Jeff understands the challenges universities face in the current environment and is a thoughtful and very effective strategist and litigator.
Jeff Metzler is co-leader of Pillsbury’s Education group and is ranked by Chambers for Higher Education law. He has extensive experience handling complex civil litigation, investigations and appeals for a diversity of clients.
Jeff has handled a broad range of matters, including civil rights claims (e.g., race, gender or disability discrimination), commercial disputes, government investigations, construction and administrative law. He also has significant appellate experience in New York state and federal courts and has served as trusted counsel to boards and senior leaders in government and nonprofits who rely on his judgment, creativity, client-orientation and problem-solving approach.
Prior to joining Pillsbury, Jeff was an Associate General Counsel at New York University for over five years, where he was responsible for litigation, government investigations and student affairs. Jeff also has served in a variety of government roles, including Assistant Solicitor General for New York State, Acting General Counsel and Chief of Litigation for the New York City Council, and Vice President for Economic Empowerment at Empire State Development. Jeff holds a BA from Brown University, an MPA from Columbia and a JD from Yale, and served as a law clerk for the Hon. Diana Gribbon Motz on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
Represent broad range of commercial clients in breach of contract and insurance recovery claims worth billions of dollars.
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Guest lecturer on law of higher education at NYU’s Steinhardt School
Member of National Association of College and University Attorneys
Education
J.D., Yale Law School, 2002
M.P.A., Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs, 1999
Public Affairs Fellow
B.A., Brown University, 1995
Magna cum laude
Admissions
New York
Courts
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
Clerkships
Hon. Diana Gribbon Motz, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
