Katherine Lee Carey is a Special Counsel in the Education practice group and is a member of Cooley's Business department. She joined the Firm in 2015 and is resident in the San Diego office.

Ms. Lee Carey's practice focuses on the legal, accreditation, administrative and regulatory aspects of regionally and nationally accredited higher education institutions and companies that provide services to the education industry. She provides clients with interpretation and implementation guidance on legal and regulatory changes, including impact analysis and strategic plans to implement complex regulatory requirements and compliance structures. She has extensive experience in the development and implementation of legislative and policy priorities at the federal and state levels, and in accreditation and licensing matters, including ACCSC, ACICS, ABHES and WASC.

Prior to joining Cooley, Ms. Lee Carey was the General Counsel and Vice President for Government Affairs at West Coast University and American Career College in California.

Ms. Lee Carey serves on the Board of the California Association of Private Postsecondary Schools (CAPPS) and on the Advisory Board for the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE).

Ms. Lee Carey received a JD from the University of Denver College of Law and a BA, magna cum laude, from Siena College. She is admitted to practice in California, Colorado and Arizona.