Lim | Riley

A Civil Rights Compliance Firm

Investigations, compliance guidance, training, and policy development under Title VI, Title VII, Title IX and VAWA
Title IX · § 1681

No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.

Title VI · § 2000d

No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.

§ 1682

Each Federal department and agency which is empowered to extend Federal financial assistance is authorized and directed to effectuate the provisions of section 1681 of this title.

Title VII · § 2000e-2

It shall be an unlawful employment practice for an employer to fail or refuse to hire or to discharge any individual, or otherwise to discriminate against any individual with respect to compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such individual's race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

VAWA · § 12291

The term "domestic violence" includes felony or misdemeanor crimes of violence committed by a current or former spouse or intimate partner of the victim, or by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common.

§ 12291(a)(10)

The term "sexual assault" means any nonconsensual sexual act proscribed by Federal, tribal, or State law, including when the victim lacks capacity to consent.

Who We Are

Reliable
Values Driven
Highly Specialized

Lim Riley is a boutique law firm that serves educational institutions nationwide by providing legal advice, coordinator support, investigation and adjudication services, policy writing, and training pursuant to Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, and corresponding state laws. The Lim Riley team is skilled at building civil rights programs that are both legally compliant and effective.

Lim Riley's long-standing client relationships result from the firm's thoughtful and practical approach, deep subject-matter expertise, experience in complex and sensitive matters, careful attention to the needs of the institution, and a timely, high-quality work product. Lim Riley takes pride in being a trusted partner to educational institutions navigating challenging civil rights issues.

"Thank you so much for serving as the Hearing [Officer], meeting with the parties, and guiding this process. I logistically and mentally could not have done it without you. The outcome letter is very well written and clear to understand. I know it was a difficult matter, so I appreciate your work."
Title IX Coordinator
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Meet the Team

Partner
Devon Riley
Experienced civil rights investigator and Title IX adjudicator with over a decade in educational settings.
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Partner
Peter Lim
Trusted attorney and advisor helping colleges and universities build sustainable civil rights programs.
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Associate
Arielle Egan
Civil rights investigator and attorney with nearly a decade of experience in high-stakes educational matters.
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Legal Assistant
Katrina Erb
Supporting the firm's work with careful organization, attention to detail, and responsive client service.
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Our Services

Lim Riley provides civil rights coordinator, investigator, adjudicator, and advisory services to schools, colleges, and universities nationwide. The firm regularly assists institutions in responding to allegations of discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, retaliation, and other civil rights concerns under federal civil rights laws, including Title IX, Title VI, Title VII, and VAWA.

Our attorneys bring extensive experience in civil rights compliance and grievance processes and are frequently engaged to serve as interim coordinators, external investigators, hearing officers, and advisors in complex and sensitive matters. Every engagement is handled with careful attention to legal requirements, institutional obligations, and the need for fair, thorough, and timely resolution.

Investigative Services
External investigations under federal civil rights laws and institutional policies.
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Lim Riley conducts external investigations involving allegations of discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, retaliation, and other forms of protected class misconduct. Our attorneys have extensive experience conducting investigations under federal civil rights laws and institutional policies.

We approach investigations with a focus on neutrality, careful fact-finding, and procedural fairness. Our investigations are thorough and methodical, and our investigative reports are clear, well-reasoned, and designed to assist institutions in reaching fair and supported outcomes.

Hearing Officer
External decision makers and hearing officers for institutional grievance processes.
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Lim Riley regularly serves as external decision makers and hearing officers for institutional grievance processes, including live hearings conducted under Title IX regulations. Our attorneys bring significant experience presiding over complex matters and issuing well-reasoned determinations grounded in the evidentiary record.

We also facilitate informal resolution processes when appropriate, helping institutions resolve matters in a fair, balanced, and compliant manner while ensuring that the interests of all parties are treated with fairness and respect.

Interim Civil Rights Director & Title IX Coordinator
Interim leadership that stabilizes and strengthens civil rights programs.
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When serving in an interim role, Lim Riley does more than simply fill a temporary position. We work closely with institutional leadership and campus stakeholders to stabilize and strengthen the institution's civil rights program during periods of transition.

Our attorneys bring extensive experience in civil rights compliance, investigations, and program administration. In addition to ensuring continuity in the day-to-day operations of the civil rights office, we focus on strengthening the infrastructure that supports the institution's response to reports of discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, and related retaliation. This includes clarifying team roles and responsibilities, developing or refining intake and initial assessment protocols, and helping ensure that reports are addressed promptly, consistently, and in accordance with applicable law and institutional policy.

We also work with institutional partners to enhance prevention and education efforts and to strengthen coordination among the offices that support the institution's civil rights program. Our goal is not simply to serve as a bridge until a permanent coordinator or director is hired, but to help position the program – and the team that supports it – for long-term success.

In one recent engagement, a state auditor publicly recognized our work at a large university as a model civil rights program for other institutions to follow.

Policy Writing
Drafting and updating policies aligned with federal civil rights laws.
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Lim Riley assists educational institutions in drafting, reviewing, and updating policies governing discrimination, harassment, and misconduct to ensure alignment with federal civil rights laws and evolving regulatory guidance. Our work includes policies related to Title IX, Title VI, Title VII, and VAWA, as well as related grievance procedures and institutional response protocols.

We work closely with institutional leadership to develop policies that are both legally sound and operationally practical. Our goal is to help institutions implement clear, workable procedures that support fair and consistent responses to reports and complaints while meeting applicable legal requirements.

Training
Customized training programs for administrators, investigators, and personnel.
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Lim Riley provides customized training programs for administrators, faculty, investigators, hearing officers, and institutional personnel responsible for responding to reports of discrimination, harassment, and misconduct. Our training addresses institutional obligations under federal civil rights laws and the practical challenges institutions face when implementing their policies and procedures.

Programs are tailored to the needs of each institution and may cover investigative practices, hearing procedures, regulatory compliance, and effective approaches to responding to sensitive and complex matters.

Legal Advice for Compliance
Strategic legal guidance on federal civil rights obligations.
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Lim Riley provides strategic legal guidance to help educational institutions understand and fulfill their obligations under federal civil rights laws. We advise institutions on regulatory compliance, institutional response procedures, and best practices for addressing allegations of discrimination, harassment, and misconduct.

Our attorneys work closely with institutional leaders to help them navigate complex and evolving legal requirements while maintaining fair, effective, and compliant civil rights processes.

Thorough.
Fair.
Objective.

Our approach is grounded in professionalism, procedural integrity, and respect for the values and mission of the institutions we serve.

Fostering equity and ensuring compliance with civil rights laws are top priorities for every school. Meeting this commitment requires thoughtful, fair, and effective responses to reports of discrimination in a school's education programs and activities.

Responding to these matters requires a nuanced understanding of the legal, procedural, and human dimensions of civil rights enforcement. Institutions must balance care for those affected by discrimination and harassment with the need for fair and consistent processes, all within a constantly evolving legal and regulatory environment.

The attorneys at Lim Riley bring deep experience in navigating these challenges. Drawing on years of work as investigators, adjudicators, advisors, and civil rights coordinators, we help institutions respond to reports of misconduct in a manner that is thorough, fair, and compliant.

What Schools Are Saying

"This is the largest investigation our school has ever endured, and you are who we need to serve as the hearing officer."

Title IX Coordinator

"This work is so important, and it felt so daunting … and yet we didn't know where to start … It's so clear, listening to the report today, how quickly we've actually been moving to create change at scale."

University Trustee

"Thank you so much for serving as the Hearing [Officer], meeting with the parties, and guiding this process. I logistically and mentally could not have done it without you. The outcome letter is very well written and clear to understand. I know it was a difficult matter, so I appreciate your work."

Title IX Coordinator

"It was a pleasure meeting you this week. I truly appreciate the amount of experience and knowledge you bring with you as to DHR/Title IX matters. Our team benefited a great deal from spending time with you, while engaging in work to streamline our process for handling cases and eliminate backlog. I believe everyone felt there was 'hope' as well as the 'ability' to achieve these goals after your visit."

Title IX Coordinator

In the Community

At Lim Riley, Peter and Devon believe that strong communities are built through shared commitment and support. They are dedicated to giving back by supporting local youth organizations, including children's sports teams and community programs.

Through these efforts, they ensure that a portion of the firm's success is reinvested in the next generation and the communities they call home.

We're Here to Listen — Reach Out Today

We welcome inquiries from educational institutions of all kinds. Whether you're navigating a current matter, planning for future needs, or simply looking to learn more about how we can support your civil rights program, we'd be glad to connect.