engaged with and against countless lawyers at the leading edge of their specialties. Mr. Miltenberg is one of them and I am privileged to recommend him, without reservation, for any student confronted with disciplinary proceedings in higher education.
Our son was involved in a Title IX offense at his small college. We were beyond upset when we were able to view the notice of allegations by the accuser. We had no idea of what the next step(s) should be in protecting our son and his academic career while fighting the false claims. The college had advised my son that he could use one of their counselors and that we did not need an outside attorney. Initially, we took their advice, but then realized that the college was going to do what it needed to do to protect its federal funding and did not care about my son’s innocence. We realized that we needed to have someone in our corner who was experienced in Title IX cases and not an inexperienced counselor who could not advise our son. We contacted Nesenoff & Miltenberg. Immediately, we received a call back from Marybeth Sydor. Ms. Sydor spoke to us at length, letting us know that she would be there every step of the way and what we could expect. Ms. Sydor calmed our fears and worked with us in every aspect of the case. She was phenomenal. Between Ms. Sydor’s knowledge and expertise and the outstanding consultation and advice given by Mr. Miltenberg, our son was found not guilty or responsible for any allegations or any wrongdoing. It was the outcome we had hoped for, our son could continue on with his education. We cannot imagine how this would have turned out if we had listened to the college and let an inexperienced counselor handle our son’s defense. We would highly recommend the law firm of Nesenoff & Miltenberg to any family going through Title IX proceedings at the college level.
Andrew, thank you so much for your support and expertise. They were invaluable in the successful resolution of my case. Permit me to add that Regina Federico was magnificent. She eased my stress , prepared me for the adjudicator and submitted the required documentation in a way that gave us victory. I am not an attorney, but I was in awe of how she handled all matters including the examination of witnesses. In sum, she is an absolutely wonderful person, a kind woman and I will be forever grateful to her. Thank you for sending her my way.
My daughter was recently involved in a Title IX issue at her college campus. We were encouraged by the school not to seek legal assistance but after speaking to Mr. Miltenberg, we were convinced otherwise. He pointed out the very serious possibilities that could arise if things did not go our way. We were convinced that these charges were defensible and explainable but were not sure how to convey that. Mr. Miltenberg spoke to my daughter at length and chose a young female attorney, Ms. Adrienne Levy, at his firm to represent her. This was a fabulous choice and Ms. Levy helped my daughter find her voice and defend herself. This is exactly why we did need legal assistance during this very emotional time and could not risk approaching it ourselves. I am very happy to say that justice prevailed and thanks to Ms. Levy and the firm, my daughter’s education will continue uninterrupted. If anyone finds themselves in this horrible situation, please do not hesitate to get the help you need from this very professional and competent law firm.
Andrew Miltenberg and Diana Warshow did a phenomenal job representing the victim in a very complex case. Their extensive experience, compassionate understanding, combined with the ability to both recommend strategy and tactically execute was unmatched and was deeply appreciated. Would highly recommend them for the Complainant side of the Title IX and UWC process.
What stands out to me about your work is the scholarly and educational quality of the pleadings that you file. The judge can’t help but be educated.
Thank you everyone. We are all somewhat shell shocked and trying to remember how to breathe.
Your team’s collective approach, especially our relationship with Marybeth and Adrienne, was absolutely fundamental to success. At times our family had to navigate a process that demands patience and logic when our emotions were far too raw. It was important from the beginning that we had a partnership with you all and we recognize and appreciate how that was honored. We are slowly returning to the land of the living thanks to you all.
A heartfelt thank you to each of you for your dedicated high caliber work on our family’s, especially our son’s, behalf, and for believing in justice and due process as a fundamental principal of our democracy. As parents, our anguish was profound as we watched our son navigate an exceedingly dark and unjust experience. It was agony to feel so helpless. We appreciate your patience as our emotions at times almost swamped us into a state of indecision.
Working with you gave us hope, not just in our family’s situation but in our society–that there are people like you who work for the better good of our communities.
As privileged white Americans, this whole experience gave us a tiny glimpse into what it means to be an American for those who are both less privileged, and, because of their race, gender or religion, face discrimination on a daily basis.
We know that you will all continue to do outstanding work. We wish each of you the best.
And thank you for working so closely with our son regarding his grades. When the situation first unfolded, he retreated into his younger self and desperately sought and clung to our support. Now as he moves forward, he has pulled back, reclaimed his independence and young adulthood, and prefers to have little input from his parents.
Andrew, you are so much more than you give yourself credit for. You’re a therapist – and a really gifted one. You help put things into perspective that give people comfort and clarity at one of the worst moments in their lives. You are a champion for the underdog, and for those who deserve to have someone in their corner – everyone deserves that, and you bring yourself fully to the process. You’re a remarkable man and I’m grateful to have you in my corner.
To the N&M team who are doing outstanding work to help protect the due process rights of convicted students in the eyes of Universities.
Andrew and his team are very knowledgeable people to handle Title IX due process related cases. When I first talked to Andrew, it felt like I reached the right person to help my son who was wrongfully accused. They are knowledgeable, helpful, and were always reachable whether it was by mail, text, or even phone calls. They were also very receptive and kept us up-to-date on any and all information that had come about. We are very thankful the team for their help throughout this difficult situation.
The team always proactively communicated about the progress of the case, possible next steps and alternatives, which gave us confidence that we entrusted our case to the right people. Throughout the process, Andrew, Stuart and the team always kept us well informed, assisted us with any questions that arose, and followed up with us if we had any concerns. The team also took the extra steps and reached out to other educational experts to make sure they had covered all the bases before moving forward.
The team effectively and proactively communicated about the current developments, progress, and next steps throughout the entirety of the case. The team was not only sympathetic, but also empathetic and guided my son through the process to make sure all aspects of the case are covered.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Andrew, Stuart, Marybeth and everyone at N&M for everything you have done for my son and our family. We are forever grateful for what you have done.
It is difficult to put into words the gratitude we feel, as a family, to Stuart Bernstein, our primary lawyer, as well as Andrew Miltenberg, who made his support felt at key moments throughout what must be characterized as the most painful and frightening period of our lives. Stuart’s unerring professional acumen, quick responsiveness, eye for detail, and a stunning combination of nimbleness of mind and profound experience, were matched only by his natural humanity and unfussy compassion. My husband and I don’t know where we would be today without the allies we found in Nesenoff & Miltenberg, LLP
On behalf of my son and I, along with my husband and daughter, we cannot express in words how thankful and appreciative we all are to have found Andrew and Marybeth to represent him. As you are both well aware of, with the many cases you take on, it is very stressful for the accused and their family to have to go through this ordeal. All I can say is how blessed we are to have our son represented by a legal firm that is so organized. I have seen many attorneys that don’t return calls or emails for days. Marybeth never missed a beat and worked diligently to help our son reply to emails in a prompt manner. We are blessed.
I had the best Mother’s Day ever – a family day for the four of us with a lot of gratefulness all around. Thank you for all your help toward this favorable outcome, truly remarkable given what is going on nationally. It is a testament to both my son’s integrity as well as the support of you and your firm. I am deeply grateful.
I want to thank you so much for doing such a wonderful job for our son. I truly believe that his school would have blamed him for everything if we had not hired you. He would have been lost without your guidance in this process. You fully prepped & prepared him every step of the way. Thank you for your professionalism & expertise in this very frustrating matter. All thanks to you.
Andrew and the team at N&M helped me through a very difficult time in my life. Throughout the process, their support, warmth, kindness and expertise made me feel like I was in very good hands. This feeling was proven in the winning of our case. I would recommend them to anyone.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you and your staff at Nesenoff & Miltenberg for everything you all have done for my son and our family. I can vividly remember taking the phone call from my son and him telling me what he had been accused of hearing the stress and despair in his voice. During our conversation he told me he would have never done what he was being accused of and was unequivocally innocent of such accusations.
Hearing him say this, I knew I had to do whatever it took to assure he received the best possible defense to assist him through this long and gruesome process, hence my phone call to you. After speaking with you I felt a lot better about our situation and my sons future which was trying to be taken from him. Not knowing that this process would take a year of our lives to see through to the end I was glad we had you on our side.
The team at N&M has a way of calming the situation when it seems very stressful, they understood our son and how to handle him and work with him throughout this process, they know when to be aggressive in what they say and write, they also know when to be passive which was just as important at times. They knew when to be firm with us to get what they needed from us to assist us at times knowing what was best for us. Their knowledge of the system, the process, the laws, my son’s rights were instrumental in our success. They were always available for phone calls to answer our questions, they always responded to our text messages quickly and diligently.
With all due respect to the opposing counsel the team at N&M was just better, they were better prepared, they had a better sense of what was important to say or write, and what I believe, a better knowledge base of how the whole system works giving my son the best possible chance to get every possible important item either written or said when needed. With all of that said, I feel what sets the team at N&M apart the most in the end is that they care. We always felt they cared very much about my son and our family, just as if it were their own. I don’t think they will really ever know how their strength and drive helped us through this tough and trying time which we will always be grateful for.
Again, please allow me to thank you and the team at N&M for everything, and I truly mean that. I can only imagine what would have happened to my son if he would have come out on the other end of this case, however, because everyone’s efforts I will never have to. I am so thankful there are people like you and the team at N&M out there fighting for people like my son, you demand justice where it always isn’t like it should be. With sincere gratitude I say if there is anything I can ever do or assist in any way please feel free to ask, I will always be grateful to you all.
So, when last December 15th found me barred from the university I grew to love and respect, barred from my students, colleagues, and the galleries that I directed, it was a defining moment.
As I read articles about you, listened to interviews, studied the court cases you were involved in, the more respect I had for your efforts.
I felt that you were really courageous for not just wading into the waters of all that involves Title IX, in fact it seemed you jumped head first into a maelstrom of anger, vindictiveness, sexism, politically correct politics and agendas, and sexual harassment or assault, either real or imagined, and into a new industry that arose after the Obama “Dear Colleague” letter.
Maybe courageous isn’t the proper word, maybe crazy, or lunacy is a better description, but jump you did, and we are all the better for it, men, women, trans, and all citizens.
I think that the work you do, is vital, paramount, and in the same league as the civil rights battles of the 60s, in the South, where “due process” seemed to be only some words written on a piece of paper, stuffed into a trash can somewhere in courtrooms, police stations, and the halls of government, business, and street corners. While the cases might be incidentally about someones personal experience, with all their petty details, the largeness of them as an uncomfortable truth as a path to rectify and punish the uncivil and mean spirited tools used by institutions and individuals to deny us the goals of the Constitution, and Bill of Rights.
So, reading of your work, the phone calls we had, and the support you provided helped me to personally survive a very dark period. It provided me and my family with hope, that my life as I knew it wasn’t over.
For that gift, I wanted to thank you from the bottom of my heart and my family.
As a student at Texas A&M University, I was involved in an extremely abusive relationship. The police were contacted and the school was informed. Before speaking with the offices of Nesenoff & Miltenberg, I was very worried, and had no idea what the outcome would be, as the charges filed against me were extremely serious. After speaking with and retaining the Nesenoff & Miltenberg, I was able to understand the process much better, get together everything I needed, and prepare adequately for my hearing. Ultimately, I was able to communicate everything I needed to, my rights as a student and citizen were protected by Nesenoff & Miltenberg, and I received the advice and support I needed to be successful. My abuser was separated from the school, and I remain here to complete my degree. I cannot recommend Nesenoff & Miltenberg enough.
Hello Everyone, I greatly appreciate everything you all have done and don’t know where I would be without your efforts. Thank you for all your effort in my case, and for continuing to help people in situations similar to mine. I hope you have great success in your new cases.
Dear Andrew and the team at N&M, When I think of the things I am thankful for this year, you are high on my list. I will always be grateful for the crucial help you gave our daughter and our family. She is a senior at Princeton and doing very well. I want you to know you changed the course of a promising young girl’s life. Our Daughter is a normal happy college kid now… she goes to lectures on Chinese foreign policy, she is studying art history, majoring in international relations, enjoying college activities from Shabbat dinner to Halloween parties, serving as a mentor for younger students and active in the campus service center volunteering for philanthropic causes. The work you do really matters — I know you know this already, but I cannot say it enough. I am so very very grateful and thank you from the bottom of my heart. I wish you and your families a happy holiday.
I’d done a lot of research on how schools handle their discipline process under Title IX because the charges against me were very serious, and I did a lot of research on who to hire before selecting this firm. Felice was super capable and attentive. I have heard that people usually have to chase their lawyers for information, but they reached out to me when they needed anything to keep the case going in the right direction.
They didn’t let anything slip by. Their intense attention to detail was incredible. Everyone at the firm was also very personable and it was obvious that they genuinely believed in me. My future was a stake and they got that. I chose a firm that helped me clear my name, get vindication, and achieve what I needed to achieve to protect my future.
Male college junior at a northeast public university
I selected the firm after doing extensive research trying to locate an attorney that specializes in sexual assault cases on university campuses. Late one night I emailed Felice for a consult just to see what she had to say. By 6:30am the next morning she had already emailed me back leaving her information for me to call her. I was impressed by her promptness and early morning response. Our criminal attorney informed our family that this simply wasn’t his specialty and strongly recommended we hire someone who really understood how university disciplinary systems work.
In our culture, we are not often trusting and it took a huge step of faith to consider someone we didn’t know (much less one from out of state) to defend our son. Based on her collegiate athletic background I felt that she would have a better understanding of our case as our son is a D1 athlete. Based on that and her professional accomplishments I felt like she was driven and determined and she clearly had the ability to understand the laws associated with Title IX.
Bottom line is that our son was found 100% not responsible (meaning not guilty) of the extremely serious charges that were brought against him by a female student. The firm professional, focused, responsive and did a great job throughout the entire stressful ordeal. When we think about how badly and unfairly our son might have been treated by the school, we truly count our blessings that we found them.
Parent of a private midwestern college sophomore
My experience was extremely positive & professional. Attorney Duffy’s background, a combination of both legal and extensive college athletics experience, made her uniquely capable of advising me each step of the way through the process. She was readily available whenever there was a new development to answer any questions and provide advice, often going out of her way to assist.
You cannot imagine how important this is until you are thrust unexpectedly in a volatile and stressful situation and you need good advice in a hurry. This advice lead to positive resolution of the matter that I sought counsel on. This firm gets the strongest possible recommendation from to anyone in need of legal representation, especially to someone involved in college athletics.
Head coach, men’s northeast college soccer team
Attorney Duffy’s psychology background makes her great at relating to people. I was the captain of my team and thought there was no way I was going to be let back into school, much less play again. With Felice’s help I was found not responsible and my suspension was reversed and I didn’t miss any playing. She told me what points to raise, when to raise them, and helped me build my confidence back up. I had a lot of anxiety but she helped me keep perspective during the whole thing. She’s been through a lot in her own life and helped me see the light at the end of the tunnel, because she really gets what people are going through — especially something traumatic. Her office is extremely organized. Felice and her staff got documents and emails back to me and to all the officials at the school at exactly the right times. Her preparation in reading every page of every policy let her address the exact issues and circumstances we faced at every step of the process. I will always be grateful to this firm.
Female college sophomore at a New England private college
When I was first accused of violating my school’s Title IX policy, I retained an attorney who, despite his years of expertise, did not have any experience with Title IX. I thought this attorney would aggressively fight for my rights, but the reality was that he was uncommunicative, unsupportive, and inexperienced when it came to my case. His approach left me feeling helpless and even more afraid than I was when I began the process, so my parents and I decided to look elsewhere for representation. Thankfully, we found this firm.
The representation I received from this firm was the complete opposite of what I had received from my previous attorney. The team made sure I was always updated on the status of my case and well-informed about the next steps. They took the time to get to know me personally and treated me as an individual rather than just another client. They valued the importance of open and expedient communication with both me and my support system, and their extensive experience with working at collegiate institutions helped me feel confident in the advice they gave me. All in all, they helped me gain back my confidence in myself and put me in a position where I am sure of my future for the first time in a long time.
Male freshman at a southern public university
Before being accused, I had no idea what the Title IX process looked like. I knew I was in jeopardy of losing the career I had devoted my entire life to, and I felt powerless to do anything about it. The only thing I knew to do was to hire representation to guide me through the process, and I am eternally grateful that I decided to hire this team.
Having them on my side was essential to knowing what to expect, particularly because I was hardly given any guidance from the institution I worked for. They helped me stay mentally healthy through what was a frightening and intimidating process and reminded me to hold my head high, to stay professional, and to stick to the facts of what I knew happened. They transformed a process that I was entirely unfamiliar with and terrified by into one I felt confident navigating.
For my case, there was a tremendous amount of evidence that needed to be gathered and parsed through critically reviewed. Every piece of information was thoughtfully presented to the Title IX office. Understanding the post-decision process was crucial for me to effectively put one foot in front of the other and step back into my career.
Without the expertise of someone who knows Title IX, I cannot imagine how I would have managed this process, let alone have been found not responsible. When faced with allegations like these, you quickly realize that the cost of a lawyer is worth it to protect the career you have poured your heart into developing. They helped me achieve the best possible outcome and enabled me to continue on in the career I love, and I am so glad that I chose them to represent me.
Male professor at a southern public university
When I found this law firm, I was going through one of the most difficult times of my life. I was dismissed from my physician’s assistant program, and even though I felt the dismissal was unfair, I had no idea how I would prove that. However, once I met Attorney Duffy, I immediately felt at ease. She was there for me every step of the way from start to finish.
One part of the process I had to go through consisted of me going before an appeals board at the institution by myself, and although I felt timid and unsure when I learned I had to do this, Attorney Duffy helped me develop the confidence I needed to effectively present my case. I would definitely recommend Attorney Duffy and her team to anyone else facing a similar situation.
They are thorough, professional, and helped me win my appeal and get reinstated into my program! In fact, when I received the marks for my new semester (all of which were exceptional), I reached out to Attorney Duffy and her team to let her know that we had done it. I am so appreciative of everything that they did to make it so that I could continue to pursue my dream career.
Female graduate student at a northeast private university
The claims leveled against me were terrible, but the wonderful news is that I was fully cleared of all the allegations because of the outstanding work the team at this firm did on my behalf. The first thing that really impressed me was that from the very first call they quickly understood what was going on and was able to read between the lines to understand the complicated dynamics of the situation. Despite my entire career being spent in academia, I didn’t know much about Title IX procedures. Her expertise and knowledge of the process was immediately apparent and critically helpful in guiding me and giving me as much peace of mind as possible..
My attorney knew how to spot the important subtext throughout the process and made sure I understood the strategic options I had at every stage going forward. I felt very confident in the decisions we made together. I felt vindicated by the decision and that this situation will have no further effects on my career. I am very grateful to everyone for guiding me through this stressful process and recommend them without reservation to any faculty member facing a similarly challenging situation.
Male assistant professor in the School of Medicine at a mid-west university
I hired Felice Duffy in the middle of a Title IX sexual assault proceeding. While I had initially retained another attorney on a recommendation, it turns out they did not have much insight to the inner workings of university policy, which I learned is NOT required to follow the basic laws of due process. Felice was absolutely incredible, and as an athlete, she understood my thought process and feelings the entire way. This is what stood out the most to me. At the beginning of my school’s adjudication process, I was an absolute mess. Not only is Felice extremely knowledgeable in law and how school adjudication processes work, but she also really does care about her clients and their well-being.
It was initially extremely tough for me to speak about what I was facing. Felice was able to assist me not only in compiling the proper evidence and responding to the school, but also put me in the right state of mind to defend myself and move on with my life after it was all completed. Prior to hiring this firm, I was concerned that I would be relegated to working with a legal assistant or secretary being that my case was in a college setting as opposed to a state court. However, Felice always found a way to make time and was there every step of the way.
I feel like an important part of hiring an attorney is being able to trust them to fight for you no matter what the scenario may be and you can rest assured you will be getting that with this team. I would recommend Felice Duffy and this legal team 10 times out of 10 to anyone that may be put in a tough situation like I was.
Female college freshman at a New England private university
I would recommend these attorneys and staff to anyone in trouble with their school for many reasons. First, they are very easy to talk to and helped me understand what seems to be a pretty crazy process. They were very comforting. They scheduled many zoom meetings to go over all the many details they needed to figure out to best represent me. They always made sure I was comfortable with what I had to tell the various school officials. Being found not responsible was like a huge weight being lifted off my shoulders. Going with them was one of the best decisions my family and I ever made.
Male college Junior at a southern private college
I would (and have) recommended Felice because my case was very difficult, and I don’t believe I would have navigated the process and prevailed without someone who was a true expert in the area title ix and sexual assault. Felice is whip smart and she outmatched the perpetrator’s lawyer plain and simple. Felice was able to predict what the other side would do and was right virtually every time.
When consulting employment lawyers before Felice, they convinced me the University would never find cause, nor would they be likely to remove him and I would be risking my career and should drop it. But that completely changed when I got Felice and her team involved. Felice talked me out of my initial instincts, and I am very grateful that she did because her expertise and her approach was what I needed to get the positive outcome I did.
I was originally looking for a bulldog who would rip to shreds the person who abused me. And though Felice’s competitiveness gives her that bulldog spirit, she’s not hotheaded at all. She’s very methodical and she didn’t let her emotions (or mine) get in the way of her choosing the right strategies and actions, even though the other side’s lawyer personally attacked her, me, used foul language, and made threats. Felice made it clear that it doesn’t matter if you’re the actual victim, you can be made out to be the perpetrator by the opposing lawyer, so you need an experienced lawyer to protect you.
Through the entire process, my husband and I were incredibly grateful to have Felice as our advocate.
Female professor at a Southwest university
My son was accused of sexual assault during his first year at college. The allegation was anonymous and as the rumor spread, did significant damage to his reputation and relationships with his peers.
It was a difficult situation with no clear answers. We turned to the firm to advise us on how to respond to the situation. My son received counseling on what to say and how to protect himself so he would be in the best position if a Title IX complaint was filed.
It was a comfort to have the expertise and support of everyone at the firm. Ultimately my son decided wanted to withdraw and was able to do so in good standing.
Having them in our corner gave us confidence that we were making well informed decisions. Getting them involved early on was one of the best decisions I made.
Parent of a male college freshman at a Southwest private college
When I heard that a student in a club I had participated in had accused me of sexual harassment and mentioned the possibility of a Title IX complaint, my family and I researched law firms that specialized in this kind of situation. This firm’s extensive website was clearly the most comprehensive, so we went with them. We quickly learned how complicated and risky it would have been to handle the situation on our own.
Everything was explained to us clearly and we immediately felt confident that we’d made the right decision and that we’d get the situation handled successfully.
My school’s Title IX process was a colossal black box of confusion. When you’re accused of something you didn’t do, it weighs on you in a hundred different ways, and it’s so easy and tempting to be angry and say things that could make things worse.
It was amazing to have someone guide us wisely at every turn and keep us from doing anything that could have inadvertently jeopardized my situation.
My case was resolved with no charges brought. It’s a huge relief to have it out of my life. I have the bandwidth again for the things I want and need to focus on. My family and I can’t recommend them highly enough.”
Male sophomore at a northwest private college
I was worried that no lawyer would be willing to look past what everyone was saying in my college newspaper and the local press and see me as the person I really am. Immediately when I talked with Felice, she didn’t judge me based on anything other than the interactions we had. That was super important to me. One of the first things she said to me was “Tom, you’re not a bad person.” She gave me a lot of comfort. She really understood the situation as it was, and she was always straightforward about what she believed would be best for me.
I was extremely worried about whether I would graduate college after 4 years of hard work. I was worried that I wouldn’t even get a chance to tell my story. From emails all along the way, to the opening and closing statements at my hearing, Felice guided me how to say what I knew was true in my heart. Her understanding of the how college administrators were thinking about the situation was critical to the positive outcome of my case. Without her, I don’t think I’d have gotten my diploma.
Male senior at a northeast private college
We were referred by a friend and very well-respected lawyer to this firm based on Attorney Duffy’s extensive experience in working with Colleges and Universities. Our son ran into several issues at his university including drug charges that jeopardized his ability to stay on campus and could easily have led to his being expelled.
The entire team did a great job explaining what we needed to do, who we needed to speak with, what we should say (and not say), what information we needed to gather, what actions we needed to take and how to go about the entire process. Their strategy was perfect. Their communication with my son and our family (and the school) was always prompt and clear. They were extremely well prepared to deal with the school officials who controlled our son’s fate and provided the best defense possible.
The end result allowed our son to return to school and live on campus – which thankfully exceeded our highest expectations. On a scale of 1-10- we’d personally give them an 11! Thank you!”
Parents of a male college freshman in New England
The biggest lesson Felice taught me is that you CAN control what is your responsibility to control when everything around you seems out of control. Felice calmed me down and taught me how controlling your actions now can benefit you later. For starters, she totally understands what women athletes go through. I’d never had anyone in my life who really got that before.
She reminded me always that I was in the right. She told me how I had every right to do what I was doing even if I doubted myself at times. Sure, she helped me work with myself and my situation, but she also gave me the courage to see that I could benefit the entire team and school so others don’t have to go through what I went through.
Without Felice I would not have had the strength to do it on my own. I felt that everyone was against me, but she was always there to support me. My family saw how hard the situation was for me and once the firm got involved, we all saw that we could actually win – and we did.
Sophomore female athlete, private northeast college
Here’s what to do if you get a notice from your school about a Title IX violation. Step one: tell your parents. Step two: Call this law firm. They took the time to understand the specifics of my case and everyone there was totally invested in it. Their response time was super-fast and I really appreciated that. From our very first meeting they were reassuring about the process and it was clear that they were completely in their element. We resolved the case with a far more favorable result than my family and I would have gotten on our own.
Male freshman at a private university in the south
I am writing to let any college student who gets accused of something serious by their school know that they need a lawyer like Felice Duffy to defend them. I was accused of something terrible by a student that I would never do and didn’t do. Even though I knew exactly what actually happened, I was very scared that my university might not find me innocent. It was terrifying to think that I might lose my full basketball scholarship or could have been suspended or expelled and that me and my family’s name could have gotten a horrible reputation. I can’t even put into words how I excited I was when I got the letter from the school that cleared me completely of the charges against me and I have Felice to thank for that 100%.
Since I’m not in Connecticut, Felice and her investigator used video conferencing to interview me and my witnesses, talk with my parents, and get me fully prepared for every meeting I had with my school. They got all my texts and email that proved my innocence and organized them perfectly for the Dean and the discipline committee. Felice was always very direct and respectful even though the subject matter was very personal, and she was always ahead of the school in terms of getting me and them important information at every step. It was like having the best scouting report ever.
Felice obviously knows her stuff but she also deeply cares. You can tell that she loves the work she’s doing to help college kids in really difficult situations.”
Male college sophomore, western private university
I was falsely accused of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation by one of my Ph.D. students. Knowing I was innocent of the charges caused me to initially underestimate how stressful the process was going become. It was critical to get the help of a lawyer who completely understood the nuances of the investigatory process and follow-up hearings. We won a reversal of the initial investigation report and I was found not responsible of all charges. It was obviously a huge relief to be able to put this difficult process behind me. The team here was fantastic.
Male college professor, west coast public university
When your kid is accused of a serious conduct code violation at his college, you quickly learn that there’s a whole different set of rules in place than in the real world. There are no legal standards, no assurances of a “fair trial.” You’re presumed guilty and you have to backtrack and prove why you’re NOT guilty. We pretty quickly realized that we needed strong legal representation and guidance. Our son was completely falsely accused and we were ready to dig in to clear his name.
The firm’s truly unique background and deep experience with navigating the school’s process was amazing. They made it clear that our son was the client, not us (his parents). They worked with him extensively and earned his total trust. He felt empowered that he had the right people in his corner to defend him. They gave our whole family a sense a calm and confidence.
Thanks to incredibly hard work by Felice and her team, our son was found “not responsible” (meaning innocent of any wrongdoing). The outcome was everything we could have hoped for. I have already recommended them to a friend who’s son was caught up in a serious, very complicated conduct code charge, and I will continue to recommend them to any student or parent without reservation.
Parent of a male southwest private college senior
I was introduced to Attorney Duffy by my criminal defense attorney because I was fighting both a criminal charge and a conduct code violations charge. Felice’s office responded right away and she and I met by Zoom video. She and her team were respectful, professional and super knowledgeable. They made everything clear and easily understandable. They knew exactly what questions to ask the school officials to get them to focus on the facts that supported my case. I was incredibly well prepared. I knew what I was going to say before I went in to my interviews and how to react to the many questions that would have tripped me up. I got probation, which was definitely the best possible outcome and I couldn’t have gotten that without Attorney Duffy’s help.
Male college junior at a west coast public university
We hired Felice because we were told she was one of the best lawyers in this specialized area where college athletics, Title IX, and conduct code violation intersect. We couldn’t be happier on our daughter’s behalf. As parents, we obviously care deeply about our daughter and her safety. Felice was open and honest with us at every turn throughout the school’s formal and informal proceedings. How Felice interacted with our daughter and the positive impact she made in our daughter’s life was amazing. What our daughter learned will be with her for the rest of her life and she’ll be able to bring those lessons to her fellow female athletes well into the future. We couldn’t put a price on it. It’s the best takeaway we could have hoped for.
Parent of female sophomore athlete, private northeast college
I came to Felice with a very difficult and delicate Title IX matter. The unofficial case had been ongoing for over a year, and I lived in constant fear of an official proceeding. I didn’t know my rights nor what the best course of action was. Upon hiring Felice, she helped me to quickly and efficiently develop an action plan. Felice is an expert in Title IX proceedings, and not once during our engagement did Felice not know the answer to any question I had. She was crucial in helping me navigate the extremely complicated rules, regulations, and processes surrounding Title IX. Thanks to her commitment to understanding my unique situation, my case has been solved.
Felice is a great lawyer. But beyond that, she is an incredible person. Before coming to her, my case had had detrimental effects on mental health, largely due to the uncertainty of what would happen in the future. Felice’s thoughtfulness and attentiveness calmed me significantly, and my time with her taught me that my Title IX case shouldn’t define my stress levels nor my life. I would hire her again without hesitation.
Male college senior at an east coast private university
I could write a book about why you should hire this law firm immediately if your child is accused of a serious Title IX violation. The first three chapters would be: 1. They know the law and applicable federal regulations better than anyone else — and far better than the schools. 2. Their attorneys and paralegals are super-smart, honest, compassionate, responsive, tough and wise. 3. They are on top of every detail in what can quickly become an overwhelming very high-stakes process (in our case suspension and a permanent mark on our son’s educational record).
They gave us our life back. They won two separate appeals that resulted in our son being found not responsible of all the charges he was accused of — which is, apparently uncommon (especially in a pure “he said/she said” situation). They never gave up on our son or the justness of his case, even in the face of long odds. They kept my son, and my husband and me sane.
Of greatest and most lasting impact though (beyond the exoneration they won for our son) was that they helped us realize that this horrible experience did not and does not define our child or our family going forward. That is worth the world to us.
You never send your kid off to college thinking something like this could happen and derail his education and follow him forever. But it does happen. And if it happens to you, seriously, get yourself and your family to this law firm Immediately.
Parent of a freshman at a southeast private college