For more than 85 years, Bass, Berry & Sims has provided higher education institutions with sophisticated counsel to navigate the legal challenges and regulatory scrutiny unique to academia. We represent higher education institutions across the public, private, religious and academic medical sectors. Our attorneys combine deep regulatory knowledge with an appreciation for the values, culture and mission that shape decision-making in higher education.
Our Higher Education Industry Group is led by Audrey Anderson, who brings more than three decades of experience as outside counsel, government lawyer and university general counsel to her work advising colleges and universities. Before joining Bass, Berry & Sims, Audrey was Vice Chancellor, General Counsel, and University Secretary at Vanderbilt University, where she oversaw all legal matters for both the university and its medical center. In that role, she managed the full spectrum of issues—from governance and compliance to employment, student affairs, research, and healthcare—giving her a practical, institution-focused perspective that few attorneys can match and that she now brings to advising higher education clients nationwide.
Areas of Focus
Our multidisciplinary team provides a full range of services tailored to the needs of colleges and universities, with particular emphasis on:
The Business of the University: Governance, contracts, financing, government advocacy, real estate, risk management and operations, including counseling boards of trustees and senior leadership on governance and strategic decision-making.
Compliance & Investigations: Regulatory compliance, civil rights, internal investigations, government inquiries, and litigation strategy.
Healthcare & Academic Medical Centers: Legal issues unique to teaching hospitals, medical schools, and student health systems.
Student Affairs: Title IX, Title VI, discipline, accommodations, OCR complaints, student safety and collegiate athletics.
Technology & Research: Protecting, licensing, and commercializing technology and research innovations; technology transactions and data privacy/cybersecurity.
What Sets Us Apart
Comprehensive Higher Education Counsel: We serve as outside counsel to independent colleges and universities, providing a one-stop resource for the full range of legal needs—from governance and compliance to student affairs and risk management.
Led by a Former University General Counsel: Our practice is led by Audrey Anderson, whose first-hand experience managing the full spectrum of higher education legal issues ensures our advice is practical, strategic, and aligned with institutional priorities.
Full-Service Capabilities: As a nationally recognized law firm, we bring together leading practices in labor & employment, technology transactions, healthcare, finance, real estate, and other specialty areas, offering integrated solutions across the issues most critical to higher education.
Focused on Budgeting, Efficiency & Creative Staffing: We recognize the fiscal challenges institutions face and structure our services to deliver maximum value through alternative fee arrangements, right-sized teams, and thoughtful resource allocation.
For more than 85 years, Bass, Berry & Sims has provided higher education institutions with sophisticated counsel to navigate the legal challenges and regulatory scrutiny unique to academia. We represent higher education institutions across the public, private, religious and academic medical sectors. Our attorneys combine deep regulatory knowledge with an appreciation for the values, culture and mission that shape decision-making in higher education.
Our Higher Education Industry Group is led by Audrey Anderson, who brings more than three decades of experience as outside counsel, government lawyer and university general counsel to her work advising colleges and universities. Before joining Bass, Berry & Sims, Audrey was Vice Chancellor, General Counsel, and University Secretary at Vanderbilt University, where she oversaw all legal matters for both the university and its medical center. In that role, she managed the full spectrum of issues—from governance and compliance to employment, student affairs, research, and healthcare—giving her a practical, institution-focused perspective that few attorneys can match and that she now brings to advising higher education clients nationwide.
Areas of Focus
Our multidisciplinary team provides a full range of services tailored to the needs of colleges and universities, with particular emphasis on:
The Business of the University: Governance, contracts, financing, government advocacy, real estate, risk management and operations, including counseling boards of trustees and senior leadership on governance and strategic decision-making.
Compliance & Investigations: Regulatory compliance, civil rights, internal investigations, government inquiries, and litigation strategy.
Healthcare & Academic Medical Centers: Legal issues unique to teaching hospitals, medical schools, and student health systems.
Student Affairs: Title IX, Title VI, discipline, accommodations, OCR complaints, student safety and collegiate athletics.
Technology & Research: Protecting, licensing, and commercializing technology and research innovations; technology transactions and data privacy/cybersecurity.
What Sets Us Apart
Comprehensive Higher Education Counsel: We serve as outside counsel to independent colleges and universities, providing a one-stop resource for the full range of legal needs—from governance and compliance to student affairs and risk management.
Led by a Former University General Counsel: Our practice is led by Audrey Anderson, whose first-hand experience managing the full spectrum of higher education legal issues ensures our advice is practical, strategic, and aligned with institutional priorities.
Full-Service Capabilities: As a nationally recognized law firm, we bring together leading practices in labor & employment, technology transactions, healthcare, finance, real estate, and other specialty areas, offering integrated solutions across the issues most critical to higher education.
Focused on Budgeting, Efficiency & Creative Staffing: We recognize the fiscal challenges institutions face and structure our services to deliver maximum value through alternative fee arrangements, right-sized teams, and thoughtful resource allocation.
We successfully represented Arkansas State University (A-State) in a trademark dispute with Chattanooga Professional Soccer Management LLC (Chattanooga Soccer). On...
Obtained favorable resolution for a private university to potentially volatile allegations asserted by opposing counsel. The plaintiff alleged religious discrimination...
We successfully represented Arkansas State University (A-State) in a trademark dispute with Chattanooga Professional Soccer Management LLC (Chattanooga Soccer). On...
Obtained favorable resolution for a private university to potentially volatile allegations asserted by opposing counsel. The plaintiff alleged religious discrimination...
Visiting, or interacting with, this website does not constitute an attorney-client relationship. Although we are always interested in hearing from visitors to our website, we cannot accept representation on a new matter from either existing clients or new clients until we know that we do not have a conflict of interest that would prevent us from doing so. Therefore, please do not send us any information about any new matter that may involve a potential legal representation until we have confirmed that a conflict of interest does not exist and we have expressly agreed in writing to the representation. Until there is such an agreement, we will not be deemed to have given you any advice, any information you send may not be deemed privileged and confidential, and we may be able to represent adverse parties.
Visiting, or interacting with, this website does not constitute an attorney-client relationship. Although we are always interested in hearing from visitors to our website, we cannot accept representation on a new matter from either existing clients or new clients until we know that we do not have a conflict of interest that would prevent us from doing so. Therefore, please do not send us any information about any new matter that may involve a potential legal representation until we have confirmed that a conflict of interest does not exist and we have expressly agreed in writing to the representation. Until there is such an agreement, we will not be deemed to have given you any advice, any information you send may not be deemed privileged and confidential, and we may be able to represent adverse parties.
Visiting, or interacting with, this website does not constitute an attorney-client relationship. Although we are always interested in hearing from visitors to our website, we cannot accept representation on a new matter from either existing clients or new clients until we know that we do not have a conflict of interest that would prevent us from doing so. Therefore, please do not send us any information about any new matter that may involve a potential legal representation until we have confirmed that a conflict of interest does not exist and we have expressly agreed in writing to the representation. Until there is such an agreement, we will not be deemed to have given you any advice, any information you send may not be deemed privileged and confidential, and we may be able to represent adverse parties.
Visiting, or interacting with, this website does not constitute an attorney-client relationship. Although we are always interested in hearing from visitors to our website, we cannot accept representation on a new matter from either existing clients or new clients until we know that we do not have a conflict of interest that would prevent us from doing so. Therefore, please do not send us any information about any new matter that may involve a potential legal representation until we have confirmed that a conflict of interest does not exist and we have expressly agreed in writing to the representation. Until there is such an agreement, we will not be deemed to have given you any advice, any information you send may not be deemed privileged and confidential, and we may be able to represent adverse parties.
Visiting, or interacting with, this website does not constitute an attorney-client relationship. Although we are always interested in hearing from visitors to our website, we cannot accept representation on a new matter from either existing clients or new clients until we know that we do not have a conflict of interest that would prevent us from doing so. Therefore, please do not send us any information about any new matter that may involve a potential legal representation until we have confirmed that a conflict of interest does not exist and we have expressly agreed in writing to the representation. Until there is such an agreement, we will not be deemed to have given you any advice, any information you send may not be deemed privileged and confidential, and we may be able to represent adverse parties.
Visiting, or interacting with, this website does not constitute an attorney-client relationship. Although we are always interested in hearing from visitors to our website, we cannot accept representation on a new matter from either existing clients or new clients until we know that we do not have a conflict of interest that would prevent us from doing so. Therefore, please do not send us any information about any new matter that may involve a potential legal representation until we have confirmed that a conflict of interest does not exist and we have expressly agreed in writing to the representation. Until there is such an agreement, we will not be deemed to have given you any advice, any information you send may not be deemed privileged and confidential, and we may be able to represent adverse parties.
Visiting, or interacting with, this website does not constitute an attorney-client relationship. Although we are always interested in hearing from visitors to our website, we cannot accept representation on a new matter from either existing clients or new clients until we know that we do not have a conflict of interest that would prevent us from doing so. Therefore, please do not send us any information about any new matter that may involve a potential legal representation until we have confirmed that a conflict of interest does not exist and we have expressly agreed in writing to the representation. Until there is such an agreement, we will not be deemed to have given you any advice, any information you send may not be deemed privileged and confidential, and we may be able to represent adverse parties.
Visiting, or interacting with, this website does not constitute an attorney-client relationship. Although we are always interested in hearing from visitors to our website, we cannot accept representation on a new matter from either existing clients or new clients until we know that we do not have a conflict of interest that would prevent us from doing so. Therefore, please do not send us any information about any new matter that may involve a potential legal representation until we have confirmed that a conflict of interest does not exist and we have expressly agreed in writing to the representation. Until there is such an agreement, we will not be deemed to have given you any advice, any information you send may not be deemed privileged and confidential, and we may be able to represent adverse parties.
Visiting, or interacting with, this website does not constitute an attorney-client relationship. Although we are always interested in hearing from visitors to our website, we cannot accept representation on a new matter from either existing clients or new clients until we know that we do not have a conflict of interest that would prevent us from doing so. Therefore, please do not send us any information about any new matter that may involve a potential legal representation until we have confirmed that a conflict of interest does not exist and we have expressly agreed in writing to the representation. Until there is such an agreement, we will not be deemed to have given you any advice, any information you send may not be deemed privileged and confidential, and we may be able to represent adverse parties.
Visiting, or interacting with, this website does not constitute an attorney-client relationship. Although we are always interested in hearing from visitors to our website, we cannot accept representation on a new matter from either existing clients or new clients until we know that we do not have a conflict of interest that would prevent us from doing so. Therefore, please do not send us any information about any new matter that may involve a potential legal representation until we have confirmed that a conflict of interest does not exist and we have expressly agreed in writing to the representation. Until there is such an agreement, we will not be deemed to have given you any advice, any information you send may not be deemed privileged and confidential, and we may be able to represent adverse parties.
Visiting, or interacting with, this website does not constitute an attorney-client relationship. Although we are always interested in hearing from visitors to our website, we cannot accept representation on a new matter from either existing clients or new clients until we know that we do not have a conflict of interest that would prevent us from doing so. Therefore, please do not send us any information about any new matter that may involve a potential legal representation until we have confirmed that a conflict of interest does not exist and we have expressly agreed in writing to the representation. Until there is such an agreement, we will not be deemed to have given you any advice, any information you send may not be deemed privileged and confidential, and we may be able to represent adverse parties.
Visiting, or interacting with, this website does not constitute an attorney-client relationship. Although we are always interested in hearing from visitors to our website, we cannot accept representation on a new matter from either existing clients or new clients until we know that we do not have a conflict of interest that would prevent us from doing so. Therefore, please do not send us any information about any new matter that may involve a potential legal representation until we have confirmed that a conflict of interest does not exist and we have expressly agreed in writing to the representation. Until there is such an agreement, we will not be deemed to have given you any advice, any information you send may not be deemed privileged and confidential, and we may be able to represent adverse parties.
Visiting, or interacting with, this website does not constitute an attorney-client relationship. Although we are always interested in hearing from visitors to our website, we cannot accept representation on a new matter from either existing clients or new clients until we know that we do not have a conflict of interest that would prevent us from doing so. Therefore, please do not send us any information about any new matter that may involve a potential legal representation until we have confirmed that a conflict of interest does not exist and we have expressly agreed in writing to the representation. Until there is such an agreement, we will not be deemed to have given you any advice, any information you send may not be deemed privileged and confidential, and we may be able to represent adverse parties.
Visiting, or interacting with, this website does not constitute an attorney-client relationship. Although we are always interested in hearing from visitors to our website, we cannot accept representation on a new matter from either existing clients or new clients until we know that we do not have a conflict of interest that would prevent us from doing so. Therefore, please do not send us any information about any new matter that may involve a potential legal representation until we have confirmed that a conflict of interest does not exist and we have expressly agreed in writing to the representation. Until there is such an agreement, we will not be deemed to have given you any advice, any information you send may not be deemed privileged and confidential, and we may be able to represent adverse parties.
Visiting, or interacting with, this website does not constitute an attorney-client relationship. Although we are always interested in hearing from visitors to our website, we cannot accept representation on a new matter from either existing clients or new clients until we know that we do not have a conflict of interest that would prevent us from doing so. Therefore, please do not send us any information about any new matter that may involve a potential legal representation until we have confirmed that a conflict of interest does not exist and we have expressly agreed in writing to the representation. Until there is such an agreement, we will not be deemed to have given you any advice, any information you send may not be deemed privileged and confidential, and we may be able to represent adverse parties.
Visiting, or interacting with, this website does not constitute an attorney-client relationship. Although we are always interested in hearing from visitors to our website, we cannot accept representation on a new matter from either existing clients or new clients until we know that we do not have a conflict of interest that would prevent us from doing so. Therefore, please do not send us any information about any new matter that may involve a potential legal representation until we have confirmed that a conflict of interest does not exist and we have expressly agreed in writing to the representation. Until there is such an agreement, we will not be deemed to have given you any advice, any information you send may not be deemed privileged and confidential, and we may be able to represent adverse parties.
Visiting, or interacting with, this website does not constitute an attorney-client relationship. Although we are always interested in hearing from visitors to our website, we cannot accept representation on a new matter from either existing clients or new clients until we know that we do not have a conflict of interest that would prevent us from doing so. Therefore, please do not send us any information about any new matter that may involve a potential legal representation until we have confirmed that a conflict of interest does not exist and we have expressly agreed in writing to the representation. Until there is such an agreement, we will not be deemed to have given you any advice, any information you send may not be deemed privileged and confidential, and we may be able to represent adverse parties.
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