Franczek Expands Education Practice with Addition of Former CPS General Counsel Ruchi Verma

Franczek P.C. strengthened its education practice today with the addition of Ruchi Verma, former General Counsel for Chicago Public Schools, who joins the firm as a partner.

“The arrival of Ruchi is the latest step in our plans to further deepen our education practice with top-notch attorneys who make a difference for their students and schools every day,” said Franczek Partner Sally Scott. “Her experience leading the fourth largest school district in the country, coupled with her talent for designing systems and processes that drive meaningful change, makes her an exceptional asset to our team.”

This news comes on the heels of the firm opening its first downstate office in Champaign with the addition of education lawyers David Braun and Brandon Wright last month.

Ruchi brings over 20 years of experience counseling K-12 clients on policy and board governance issues, strategy and operations, student privacy rights, and public and charter school compliance. She provides practical, strategic advice to school boards and administrators weighing multiple risks to create student-centered solutions.

Prior to joining Franczek, Ruchi served as General Counsel for Chicago Public Schools, where she managed over a hundred people and oversaw a budget of $20 million. She advised CPS on both day-to-day operations as well as on high-impact, complex legal matters. She has vast experience responding to state and federal regulatory complaints. Ruchi also spearheaded the creation of the Office of Student Protections and Title IX, the first of its kind in the country.

“I believe deeply in the transformative power of education and am thrilled to bring my experience to Franczek,” said Verma. “Joining the state’s premier K-12 practice allows me to return to my roots in education law and partner with schools to help them achieve their goals.”

Franczek P.C. provides a personal approach and exceptional value by focusing on select areas of law – K-12 Education, Higher Education, and Labor & Employment – and doing them exceedingly well. The firm handles large, complex cases and projects for clients of all sizes while offering responsive day-to-day consultation on more routine matters. Its personable, talented, and highly skilled attorneys, combined with a depth of experience in core practice areas, result in unparalleled quality of service.