Lawyer Bio : Elizabeth LeVan Riley

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Elizabeth LeVan Riley

"Liz"

Raleigh

Liz Riley has been with Womble Carlyle since 1986. She concentrates her practice in school and higher education law and commercial construction litigation. This combination of practice developed from Liz’s history of working on the varied legal issues arising on campuses of schools, colleges and universities as they grow to meet many demands, including the renovation and new construction of facilities. Liz works with a variety of public traditional and charter schools, private schools, colleges, universities, foundations and education management organizations. She provides advice and support in areas including school policy, governance, compliance, risk and claims management, financing issues and construction law. Liz is experienced with the organization, licensure and chartering requirements necessary to establish new schools, auxiliary or foreign campuses and degree-granting programs.
 
Liz's representation of educational institutions as owners in construction matters has expanded over 20 years into representation of other types of owners, community developers or operators and commercial contractors. She regularly handles commercial construction project disputes through negotiation, mediation, arbitration and litigation. Liz serves as coordinating and liaison counsel for several continuing care retirement community (CCRC) clients. She works extensively with CCRC providers in operational, policy, compliance, dispute resolution, construction and general business matters.
 
Business North Carolina magazine named Liz to its 2009 and 2010 listings of the state’s top lawyers, the North Carolina Legal Elite, in the area of construction.

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Professional Activities

Bar Associations: North Carolina Bar Association, Education Law Section (Past Chair and Executive Council 1999-2010), Construction Law Section; American Bar Association, Forum on the Construction Industry; The Mississippi Bar.
 
Professional Associations: Institutional Representative Member, National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA); National School Boards Association; North Carolina Council of School Attorneys; AAA/State Certified Mediator; North Carolina Business Committee for Education.
 
Admitted to bar 1983, Mississippi; 1987, North Carolina. Admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court; the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals; the United States District Court for the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of North Carolina and the Southern District of Mississippi; and all North Carolina and Mississippi State Courts.

Civic Activities

Civic and Community Activities
 
North Carolina Governor’s School Task Force (2011-present). Appointed to blue ribbon panel charged with keeping the award-winning Governor's School of North Carolina program running.
 
White Memorial Presbyterian Church (Officer 2004-2010), Youth Advisor; Wake County Communities in Schools Tutor/Mentor; Junior League of Raleigh (past officer); National Charity League.

Education

B.A., 1979, Vanderbilt University; magna cum laude; J.D., 1983, University of Kentucky School of Law; Kentucky Law Journal.

Prior Legal Experience

Associate, Brunini Grantham Grower & Hewes, Jackson, MS, 1984-1986; Associate, Page Mannino & Peresich, Biloxi, MS, 1983.

Publications

"My Best Day Practicing Education Law," North Carolina Bar Association, Education Law Section newsletter, Education Law, February 2009. Click here to read the article.

Presentations

  • “Protecting Minors on Campus: Obligations, Policies, Procedures, and Best Practices,” January 2012, National Association of College and University Attorneys, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. With Beth Jones.
  • “The ‘Top Ten’ Pitfalls and Governance Mistakes That Can Cause Trouble for Charter School Boards – and the Best Practices to Help Avoid Them,” October 2011, National Heritage Academies Board Symposium, Grand Rapids, Michigan. With Mark Henriques.
  • “Understanding and Applying FERPA and HIPAA Laws to Student Health Records,” March 2009, Council of Campus Health Professional, Raleigh, North Carolina.
  • “New FERPA Regulations: Compliance for College and Universities,” January 2009, National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA), webcast from Raleigh, North Carolina.

Additional Information

Firm Management Responsibilities
Member, Professional Development Committee.