Confidently Managing Challenging Employees and Families

Brian is a director in McLane Middleton's Litigation Department, and Chair of the Firm's Education Law Practice Group.  Brian regularly counsels independent schools regarding crisis management and handling complex student, employee, and board governance issues. He provides schools with legal advice with respect to student discipline matters, board of trustee duties, allegations of sexual assault and abuse, compliance document updates (such as enrollment agreements, student and employee handbooks, head of school agreements, and employee offer letters), student admissions and employee onboarding, best practices for domestic and international school trips, and fostering inclusive school communities. He also guides schools with respect to investigations involving alleged interpersonal misconduct. Prior to joining McLane Middleton, Brian was a partner at Schwartz Hannum, PC, a boutique law firm handling education and employment matters, and an associate at Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP’s Manhattan office.

Walter Schaeffler joined Holderness School in New Hampshire in 2019.  Walt currently serves as Associate Head of School for Finance & Operations and is the school's chief financial and operating officer.  He works with several committees of the Holderness board and is the chief risk management liaison for the school.  Before Holderness, Walt served as CFO at Choate Rosemary Hall in Connecticut, having come to that role from many years in higher education.  He began his career in investment banking in New York and London.