Kristina Gill practices in the area of education law. Ms. Gill’s practice focuses on issues related to federal and state higher education law from both a policy and regulatory compliance perspective. Her experience and advice includes issues surrounding compliance with the federal regulatory process, particularly as related to the Title IV student financial aid programs authorized by the Higher Education Act and administered by the U.S. Department of Education.
Specifically, Ms. Gill counsels institutions regarding institutional, student and program Title IV eligibility requirements, including Title IV program review and audit response and resolution, Title IX (sexual harassment) and Clery Act (campus safety) compliance, Annual Safety Reports, EEOC complaints, change of ownership questions and approvals, incentive compensation, licensing requirements, state authorization (on-ground and distance education), DOD/VA educational benefit regulations, gainful employment compliance, and borrower defense to repayment issues. She also advises schools regarding consumer protection and disclosure regulations and trends, and a variety of other legal and regulatory issues impacting educational institutions, including marketing and advertising practices, and third party servicer relationships. She assists clients in providing formal responses to rulemaking and draft legislation.
As a former staffer on Capitol Hill and registered lobbyist, Ms. Gill brings an insiders perspective to the federal legislative process. She has a strong command of the intersection between policy and regulations. She works with clients to develop advocacy and engagement strategies for issues related to higher education and more specifically the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. She is a speaker at higher education conferences on emerging and on-going regulatory issues impacting postsecondary educational institutions.
Admissions
- Maryland
- Washington, D.C.
Education
- The George Washington University Law School, J.D., 2000
- Managing Editor, Public Contract Law Journal - University of Maryland, School of Public Affairs, Master of Public Management, 1995
- University of Minnesota, B.A., 1992
Experience
- Duane Morris LLP
- Partner, 2023-present
- Special Counsel, 2016-2022 - Education Management Corporation
- Director, Government Relations/Legislative and Policy Analysis, 2010-2016 - U.S. Congressman John Kline
- Legislative Counsel and Speechwriter, 2007-2008 - Federal Judicial Center, Research Division
- Contract Researcher, 2001-2003
- Research Attorney, 2000-2001
- Student Researcher, 1998-2000 - Federal Funds Information for States
- Senior Program Analyst, 1994-1997 - U.S. Congressman Jim Ramstad
- Legislative Assistant, 1992-1994
Professional Activities
National Association of Women Lawyers
- American Bar Association
Selected Publications
- Co-author, "College and University Substantial Misrepresentation Risk – Department of Education Reminds Institutions of Rules and Obligations," Duane Morris Alert, October 18, 2024
- Co-author, "Are These New Rules the Canary in the Coal Mine for Distance Learning?" University Business, June 17, 2024
- Co-author, "Department of Education's Title IX Final Rule Published," Duane Morris Alert, May 9, 2024
- Co-author, "Department of Education's New Financial Responsibility, Administrative Capability, Certification and Ability to Benefit Regulations Challenge Institutions' Ability to Comply," Duane Morris Alert, November 22, 2023
- Co-author, "Department of Education Issues Guidance on Recent Borrower Defense to Repayment Actions," Duane Morris Alert, November 15, 2023
- Co-author, "Department of Education Publishes Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment Final Rule," Duane Morris Alert, October 23, 2023
- Co-author, "Department of Education Publishes Final Rules for Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment," Duane Morris Alert, September 29, 2023
- Author, "Department of Education Rule Package in Final Stages Before Adoption," Duane Morris Alert, August 22, 2023
- Co-author, "Fifth Circuit Halts New Borrower Defense to Repayment Rule: What It Means and What to Expect Next," Duane Morris Alert, August 16, 2023
- Co-author, "Colleges and Universities Put on Notice That Contractual Nondisclosure Language May Violate the Higher Education Act and Trigger Enforcement Action," Duane Morris Alert, July 31, 2023
- Co-author, "What Colleges and Universities Need to Know About the Department of Education's Impactful Proposed Institutional and Program-Level Rules," Duane Morris Alert, June 6, 2023
- Co-author. "Department of Education Announces Unprecedented Expansion of Regulatory Jurisdiction Over Service Providers for Institutions of Higher Education," Duane Morris Alert, February 16, 2023
- Co-author, "New Borrower Defense Rule Expands Student Loan Discharges on Multiple Fronts," Pratt's Journal of Bankruptcy Law, November-December 2022
- Co-author, "New Borrower Defense Rule Expands Student Loan Discharges on Multiple Fronts," Duane Morris Alert, July 11, 2022
- Co-author, "Educational Institutions: Proposed Title IX Regulations Once Again Shift Obligations of Institutions and Coordinators," Duane Morris Alert, June 29, 2022
- Author, "Education Institutions Prepare for Department's Final Rule on State Authorizations, Consumer Disclosures," Duane Morris Alert, June 15, 2020
- Co-author, "Department of Education Publishes Title IX Final Rule," Duane Morris Alert, June 2, 2020
- Co-author, "U.S. Department of Education Issues COVID-19 Guidance to Schools," Duane Morris Alert, March 12, 2020
Co-author, "Postsecondary Schools Subject to New Gainful Employment Disclosure Obligations as of July 1, 2019," Duane Morris Alert, June 13, 2019
Co-author, "U.S. Department of Education Publishes Title IX Amendments for Public Comment," Duane Morris Alert, December 3, 2018
Co-author, "Dept. of Education Establishes 30 Day Public Comment Period for Revised Borrower Defense to Repayment Rule," Duane Morris Alert, July 26, 2018
- Author, "Gainful Employment Rule Alternate Earnings Appeal: New Deadlines and Process Announced," Duane Morris Alert, August 17, 2017
- Co-author, "'Forever GI Bill' Will Expand Post-9/11 GI Bill for Veterans, Service Members and Family," Duane Morris Alert, August 3, 2017
- Co-author, "U.S. Department of Education Senior Department Official Announces Decision to Terminate Federal Recognition of Higher Education Accreditor," Duane Morris Alert, September 23, 2016
- Co-author, "Clery Act Enforcement on the Rise: October 1, 2016 Deadline for Colleges and Universities to Complete and Distribute Annual Security Report Fast Approaching," Duane Morris Alert, August 30, 2016
- Co-author, "U.S. Department of Education Issues Additional Guidance for Higher Education Institutions Regarding Obligations Related to Third-Party Servicers," Duane Morris Alert, August 24, 2016
Selected Speaking Engagements
- Speaker, "The Regulatory Landscape? A Dynamic and Disruptive 12 Months," Duane Morris LLP Boot Camp for Education Legal Leadership, Webinar, January 24, 2024
- Speaker, "What Does It All Mean? The U.S. Department of Education’s Regulatory Reach Over Service Providers for Institutions of Higher Education," Duane Morris LLP Webinar, March 2, 2023
- Speaker, "Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF): The Latest Guidance for Schools," Duane Morris LLP, Webinar, April 9, 2021
- Presenter, Ed Tech Policy Session, ASU+GSU 2020 Virtual Summit, September 29, 2020
Speaker, "BDR: Before, Now, and After," AACS Annual Convention, Las Vegas, September 29, 2019
Speaker, "Government Relations: Legislative Update," AACS Annual Convention, Las Vegas, September 28, 2019
Presenter: "Borrower Defense to Repayment: Triggers and New Arbitration Agreement," Duane Morris Webinar, May 1, 2019 (Washington, DC)
Speaker: "The Legal Update," California Association of Private Postsecondary Schools (CAPPS) April 8, 2019 (Sacramento, CA)
Co-Instructor: "Title IX Coordinator Training Course," 2018 Annual Conference of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools, October 19, 2018 (Orlando, FL)
Presenter: “Revised Borrower Defense to Repayment Notice of Proposed Rulemaking," Duane Morris Webinar, August 2, 2018 (Washington, DC)
Speaker: "Legal Workshop," American Association of Cosmetology Schools, 2018 School Leaders Summit, April 9, 2018 (Washington, DC)
Presenter: U.S. Department of Education Gainful Employment Negotiated Rulemaking – 3-Part Webinar Series, January – March 2018 (Washington, DC)
Presenter: U.S. Department of Education Borrower Defense to Repayment Negotiated Rulemaking – 3-Part Webinar Series, January – March 2018 (Washington, DC)
Speaker: "The New Audit Guide: How Will Your School Be Impacted And What Can You Do To Prepare?" Arizona Private School Association 50th Annual Conference, May 19, 2017 (Phoenix, AZ)
Speaker: "Title IX: What To Do After You Receive A Complaint," Arizona Private School Association 50th Annual Conference, May 19, 2017 (Phoenix, AZ)
Speaker: Regions Conference, "Focus on Misrepresentation: Best Practices for Identifying and Mitigating Risk," March 12, 2017 (Denver, CO)
Speaker: American Association of Cosmetology Schools, "Legal Workshop," 2016 Annual Conference, November 4, 2016 (Orlando, FL)
Speaker: American Association of Cosmetology Schools, "Latest Legal Trends That Could Impact Your School," 2016 Annual Conference, November 5, 2016 (Orlando, FL)
Speaker: American Association of Cosmetology Schools, "Annual Legal Update," 2016 Annual Conference, November 6, 2016 (Orlando, FL)
Co-Instructor: "Title IX Coordinator Training Course," 2016 Annual Conference of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools, November 7, 2016 (Orlando, FL)
Presenter: Duane Morris Webinar: Part 1 of 3, "Substantial Misrepresentation and the Borrower Defense to Repayment Rule" 3 Part Webinar Series, November 3, 10, and 17, 2016 (Washington, DC)