Higher Education

Winstead lawyers are trusted counsel to major higher education institutions in both Texas and beyond. Our understanding of the special legal needs for university and college clients ranges from real estate and healthcare to intellectual property and public finance. Being able to navigate local and state government and developing community relationships affords our clients the opportunity to focus on their primary goal: education. 

Some of our clients include:

• Arizona State University
• Baylor University
• Houston Baptist University
• Houston Community College
• Rice University
• Southern Methodist University
• Texas A&M University System
• Texas Christian University
• Texas State University
• University of Houston
• University of North Texas
• University of Oklahoma
• The University of Texas System

Intellectual Property 

Winstead's seasoned Intellectual Property team represents higher education clients engaged in the development of advanced technology. We craft tailored strategic and protective IP policies that can be enforced and defended, enabling these institutions to support, protect, commercialize, license, and capitalize on their IP assets. Our attorneys are highly skilled and possess extensive engineering and scientific backgrounds. We counsel regional, national, and international clients in areas where science, technology and commerce intersect. They range from local start-ups to well-established companies around the world.

More information about Winstead's Intellectual Property Practice Group

Technology Transfer 

Winstead attorneys possess the experience to assist universities with the spin-out of technology for start-up, emerging or established companies through licensing and collaboration agreements, material transfer agreements, strategic partnering arrangements or other structures.

Real Estate 

Winstead's Real Estate Development & Investments Practice Group is one of the leading real estate practices in the United States with extensive experience with higher education clients. Recent transactions include closing of the George W. Bush Presidential Library (on behalf of Southern Methodist University), creation of a commercial condominium structure and related tax and leasing work for a collaborative research facility at Rice University, representation of Houston Baptist University in a retail development and ground leasing, representation of the University of Houston in a lawsuit against a commercial construction company for defective design, and representation of Baylor University in ground lease, development and operating agreements for a golf course that houses practice and tournament facilities for Baylor men's and women's golf teams.

More information about Winstead's Real Estate Development & Investments Practice Group

Sports 

Applying well-coordinated and strategic teamwork helps our sports, entertainment and public venue clients to succeed. Winstead assists clients in a variety of transactions, including development of high-profile, complex sports facilities projects and leasing and construction projects for colleges and universities, national and regional teams, organizations, associations, and financial institutions. Recent projects in which Winstead has been involved include: the expansion and improvement of Texas Christian University’s Amon G. Carter Stadium, the development of Dallas Cowboys Stadium, the renovation of Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, and the development of the new Houston Dynamo Soccer Complex.

More information about Winstead's Sports Business & Public Venue Industry Group

Litigation 

Representing clients in business litigation is a significant part of Winstead’s practice. As with our other clients, we are acutely aware that higher education institutions want their lawsuit or dispute to go away. We work with our clients to develop and implement effective and efficient litigation strategies but also work with our clients in communicating information with various stakeholders like Board of Regents and academic departments.

Winstead recently represented the University of Houston in a major design and construction defect case that affected their Clear Lake campus. In addition, the team offers higher education institutions a variety of litigation experience:

• Labor and Employment including individual and class actions alleging retaliation, harassment, race, gender, religious and national origin discrimination.
• Real Estate including cases involving developers, landlords, real estate partnerships, lender litigation, environmental litigation, and condemnation.
• Construction including cases involving design and construction defects, payments, and delays.
• Probate/Wills and Trusts including will contests, claims by and against trustees alleging tortious conduct, breach of fiduciary duty claims, and claims in which a trustee's or executor's business associates have been accused of wrongdoing.
• Texas Public Information Act including protecting the disclosure of trade secrets and commercial or financial confidential information.
• Commercial and Creditor disputes involving breach of non-disclosure agreements, misappropriation of trade secrets and unfair competition.
• Intellectual Property involving patent, copyright, trademark, trade secret, and other complex IP litigation issues in state and federal courts around the country, as well as in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and the U.S. International Trade Commission.

More information about Winstead's Business Litigation Practice Group

Employment 

The attorneys of Winstead's Labor and Employment Practice serve as lead and co-counsel on employment issues to higher education institutions and represent employers across the broad spectrum of the employment relationship, addressing the needs of management in the multifaceted and increasingly complex area of employees' individual rights. Winstead's attorneys are proactive counsel who provide clients with valuable advice and training aimed at preventing employment-related complaints and lawsuits. We have the knowledge and experience necessary to defend successfully any form of workplace litigation.

More information about Winstead's Labor & Employment Practice Group

Immigration 

Winstead is one of the most qualified law firms in Texas for representing higher education institutions and related entities in the area of immigration law. Our immigration lawyers have regularly represented world-renowned scholars, researchers, professors and other aliens of extraordinary ability. We have helped our institutional clients develop and maintain SEVIS programs for their foreign students, and we have substantial experience in National Interest Waivers and Deemed Export Rule issues.

More information about Winstead's Labor & Employment Practice Group

Healthcare 

Winstead has experience in a variety of transactions, compliance, government investigations and dispute resolution matters involving the healthcare business sector. We recognize the complex legal and management challenges confronting universities in today's strictly regulated healthcare and business marketplace. Winstead's broad range of attorneys assist with healthcare legal, regulatory/compliance and corporate issues as well as restructuring, governance, management, finance and operational matters.

More information about Winstead's Healthcare Industry Group

Public Finance 

Our Public Finance attorneys have substantial experience in financing for higher education institutions including commercial paper counsel, federal tax matters, swap agreements, advanced refundings/combined fee revenue bonds, and securities law and regulation disclosure.

More information about Winstead's Public Finance Practice Group

Corporate 

Winstead's Corporate, Securities/Mergers & Acquisitions Practice Group is a leader in representing and providing advice to university and college clients in all types of corporate and securities transactions and compliance with applicable regulations. Recent projects include: representing a private university in connection with extensive stadium renovations, representing an alumni organization in marketing, license and sales agreements, and representing a university in licensing and intellectual property to companies in exchange for royalties and equity.

More information about Winstead's Corporate, Securities/Mergers & Acquisitions Practice Group