Christopher DeLuca

Experience

Chris has over 30 years of experience providing legal, financial, and management services to business owners and career school operators. In addition to being a licensed attorney, Chris is also a certified public accountant (inactive status). Chris provides legal counsel to both buyers and sellers in transactions involving the change in ownership of regulated institutions of higher education. He represents schools in dispute resolution with the U.S. Department of Education and accrediting agencies and provides ongoing legal counsel and guidance to schools navigating the regulatory and compliance challenges of owning and operating institutions of higher education.

Chris’ experience includes nine years serving as in-house legal counsel and Chief Financial Officer for a multi-state cosmetology school group. Chris was responsible for the school’s compliance with laws and regulations for participation in the Title IV federal student aid programs. He also managed compliance for the schools’ accreditation with the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts & Sciences (NACCAS).

Chris is a frequent speaker at national and regional higher education conferences. His recent speech topics include the implementation and administration of Title IX and the Clery Act, issues involving changes in ownership, consumer information disclosure requirements, school responsibilities under the Americans With Disabilities Act, and borrower defense to repayment. He also served as the alternate negotiator representing for-profit schools at the U.S. Department of Education’s negotiated rule making sessions regarding the borrower defense to repayment regulations.

Areas of Practice

• Higher Education
• Administrative Law & Regulatory Proceedings
• Business Law
• Mergers & Acquisitions

Areas of Experience

Title IV of the Higher Education Act
Title IX of the Civil Rights Act
Accreditation
Student Loan Borrower Defense
Administrative Law
Regulatory Compliance

Activities and Memberships

Ohio State Bar Association
American Association of Cosmetology Schools
Member of the Government Relations Committee
Career Education Colleges and Universities (CECU)
Cincinnati Bar Association Taxation Committee, President (2005)
CBA Cincinnati Academy of Leadership for Lawyers, Graduate
University of Cincinnati Masters of Taxation Program, Adjunct Professor (2001-05)