LL&D is pleased to announce that James Sears Bryant and C. Peter Goplerud have joined the firm as of counsel. Bryant and Goplerud will head LL&D's new Higher Education Practice.  Bryant and Goplerud regularly consult with institutions of higher education regarding issues surrounding governance, development, finance, intellectual property, the administration of charitable funds, and financial restructuring. Bryant and Goplerud also work closely with all types of institutions to prevent and defend claims arising out of institutional misrepresentations and other complex allegations. Both have special expertise in intercollegiate athletics, including NCAA matters, coaches’ contracts, and intellectual property as well as the overall strategic management of institutional sports marketing.

      James Bryant is an experienced higher education professional with over two decades of hands-on institutional experience over a wide range of issues. Bryant holds a doctorate in Higher Education Administration from the University of Pennsylvania, as well as a law degree. He was formerly the chairperson of the Higher Education practice at the Stolar Partnership, based in St. Louis, and for almost a decade before that was with the Washington D.C. firm of Dow, Lohnes.

     Bryant’s practice covers a wide range of issues affecting higher education. These include NCAA issues and related litigation, governance issues, accreditation projects, institutional development, financial and administrative restructures, student affairs, complex internal investigations as well as the defense of institutions charged with a variety of infractions. Over the past few years, Bryant and his team have litigated successfully against the NCAA in a case that marked the first time ever a Division One athletic program was given early entry into post-season tournaments and full division one benefits. He also headed up a team that investigated an alleged cover-up by the Administration of a Big Ten university of a sexual assault by members of one of its athletic teams, defended a major university against allegations by the New York Attorney General that it had improperly benefited from its student loan programs, helped a private institution receive an $18 million dollar grant and assisted numerous institutions with structural changes and administrative reorganizations.

      Peter Goplerud is Dean and Professor of Law at Florida Coastal School of Law, where he teaches sports law. Prior to his tenure at Coastal Law, Goplerud served as dean of Drake University Law School, the University of Oklahoma College of Law, and Southern Illinois University School of Law.  He has also been a faculty member at the University of Akron School of Law and a visiting professor at Saint Louis University School of Law and New York Law School.  He began his career as a law clerk for Justice David Prager of the Supreme Court of Kansas.

     Goplerud, an Iowa native, has been a member of the Sports Lawyers Association Board of Directors since 1997.  He has been a frequent lecturer and has written numerous law review articles regarding sports law topics.  He is a co-author of one of the leading sports law textbooks now in its sixth edition.  He has been a consultant in the sports law field, as well as providing service as an expert witness.  He also has experience with representation of athletes, coaches' contracts, athlete eligibility issues, and collegiate athletic compliance matters. In addition, he has extensive experience with the American Bar Association law school accreditation process, having served numerous times as a member or chair of site evaluation teams.  He was previously Of Counsel to The Stolar Partnership in St. Louis, before becoming Of Counsel to LL&D.

*Goplerud is admitted to practice in Florida. He is not admitted to practice in Oklahoma.