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Lorie Dakessian,

Partner

ldakessian@conradobrien.com
215.523.8319

Lorie represents clients in several practice areas, including campus disciplinary cases and Title IX litigation, white collar and internal investigations, and legal and medical malpractice matters. She is recognized as a tenacious advocate and strategic advisor for her clients. She works closely with her clients to understand their problems, advocate for them in court or negotiations, or pave the way through difficult situations so that they may avoid litigation.

 

As Co-Chair of the Title IX and Campus Discipline practice (visit the firm's dedicated Title IX and Campus Discipline website here), Lorie represents college students and faculty members nationwide who are under investigation or who have been disciplined by their colleges or universities for alleged violations of sexual harassment and misconduct policies following campus disciplinary proceedings, or complainants who raise and pursue sexual assault or harassment claims within universities. Lorie works closely with her clients to ensure that they understand the university’s process, seek procedural safeguards, and are afforded a fair hearing. She helps students and their families understand and fully prepare for investigations and hearings and, where appropriate, helps clients who are seeking informal resolutions with the school while navigating the complicated issues accompanying mediation. Lorie also is experienced with situations that may be complicated by mental health concerns or the need for disability accommodations. Given her experience, Lorie has published articles and has been sought out to present nationally on Title IX representation and litigation, including its intersection with criminal law.

 

In addition to her practice, Lorie oversees the firm’s associate attorney recruitment and management. Prior to joining Conrad O’Brien, Lorie served for six years in the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, managing all aspects of large and complex appellate cases. In addition to her state and federal trial court practice, Lorie has argued before each of the state appellate courts in Pennsylvania.

Education

Boston College Law School, J.D.

  • National Mock Trial Team
  • National Criminal Procedure Moot Court Team

 

University of Michigan, B.A.

Admissions

  • Pennsylvania

  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

  • Supreme Court of the United States

Practice Areas & Experience

Title IX and Campus Discipline
  • Represented a male student against a public university alleging denial of the student’s due process rights, in large part because the university delayed close to a year in initiating a disciplinary hearing to address a misconduct claim against the student, a delay that resulted in the departure from campus of key witnesses. The student had completed his coursework and earned his degree, yet the university withheld his degree as it had not completed its disciplinary process. Conrad O’Brien attorneys argued that the delay violated his constitutional rights to due process and equal protection. The case settled after argument on Doe’s motion for preliminary injunction and the University’s motion to dismiss.
  • Represented a male, African-American student at the University of Pennsylvania who was wrongly accused of sexual assault and subjected to an unfair, biased, and discriminatory disciplinary process. Filed a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against the University of Pennsylvania in federal court in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania asserting claims under Title IX and Title VI, as well as common law claims for breach of contract and negligent infliction of emotional distress. The court denied in part the University’s motion to dismiss, allowing our client to proceed on claims for breach of contract and Title IX violations. This matter subsequently resolved. Doe v. Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, No. 2:16-cv-05088, 2017 WL 4049033 (E.D. Pa. Sept. 13, 2017).
  • Represented a male student in litigation against a private university near Chicago, challenging the result of the sexual misconduct disciplinary finding that resulted in the student’s extended exclusion from the university and which required reapplication without a guarantee of re-admission and with a permanent disciplinary notation on his record.  The lawsuit was filed in federal district court and asserted violations of Title IX and breach of contract.  The case settled within five months of filing the complaint.
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Professional & Fiduciary Litigation

  • Represents attorneys and law firms in various actions, including representation of a prominent Philadelphia law firm in a legal malpractice action involving a multimillion-dollar construction project with a Commonwealth entity.

  • Represents medical and health care professionals, including The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
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White Collar & Internal Investigations
  • Defended individual and corporate clients in connection with federal and state criminal investigations, including grand jury investigations.
  • Represented organizations in internal investigations involving concerns about employee misconduct.
  • Represented, in partnership with forensic accountants, organizations in internal investigations involving concerns about financial irregularities.
  • Represented a government agency in a state grand jury investigation and related litigation involving the potential release of sensitive client documents.
  • Represented numerous individuals in the grand jury and at trial in connection with the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s “Bonusgate” investigation.
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Related News

Group

"[Lorie Dakessian and team] were just incredible. It's hard to know how to get across the depth of our gratitude. Their approach to strategy and their meticulous preparation . . . made it clear that they had tremendous experience and skill. Their kindness, patient guidance, and clear communication was equally impressive and welcome during a consummately painful and frustrating ordeal."

Parent of a Title IX Client

"Lorie Dakessian was wonderful to work with. She guided us with kindness and clarity throughout the process. We always felt that we were being given solid information and advice… [She] was compassionate when emotions arose, while also keeping us focused on the process at hand."

Faculty Member Client

"Lorie Dakessian and team provided my [child] and me outstanding expertise, direct and frequent communication, a calm stepped approach, empathy, clarity of focus… [She] successfully navigated my child through a challenging terrain that no child should have to endure."

Parent of a Title IX Client

"Lorie, you have been awesome during a very difficult time in my life. Thank you so much for your kindness and outstanding legal service."

Faculty Member Client

Honors & Affiliations

  • Listed in Best Lawyers in America for Criminal Defense: White-Collar (2023)

  • Listed in Pennsylvania Super Lawyers (2013–present)

  • Listed on the Top 50 Women Lawyers List in Pennsylvania Super Lawyers List (2022)

  • Listed in Pennsylvania Rising Stars (2010-2012)

  • Member, Conrad O’Brien’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee

  • CIPP/US (Certified Information Privacy Professional, U.S.)

  • Legal Lean Sigma – Yellow Belt Certified (click here to learn more about this certification)

Publications

Speeches & Presentations

  • "The Title IX Landscape in Higher Ed 2022," Pennsylvania Bar Institute (PBI) Webinar; August 2022.

  • "The Title IX Landscape: Where are We Now and Where are We Going?," PACDL (Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers) Webinar; July 2022.

  • "The Title IX Landscape: Where Are We Now?," Pennsylvania Bar Institute (PBI) Webinar; June 2021.

  • "Strategies for University Level Disciplinary Proceedings and Discovery," Sixth Annual Symposium on Representing Students Accused of Sexual Assault; Virtual; October 2020.

  • "The New Title IX Regulations: How Not to Get Sued – Best Practices and Lessons to Apply from Title IX Respondent Litigation," ATIXA 2020 Virtual Annual Conference; October 2020.

  • "What Schools Need to Know about the New Title IX Regulations," New York County Lawyer's Association/Westchester County Bar Association Webinar; July 2020.

  • "The New Title IX Regulations - A New Era," Illinois State Bar Association Webinar; June 2020.

  • "The Title IX Regulations: A New Era," Pennsylvania Bar Institute (PBI) Webinar; May 2020.

  • "How to Avoid a Title IX Lawsuit;" University of South Florida Title IX Conference; Tampa, FL; February 2020.

  • Presenter at "College Disciplinary Hearings Involving Sexual Harassment and Assault - What is the latest?" CLE; New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education; New Brunswick, NJ; November 2019

  • "Defending Students in Disciplinary Exclusion and Criminal Cases;" PACDL's Defending Education Professionals and Students Conference; Villanova, PA; October 2019.

  • Video training in "20 Minutes To...Trained: Advising the Responding Party;" ATIXA web-based sexual misconduct training series; June 2019 (read more here; watch preview clip here; videos available for purchase directly from ATIXA).

  • “The Changing Landscape of Title IX: How Regulations and Case Law Have Impacted Policies and Procedure;” Seventh Annual Rowan University Title IX Summit; Glassboro, NJ; June 2019.

  • "The Proposed OCR Regulations: What's New?," Fifth Annual Symposium on Representing Students Accused of Sexual Assault; Washington DC; April 2019.

  • Panelist on "Responding to Reports of Sex & Gender-Based Harassment & Violence: Maintaining Integrated Approaches as a Means of Risk Management," URMIA (University Risk Management & Insurance Association) Annual Conference; Salt Lake City, UT; October 2018.

  • "How to Avoid a Title IX Lawsuit," Sixth Annual Rowan University Title IX Summit; Glassboro, NJ; June 2018.

  • “From Sandusky to Solebury: Lessons from Pennsylvania on Educator Misconduct," Education Law Association 63rd Annual Conference; San Diego, CA; November 2017.

  • “How Schools Can Fortify Their Deflector Shields: Protecting Data Privacy of K-12 Students and Schools," Education Law Association 63rd Annual Conference; San Diego, CA; November 2017.

  • “Educator Misconduct: How to Handle Claims Against Educators, From the Allegation Through the Litigation,” Education Law Association 62nd Annual Conference; Orlando, FL; November 2016.

  • “Cybersecurity and Data Breaches: The New Embezzlement Risk,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Embezzlement 101; Philadelphia, PA; April 2016.

  • “Cybersecurity: Risk Management and Incident Response in an Evolving Threat Landscape,” District of Delaware Inaugural Bench & Bar Conference; Wilmington, DE; May 2015.