Mary E. Deweese

Illinois

Husch Blackwell LLP
120 South Riverside Plaza
Suite 2200
Chicago, IL 60606

Tel: 312.526.1634

Email: mary.deweese@huschblackwell.com
Web: www.huschblackwell.com

Professional Biography

Mary is a skilled education attorney with significant experience representing educational institutions in complex litigation and sensitive campus matters. Her practice centers on student, faculty, and staff issues, where she brings strategic insight to every case.

Mary advises public and private colleges, universities, academic medical centers, and K–12 schools on a wide range of issues, including student conduct, employment matters, student and staff accommodations, accreditation matters, and compliance with civil rights laws. She regularly defends institutions in state and federal court as well as in administrative proceedings and conducts internal investigations with a focus on fairness, compliance, and mission alignment.

Mary has significant experience with litigation and regulatory compliance under Titles VI and IX of the Higher Education Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, and other federal laws. She also routinely defends claims under the U.S. Constitution, particularly with respect to free speech, religious freedom, equal protection, and due process issues, as well as claims arising under state law. She enjoys challenging legal questions and is a passionate and committed advocate for clients.

Before entering the legal field, Mary earned a master’s degree in elementary and special education and taught elementary school. Her classroom experience continues to inform her legal work, grounding her advocacy in a commitment to educational equity and institutional integrity. Mary’s goal is to help clients navigate legal complexities in order to further their educational missions.

Recognition
  • Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America
    • Education Law, 2026
  • Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll, High Honors, 2020

 

Education
  • J.D., Georgetown University Law Center
    • cum laude
    • Georgetown Journal on Poverty Law & Policy, Executive Editor
    • Juvenile Justice Clinic
  • M.Ed., Lesley University
    • Elementary Education (1-6)
    • Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8)
  • B.A., University of Notre Dame

 

Professional Memberships and Certifications
  • Chicago Bar Association
  • Illinois State Bar Association
  • Illinois Council of School Attorneys
  • National Association of College and University Attorneys
  • National Council of School Attorneys

For more than a century, Husch Blackwell has been committed to the advancement of knowledge. Our Education law team has built a reputation as a leader in representing public and private institutions at all levels of learning, from preschool through graduate and professional education.

We advise clients on civil rights issues, technology, employment, land use transactions, student affairs, and myriad other issues. Based on our thorough understanding of each institution’s unique culture and operations, we recommend actions that advance each client’s goals. We also serve as primary outside counsel and first point of legal contact to many educational institutions.

While we offer a diverse array of legal services, our Education practice can be broken down into our K-12 and our Higher Education teams. Our K-12 attorneys understand the unique issues facing elementary and secondary schools and provide counsel to both public and private institutions. We routinely offer guidance to elementary and secondary schools and their boards on topics from civil rights statutes to the unique reporting requirements when working with minors.

We also represent more than 250 higher education institutions, providing compliance, operations, and litigation legal services. Our team includes former in-house counsel at educational institutions, major corporations, and government agencies, such as the U.S. Departments of Education and Justice. We regularly advise colleges and universities on student affairs, collegiate athletics and NCAA compliance, Title IX, Title IV, labor and employment matters, and corporate transactions.

Husch Blackwell LLP is a nationally recognized full-service law firm providing strategic legal counsel to businesses, institutions, and governmental organizations across the United States. Formed through the combination of longstanding regional firms with histories dating back more than a century, Husch Blackwell has developed a reputation for delivering industry-focused legal solutions supported by deep sector knowledge and a collaborative client service model. The firm is particularly known for aligning its legal teams around key industries, enabling clients to address complex regulatory, transactional, and litigation challenges with commercially informed guidance.

The firm maintains offices in major business markets throughout the United States, including St. Louis, Kansas City, Chicago, Denver, Dallas, Houston, Phoenix, Washington, D.C., and Milwaukee, among others. This nationwide platform allows Husch Blackwell to represent clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies and financial institutions to healthcare systems, educational institutions, energy companies, and emerging businesses, providing coordinated legal support across regional and national operations.

Husch Blackwell offers a comprehensive range of legal services spanning corporate and mergers and acquisitions, commercial litigation, labor and employment, real estate development, intellectual property, healthcare regulation, financial services, government contracts, and environmental law. The firm is widely recognized for its strengths in healthcare, higher education, energy and natural resources, and manufacturing, assisting clients with complex transactions, regulatory compliance, and high-stakes disputes while supporting long-term growth and operational strategy.

“Education leaders turn to Mary for clear, strategic counsel on student discipline, employment disputes, and accreditation issues. Her peers respect her command of constitutional and disability law, while clients value her ability to align legal solutions with educational purpose.”
The Education Lawyers, 2025