Jeffrey M. Weimer

Jeff is a counselor and trial lawyer for colleges and universities on higher education matters, and a member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA). He also serves as outside general counsel for several private higher education institutions, and he has experience with all of the issues facing schools, including board governance issues, Title IX investigations and litigation, crisis response, as well as issues involving student affairs, employment, FERPA, and the First Amendment. Jeff also regularly advises university boards, presidents, chancellors, and senior administrators on schools’ most pressing matters, including student death cases; high-profile sexual misconduct matters; campus protests and free speech issues; hiring and termination of presidents and chancellors; endowment restrictions and spending decisions; and review and revision of governing bylaws, committee procedures, and audit and risk management functions.

In addition to his higher education experience, Jeff has represented clients of all sizes in matters involving commercial contract disputes, corporate raiding, restrictive covenants, post-closing transactional disputes, breaches of fiduciary duty, trade secrets, fraud, insurance recovery, and health care disputes.

He has a proven ability to recruit and lead litigation teams to victory, but also is skilled at finding pragmatic solutions to serious problems before they ripen to litigation. Jeff is adept at identifying and developing strategies to accomplish his clients’ most valued priorities, especially with respect to the client’s most sensitive and complex matters.

Jeff also is deeply committed to pro bono work and serves as the pro bono coordinator for the Reed Smith Pittsburgh office and as a member of the administrative board of the Pittsburgh Pro Bono Partnership. Jeff also is a member of the advisory board of the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival and a member of the board of directors of the Promise Center of Homewood.