Strategic Decision Making: Alliances, Consolidation, and Closures in Higher Education

Laura Giles

Laura C. Giles is a business attorney based in Phoenix who focuses her practice on mergers and acquisitions. She works with private and public companies in industries such as waste services, retail, business services, technology, fashion and media, among others.

She has closed numerous stock acquisitions and divestitures, asset purchases and sales, mergers and private equity and venture capital investments. She also assists businesses with joint ventures, reorganizations, branding and other general corporate matters, as well as with developing and implementing national business development strategies.

In the sports and entertainment world, Laura represents celebrities, influencers, professional athletes and their businesses in strategic and commercial transactions. In this role, she negotiates significant social media and influencer agreements, sponsorship and endorsement deals, and appearance and other services agreements. Laura co-leads the firm's Sports and Entertainment Initiative.

Laura earned her J.D from the University of San Diego School of Law, and her B.A. from Arizona State University.

Elizabeth (Lizzy) Wingfield

Elizabeth (Lizzy) Wingfield practices complex commercial litigation with a focus on representing educational institutions, both in litigation and by conducting internal investigations. Lizzy has represented private and public institutions in both the K-12 and higher education levels. Lizzy also advises on compliance with anti-discrimination and privacy laws, including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), Title VI, Title IX, and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act.

Lizzy maintains an active federal antitrust litigation practice and is a member of Ballard Spahr’s Antitrust and Competition Group. She has represented companies in antitrust litigation and advised them on compliance with antitrust laws.

Lizzy has experience developing and analyzing case strategy, researching and drafting pleadings and motions, preparing for and taking depositions, coordinating and overseeing discovery, preparing for hearings and trials, and examining witnesses.

Lizzy is a member of Ballard Spahr’s Hiring Committee.

Lizzy earned her J.D. from Temple University Beasley School of Law and her B.A. from Haverford College.

William "Bill" Rhodes

William Rhodes leads the firm's Education Industry Group and Municipal Recovery Initiative and co-leads the Buyside Representations and Corporate Trust Services Teams. Bill regularly represents issuers, broker-dealers, and investors in all areas of public finance, with an emphasis on the offering of high-yield (unrated) municipal securities.

Bill represents clients in the financing of public infrastructure, transportation, project financing, economic development, and public purpose facilities for governments and their authorities. His clients also include public and private secondary schools, colleges, and universities; health care systems; cultural institutions; and municipal- and investor- owned water, wastewater, and energy utilities. He also has extensive experience in affordable housing, including single-family mortgage finance and multifamily, military, and senior housing projects.

Bill regularly advises issuers, underwriters, municipal advisers, and investors in the evolving landscape of municipal securities regulation and enforcement, including regulatory compliance, primary and secondary market disclosures, and enforcement actions.

Bill earned his JD from Dickinson School of Law of Pennsylvania State University and his BA from Swarthmore College.