Lynne C. Adams

Lynne C. Adams

Education Law

5.0 (1 reviews)
Phoenix, Arizona
38+ years experience
Osborn Maledon PA
Updated:

Contact Information

The Phoenix Plaza, 2929 North Central Avenue, Suite 2000, Phoenix, AZ 85012-2793
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Bio

Lynne is a strategic advisor and confidante to many of Arizona’s educators, navigating the everyday challenges faced by learning institutions so that they can focus on providing quality attention and scholarship to studentsLynne leads the commercial litigation group’s education law practice. She focuses on regulatory matters and litigation and provides ongoing legal advice to her school clients, including compliance with all aspects of education law, Arizona’s Open Meeting Law, and Arizona’s public records law. Among other things, she has provided advice regarding constitutional law issues, student discipline matters, Title IX, statutory requirements, parent issues, student enrollment, school finance, and responses to complaints filed with the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools and Arizona Department of Education. She also assists prospective charter schools with their applications and organization.Some of her most notable cases include providing amicus briefs to the Arizona Supreme Court regarding public schools’ duties to their students in Dinsmoor v. City of Phoenix, No. CV-20-0214-PR (Aug. 6, 2021, Ariz. Supreme Court); defending the Maricopa County Community College District over its in-state tuition policy for DACA students; and challenging the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools’ practice of adopting rules without following the required legal process in Legacy Education Group v. Arizona State Board for Charter Schools, No. 1 CA-CV 17-0023 (June 8, 2018, Ariz. Ct. App.).An advocate for education outside her practice, Lynne is a respected member of the local community. She is a member of the committee that selects Maricopa County Superior Court Commissioners, was an active member of the Phoenix Collegiate Academy governing board and has offered pro bono services to several community arts and nonprofit arts organizations. She has been named one of Arizona’s Top 100 Lawyers by AZ Business Magazine and Education Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers® on numerous occasions. Lynne is a strategic advisor and confidante to many of Arizona’s educators, navigating the everyday challenges faced by learning institutions so that they can focus on providing quality attention and scholarship to studentsLynne leads the commercial litigation group’s education law practice. She focuses on regulatory matters and litigation and provides ongoing legal advice to her school clients, including compliance with all aspects of education law, Arizona’s Open Meeting Law, and Arizona’s public records law. Among other things, she has provided advice regarding constitutional law issues, student discipline matters, Title IX, statutory requirements, parent issues, student enrollment, school finance, and responses to complaints filed with the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools and Arizona Department of Education. She also assists prospective charter schools with their applications and organization.Some of her most notable cases include providing amicus briefs to the Arizona Supreme Court regarding public schools’ duties to their students in Dinsmoor v. City of Phoenix, No. CV-20-0214-PR (Aug. 6, 2021, Ariz. Ct. App.).An advocate for education outside her practice, Lynne is a respected member of the local community. She is a member of the committee that selects Maricopa County Superior Court Commissioners, was an active member of the Phoenix Collegiate Academy governing board and has offered pro bono services to several community arts and nonprofit arts organizations. She has been named one of Arizona’s Top 100 Lawyers by AZ Business Magazine and Education Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers® on numerous occasions. Lynne is a strategic advisor and confidante to many of Arizona’s educators, navigating the everyday challenges faced by learning institutions so that they can focus on providing quality attention and scholarship to students Lynne leads the commercial litigation group’s education law practice. She focuses on regulatory matters and litigation and provides ongoing legal advice to her school clients, including compliance with all aspects of education law, Arizona’s Open Meeting Law, and Arizona’s public records law. Among other things, she has provided advice regarding constitutional law issues, student discipline matters, Title IX, statutory requirements, parent issues, student enrollment, school finance, and responses to complaints filed with the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools and Arizona Department of Education. She also assists prospective charter schools with their applications and organization. Some of her most notable cases include providing amicus briefs to the Arizona Supreme Court regarding public schools’ duties to their students in Dinsmoor v. Ct. App.). An advocate for education outside her practice, Lynne is a respected member of the local community. She is a member of the committee that selects Maricopa County Superior Court Commissioners, was an active member of the Phoenix Collegiate Academy governing board and has offered pro bono services to several community arts and nonprofit arts organizations. She has been named one of Arizona’s Top 100 Lawyers by AZ Business Magazine and Education Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers® on numerous occasions.

Practice Areas

Education Law

Awards & Recognition

  • Lawyer of the Year: Education Law, Phoenix (2021)
  • Lawyer of the Year: Education Law, Phoenix (2018)
  • Lawyer of the Year: Education Law, Phoenix (2016)
  • Recognized: Education Law
  • Practice Area: Government Relations Practice
  • AZ Business Magazine, Most Influential Women in Arizona Business, 2025
  • Southwest Super Lawyers, “Top 25 Women Arizona”, 2022-2024
  • Southwest Super Lawyers, Schools & Education, Business Litigation, 2012-2025
  • Chambers USA, “America’s Leading Lawyers for Business”, Litigation: General Commercial, 2021-2025
  • Top 100 Lawyers in Arizona – AZ Business Magazine, 2019, 2024
  • ALM: Women Leaders in the Law, 2015
  • Best Lawyers®, Education Law, 2015-2026
  • PHOENIX magazine, Top Lawyers, Education, 2022-2025
  • Volunteer Lawyers Program, Volunteer Attorney of the Month, January 2016
  • Top Pro Bono Attorneys in Arizona Award Recipient, Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education, 2013
  • AV/Preeminent Attorney, Martindale-Hubbell
  • Advocate of the Year, Arizona Attorney General’s Office, 2002

Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2015

Education

  • Columbia University, J.D., graduated 1987
  • Brigham Young University, graduated 1984

Reviews

M

Matthew Collins

2 weeks ago

A Lifeline for Our School District During a Critical Legal Challenge

Our district faced a complex, high-stakes special education compliance investigation that threatened our funding and reputation. The situation was fraught with legal nuance and emotional tension. We turned to Lynne Adams on the strong recommendation of a colleague, and it was the best decision we could have made. With 38 years of deep experience in Arizona's education landscape, Lynne immediately understood the operational realities we were dealing with. She wasn't just a lawyer quoting statutes; she became a true strategic partner. Her guidance was both legally impeccable and profoundly practical, allowing our administration to stay focused on our students while she expertly managed the legal process. Her recognition as a multiple-time 'Lawyer of the Year' in Education Law is clearly well-earned. Lynne's approach is direct yet compassionate, and her negotiation with the oversight agency was masterful. The result was a favorable resolution that protected our district and allowed us to implement constructive changes without punitive measures. For any educational institution navigating legal complexities, Lynne C. Adams at Osborn Maledon is an indispensable asset.

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