Sweet Stevens Attorneys to Lead Sessions at 2026 CASE Academy of Law & Leadership
New Britain, PA - Recognized for their extensive experience and leadership in education law, four attorneys from Sweet, Stevens, Katz & Williams LLP have been selected to present at the 2026 Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE) Academy of Law & Leadership – one of the nation’s premier conferences for special education professionals.
The conference will take place April 21–23, 2026, at the Loews Atlanta Hotel and Conference Center in Atlanta, Georgia, bringing together administrators and experts from across the country. CASE, an international nonprofit organization with more than 6,000 members, is dedicated to advancing the field of special education through leadership, policy, and advocacy. Presenters are selected for their practical insight and proven experience, making Sweet Stevens’ participation a notable distinction.
The firm’s attorneys will lead two sessions designed to provide actionable strategies for some of today’s most pressing challenges:
- Partners Christina M. Stephanos and Jane M. Williams, joined by A.J. Kise, Director of Special and Alternative Education for the Nazareth Area School District, will present “Under Pressure: Turn Conflict with Families & Their Attorneys into Cooperation with Confidence” as part of the Dispute Resolution Track. This high-energy session will provide school leaders with practical communication strategies and strategies to de-escalate high-stakes conflicts with parents and attorneys, effectively turning potential litigation into collaborative cooperation.
- Senior Associates Maria B. Desautelle and Rose E. McHugh will present “Student Behavior, Inside and Outside of School – What Must and Can a District Do?” in the Behavior and Discipline Track. This presentation examines a school district's legal obligations and disciplinary authority regarding student behavior both on and off campus, with a specific focus on navigating federal and state laws, managing violent incidents, and defining the roles of security and law enforcement.
Stephanos advises school districts on developing and implementing IEPs and Section 504 plans and represents them in high-stakes proceedings, including due process hearings. Williams is among the commonwealth’s most experienced and respected special education attorneys and offers strategic counsel across all phases of special education litigation.
Desautelle is an accomplished special education attorney with extensive experience in litigation, mediation, and investigation. McHugh focuses her practice on special education and student services, drawing on her prior role at the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office.
For more information on the conference, visit https://www.casecec.org/academy-of-law-and-leadership
Sweet, Stevens, Katz & Williams, LLP was formed in 1995 by nine experienced education lawyers who created the first private law practice in Pennsylvania dedicated entirely to Education Law. Since then, the firm has grown to 26 attorneys who represent over 290 school and municipal entities as Solicitors or as Special Counsel in more than 50 counties throughout Pennsylvania, and in additional practice areas, such as Construction Law, Tax Assessment Appeals, Audit of Operations and Practices, Real Estate Law and Oil, Gas and Mineral Law.