Gwen J. Zittoun
she/her/hers
Partner
A member of Shipman’s robust School Law Practice Group, Gwen Zittoun represents the firm’s 100+ boards of education and public school districts in legal matters related to student data privacy and confidentiality, contracts and board policies, Title IX compliance, special education, and general education matters. Serving in a counselor role, Gwen brings transparency and collaboration to the client relationship. She focuses on finding solutions to common and complex problems, while helping schools avoid costly litigation. Gwen spends considerable time and effort educating her clients to ensure that they are able to solve the legal and business challenges they confront in an ever-changing education landscape.
Gwen’s practice focuses significantly on Title IX compliance in the K-12 environment, as well as colleges and universities. Gwen frequently assists clients by providing analysis of the 2020 Title IX Final Regulations and developing practical strategies for implementation in the K-12 and post-secondary environments. Gwen regularly attends seminars on the topic of Title IX, has received ATIXA training, and has provided mandatory Title IX training to numerous clients. Gwen provides daily guidance to clients concerning the procedural and substantive aspects of implementing the new Title IX regulations, including assisting clients in their roles as investigators and decision-makers, and has served as both investigator and appeal decision-maker in Title IX matters.
Gwen takes a proactive approach representing schools that, with the advent of apps, online programs, and distance learning, find themselves navigating a fast-paced, digital landscape. Gwen simplifies client adoption of new software and apps, by analyzing and drafting vendor contracts and model documents to ensure compliance with federal law and Connecticut’s nuanced Student Data Privacy Law. She develops model contracts for onboarding large vendors, service providers and apps that operate on a national scale and smaller providers of educational software that collect student data for educational and extracurricular purposes. To the benefit of her clients, Gwen maintains an active role with Connecticut’s Commission for Educational Technology, often lending her knowledge to assist with the interpretation of Connecticut’s Student Data Privacy Law.
Credentials
Education
- Albany Law School, J.D., 2004, summa cum laude
- Emory University, B.A., 2000
Bar Admissions
- New York
- Connecticut, 2004
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of NY, 2006
- U.S. District Court, District of CT, 2006
Distinctions
- Listed as a Connecticut Super Lawyer Rising Star®: Schools & Education (2018)
- New Leader in the Law, Connecticut Law Tribune (2017)
- Member, Albany Law Review
Teaching Positions
- University of Connecticut, Adjunct Professor, Neag School of Education (2007-2018)
Professional Affiliations
- American Bar Association
- Connecticut Bar Association
- Hartford County Bar Association
- National Association of College and University Attorneys
Community Involvement
- Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Family Advisory Council Member
- Mandell Jewish Community Center: Board of Directors, Former Member