Pakapon Phinyowattanachip

A former math teacher at a public school in Philadelphia, Pakapon (“Pak”) Phinyowattanachip now devotes his entire practice to representing educational institutions.  Pak routinely advises clients on the First Amendment and other Constitutional issues, Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) compliance and other privacy issues, student discipline, personnel matters as well as compliance with various civil rights laws, including Title IX, Title VI, Title II of the ADA, and Section 504. He also has extensive experience advising on employment matters involving issues arising under the ADEA, ADA, FMLA, USERRA, Title VII, and the FLSA. 

Pak has successfully defended countless discrimination complaints filed against K-12 institutions both at the state and federal level, including complaints filed with the Virginia Department of Education, the Office for Civil Rights of the United States Department of Education, the United States Department of Justice,the Department of Labor, and the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. He also has defended these claims in both state and federal courts.

Pak has advised the athletic department of a large public university on NCAA compliance issues in addition to redrafting the athletic policy manual and the student-athletes’ handbook.  He also developed university research conflict of interest policies and general policies and procedures for university students.

Before founding Haney Phinyowattanachip PLLC, Pak focused his practice at one of the largest international law firms, Reed Smith LLP, on representing public K-12 school divisions and both public and private colleges and universities.  Before entering private practice, he clerked for a Circuit Court Judge in Maryland and worked as a Law Fellow at the Office of General Counsel at Washington and Lee University.

Pak received his undergraduate degree from the James Madison College at Michigan State University, where he was elected Phi Beta Kappa.  Go State! He received a master’s degree in education and policy from the University of Pennsylvania and a law degree from Washington and Lee University School of Law.