Laurel Pyke Malson
Areas of Focus
Overview
Laurel Pyke Malsonis a partner in Crowell & Moring's Washington, D.C. office, a member of the Litigation Group, and chairs the firm's Education Practice. She focuses on litigation, internal and independent investigations, and compliance counseling for educational institutions regarding issues such as Title IX, Title VI, Program Integrity Rules, ADEA, First Amendment, faculty misconduct, tenure disputes, and FERPA. She also routinely counsels foreign and domestic clients regarding litigation risk management in the U.S. federal and state courts; and has litigated extensively under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, the International Claims Settlement Act, and other "public law" provisions where foreign and U.S. government, and related entities, are involved. She also has litigated numerous class-actions under, e.g., the Equal Educational Opportunities Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, state contract and consumer fraud provisions, and matters involving academic misconduct allegations, in addition to a broad range of business and individual torts, including civil rights and constitutional violations. In addition, Ms. Malson has counseled and litigated on behalf of a variety of public and private entities, including public school systems (and public charters) and universities, independent secondary schools, community college systems, academic medical centers and other health care providers, health plans, and professional and trade associations. She also serves as a federal court mediator in a wide range of disputes, with a focus on employment and civil rights matters.
Career & Education
- Department of Justice: Office of Legal Counsel
Attorney-Advisor, 1981–1985
- Department of Justice: Office of Legal Counsel
- Wesleyan University, B.A., 1976
- Harvard Law School, J.D., 1979
- District of Columbia
- Supreme Court of the United States
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
Professional Activities and Memberships
- National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA)
- U.S. District Court, District of Columbia; U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit—Panel of Mediators, 1990s–Present
- Winner, 2010 International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution (CPR)’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to Diversity
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Committee on Grievances, Chair, 2001–2004
- District of Columbia Appleseed Center for Law and Justice, Board of Directors, 1994–1998
- D.C. Circuit Advisory Committee on Procedures, 1986–1991
- American Bar Association—International Law Section; Litigation Section
Laurel Pyke's Insights
Firm News | 2 min read | 05.30.24
Crowell & Moring Honors Recipients of 25th Annual George Bailey Public Service Awards
Washington, D.C. – May 30, 2024: Crowell & Moring hosted its 25thannual George Bailey Public Service Awards ceremony. Named after the hero of the classic movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” these awards recognize the firm’s lawyers and staff who have made a substantial impact on the lives of others through their pro bono work.
Client Alert | 4 min read | 02.12.24
Courts Consider Whether Nonpublic Schools Are Subject to Title IX Based on 501(c)(3) Status
Client Alert | 4 min read | 10.06.23
Representative Matters
Recent Representations
- Defend universities against Title IX claims arising out of student disciplinary proceedings.
- Draft comments for submission to the U.S. Department of Education on behalf of universities in response to NPRM regarding Title IX regulations.
- Defend university in “tuition refund” litigation following COVID-19 campus closures.
- Investigate claims of racially hostile campus environment following allegations of faculty misconduct.
- Defend university systems against First Amendment freedom of speech claims.
- Defend and resolve claims against university following student suicide.
- Secure dismissal of sec. 1981 race discrimination claims asserted against university by commercial contractor.
- Litigate and resolve university tenure disputes involving various discrimination claims.
- Conduct of numerous independent investigations of student and faculty sexual misconduct for independent schools.
- Investigation of abuse allegations in Division I athletic program.
- Doe v. Trustees of Princeton University, D.N.J. (2018), aff’d CA3 (2020) (Title IX litigation)
- MedStar Health, Inc. v. District of Columbia Department of Health, State Health Planning and Development Agency, et al., No. 14-AA-328 (D.C. Court of Appeals) (September 2016) (administrative review of CON Determination)
- Brief of Amici Curiae The National Domestic Violence Hotline, The National Network to End Domestic Violence, The Battered Women’s Justice Project, and End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin et al., Voisine v. United States, No. 14-10154 (S. Ct. 2016).
- Congress of Hispanic Educators v. Denver Public Schools v. The United States of America, No. 95-cv-02313-RPM(D.Co.) (Class action involving provision of educational services to English Language Learners).
- Claim of Donna Marlowe, Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the U.S., Libya Program ($3 million award).
- In re Black Farmers Discrimination Litigation, No. 08-mc-511 (D.D.C.) (Class action discrimination in USDA farm loan program resulting in $1.25 billion settlement).
- Pugh v. Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya , et al. (D.D.C) (awarded $6.1 billion judgment, January 24, 2008); Pugh v. Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya , et al., No. 02-2026 (D.D.C. Sept. 3, 2006) aff'd, No. 06-7167 (DC Cir. April 8, 2007) (unpublished order granting summary affirmance).
- Smith v. Hope Village, Inc., 481 F.Supp. 172 (D.D.C. 2007) (wrongful death action against U.S. Bureau of Prisons and contracting halfway house).
- Petties v. District of Columbia, (1:95-CV-00148) (class action under IDEA for educational and related services).
- Fair-Gray v. United States, Case No. 03-01372 (D.D.C.) (FTCA wrongful death claim arising from automobile accident with USAID employee in Kenya).
Laurel Pyke's Insights
Firm News | 2 min read | 05.30.24
Crowell & Moring Honors Recipients of 25th Annual George Bailey Public Service Awards
Washington, D.C. – May 30, 2024: Crowell & Moring hosted its 25thannual George Bailey Public Service Awards ceremony. Named after the hero of the classic movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” these awards recognize the firm’s lawyers and staff who have made a substantial impact on the lives of others through their pro bono work.
Client Alert | 4 min read | 02.12.24
Courts Consider Whether Nonpublic Schools Are Subject to Title IX Based on 501(c)(3) Status
Client Alert | 4 min read | 10.06.23
Insights
- |
12.22.20
National Association of College and University Attorneys in NACUA Notes, Vol. 19, No. 2
The Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act: 2014 Year in Review
|07.01.16
Law and Business Review of the Americas
The Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act: 2013 Year in Review
|01.05.16
Law and Business Review of the Americas
Regulatory Forecast 2015: What Corporate Counsel Need to Know for the Coming Year
|01.31.15
a Crowell & Moring LLP publication
A Learned Career: Crowell & Moring Alumni at Universities
|03.13.15
Crowell Connect (Alumni Newsletter)
Laurel Pyke's Insights
Firm News | 2 min read | 05.30.24
Crowell & Moring Honors Recipients of 25th Annual George Bailey Public Service Awards
Washington, D.C. – May 30, 2024: Crowell & Moring hosted its 25thannual George Bailey Public Service Awards ceremony. Named after the hero of the classic movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” these awards recognize the firm’s lawyers and staff who have made a substantial impact on the lives of others through their pro bono work.
Client Alert | 4 min read | 02.12.24
Courts Consider Whether Nonpublic Schools Are Subject to Title IX Based on 501(c)(3) Status
Client Alert | 4 min read | 10.06.23