At Machado Law Group, we represent some of the largest, as well as some of the smallest educational institutions in New Jersey. We form a unique partnership with the schools we serve, working with school board members and administrators to find cost-effective solutions to difficult problems and provide practical, clear, and comprehensive legal advice. We advise school boards as general counsel, special education counsel, and/or during labor negotiations.

Our clients want to work with real people who care about their legal matters, think like business owners, and know how to get the job done. Our Team has decades of experience practicing law, but we also carry with us real-life experiences such as being business owners, executives, teachers, accountants, parents, grandparents, and military family members. We’ve grown up on farms and have lived in big cities, but we are rooted in New Jersey. Our lawyers provide your District with perseverance, passion, and professionalism.  Call our Team today and work with someone who understands the real world, school districts, and the law.

We are specialists in school law, and we pride ourselves on developing the most effective and creative solutions to complex legal challenges. You and your District’s needs always come first. Our lawyers listen to ensure your legal needs are met through a proactive approach, but we are also proactive, prevent problems down the road and protect your time and resources. We know you expect us to keep up with the pace of your school district and we think there is never a legal issue too big to conquer.

While we work hard to resolve disputes early and amicably when possible, we’re always prepared to take cases to trial. We have a track record of outstanding hearing and trial results. Clients and opponents recognize that our experience and success make us tougher, more effective negotiators at every point in the litigation process.

General Counsel

Machado Law Group carries out our commitment by providing personal service to boards of education and their administration, fully appreciating the demands placed on our clients and the need for timely and responsive legal advice. Our attorneys have established reputations for their ability to interact professionally and efficiently with board members, all levels of administration, staff, parents, advocates, adversaries and union representatives. We regularly appear before Federal and State Courts, as well as the Office of Administrative Law and represent boards of education in all judicial and administrative proceedings.

Our personal involvement and interest in our clients’ success extends to attending and providing legal advice at public and executive session meetings of the board. Our goal is to maintain the integrity of the public board meeting and the respect of the community, while allowing the board and the administration to be fully informed concerning all areas of education law. We assist boards of education in making decisions that are thought-out and well-reasoned, in the best interest of all parties, including our students,  and the operation of the school district.

Our firm has chosen to limit the majority of our practice to the representation of school districts. Our attorneys do not represent individuals, employees or parents in suits against any school district. Our commitment to public education is clear and unmistakable.

Special Education

Machado Law Group intimately familiar with the IDEIA and Title 6A of the New Jersey Administrative Code. Our attorneys represent boards of education in all aspects of due process petitions regarding the educational placement of children with disabilities.

Our attorneys are advocates for the amicable resolution of these disputes. We encourage and embrace the value of IEP meetings and mediations with all interested parties. We firmly believe it serves everyone’s interest to work out matters without the use of the judicial process. Unfortunately, mediation does not always succeed. In those cases, we are fully prepared to defend our client’s interest in litigation.

Our attorneys have litigated numerous special education cases before the Office of Administrative Law, Superior Court of New Jersey (including the Appellate Division), and the Federal District Court (including the Third Circuit Court of Appeals).

Labor/Negotiations

We provide collective bargaining agreement interpretation/administration and represent the board responding to and defending grievances. We advise school administrators of all potential risks and liabilities regarding adverse employment actions (i.e., tenure charges, increment withholding, transfers, terminations, non-renewals and RIFs).

Our attorneys serve as the chief spokesperson for Boards of Education in the negotiations of collective bargaining agreements. By reviewing and assessing the impact of each labor contract, we successfully negotiate reductions in labor costs by removing costly and inefficient provisions.

School Construction, Purchase & Finance

Our attorneys bring extensive experience in public procurement, contract review and negotiation, and school construction projects.

Our services include:

• Advising on Public School Contracts Law and Local Public Contracts Law
• Ensuring Compliance with State and Federal Statutes and Regulations
• Guiding Clients through Public School Purchasing, Procurement, and Bidding Processes
• Facilitating Cooperative Purchasing Systems
• Drafting, Reviewing, and Negotiating Contracts, Leases, Memorandum of Understandings, Project Labor Agreements, and Construction Contract Documents
• Drafting Public Bidding and Competitive Contracting Documents, including Formal Bid Specifications, Construction Project Manuals, Public Works Bid Specifications, Requests for Proposals (RFPs), and Requests for Qualifications (RFQs)
• Defending Contract Awards and Addressing Bid Protests
• Managing Post-Bid Contract Issues, including Change Order Negotiation, Complaint Response and Defense, and Contract Extension Negotiation
• Providing Risk Management and Dispute Resolution Services
• Handling Construction Litigation