Welcome to the first edition of Chapter & Vs., an e-publication that features articles authored by the attorneys in Barnes & Thornburg's Fraternities and Sororities Practice Group. Learn more about our practice.
National vs. Local Housing Organizations: Which Structure Works Best for a Chapter?
A chapter house, along with the furniture and equipment used in its operations, is often managed by a housing organization – a legal entity that holds title to or is the tenant under a lease of the chapter house. What is the best structure – not the bricks and mortar, but the housing organization – for your fraternity or sorority?
Importance of Trademarks for Greek Organizations
It may be surprising to learn what you can trademark, beyond your fraternity’s or sorority’s name. This article reviews what a trademark is, how to go about strategically choosing a trademark, and how to protect the trademark.
Legal Rights of Fraternities and Sororities as Single-Sex Organizations
With the 2018 version of the Higher Education Reauthorization Act pending in Congress, there is some question of what protections the new act will give to fraternities and sororities. Read more about the new proposed Promoting Real Opportunity, Success, and Prosperity through Education Reform (PROSPER) Act.
Contract Basics: Key Provisions and Common Pitfalls
Whether you are drafting a contract for your organization or reviewing another company’s contract, there are key terms to look for and some terms to avoid. Most purchase orders, bills of sale, and employment agreements, for example, are legally enforceable contracts. What other terms are important?
