Sara is a seasoned attorney investigator. Sara’s practice focuses on serving as an impartial, external investigator in complex and publicized misconduct matters throughout the country. As such, Sara is often asked to serve as an external investigator for misconduct complaints involving students, faculty, personnel, coaches, and athletes. Sara also serves as a neutral investigator and adjudicator for colleges and universities and k-12 institutions throughout the country. Given her pre-law school experience teaching in public and private schools in Maine, Sara understands the unique challenges educational institutions face when responding to reports of misconduct. Sara approaches such matters with poise, impartiality, and discretion.

External Investigator

Sara is skilled at conducting virtual and in-person investigations and her written product is concise, well-reasoned, and defensible, earning her a national reputation in the field.  Sara is regularly called upon to investigate serious reports of sexual assault, harassment, discrimination, and abuse. Sara is experienced at conducting trauma-informed interviews of minors, including young children, is an expert in mandatory reporting laws, and is skilled at coordinating investigations alongside law enforcement agencies.

In addition to receiving extensive training on sexual misconduct investigations, Sara has conducted and overseen hundreds of misconduct investigations involving all manner of issues, including civil rights, discrimination, harassment, bullying, and sexual misconduct. Sara has also served as a hearing officer and decision maker in the K-12 space and as an appeals officer for all levels of educational institutions. Sara also provides consulting services and training on responding to harassment and misconduct and conducting thorough and impartial investigations to school administrators throughout New England.

Hearing Officer and Decision Maker

Sara is an experienced third-party, neutral hearing officer, adjudicator, and decision-maker, having served in this role for educational institutions across the country. Sara is practiced at conducting Title IX hearings, serving as the sole decision-maker or appeal officer, and chairing hearing panels for educational institutions that are responding to alleged misconduct by or against students, faculty, and staff. Sara assists institutions throughout the process and excels at drafting thorough, reasoned, and defensible written determinations.

Additional Experience

• Working with colleges, universities and public and private K-12 institutions on preventive training, policy development, compliance issues, and crisis management.

• Advising education clients, both private and public, on general employment matters.

• Providing guidance to education clients regarding special education and other civil rights matters.

• Drafting handbooks, policies, and procedures for educational institutions and businesses in accordance with employment laws and best practices.

Education

JD, University of Maine School of Law, magna cum laude
BA, Middlebury College, cum laude

Admitted to Practice

• State of Maine

• State of Vermont