Fisher Phillips Hires Education Law Expert in Portland

Sara Hellstedt joins the firm's Higher Education, K-12 Education and Workplace Investigations practices.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Sara Hellstedt has joined Fisher Phillips as a partner in its Higher Education, K-12 Education and Workplace Investigations practices in the firm's Portland, Maine office, the company announced on Monday. Hellstedt focuses on serving as an impartial, external investigator in complex and publicized misconduct matters throughout the country, conducting investigations involving civil rights, discrimination, harassment, bullying, and sexual misconduct for colleges, universities, and K-12 institutions nationwide.

Why it matters

The hiring of Hellstedt, an experienced education law expert, signals Fisher Phillips' commitment to expanding its education-focused legal services in the Northeast region. Hellstedt's expertise in conducting sensitive misconduct investigations for academic institutions is increasingly in demand as schools navigate complex compliance and reputational issues.

The details

Prior to joining Fisher Phillips, Hellstedt worked at the law firm Bernstein Shur. At Fisher Phillips, she will be based in the firm's Portland, Maine office and focus on serving as an impartial, external investigator for colleges, universities, and K-12 schools across the country in matters involving civil rights, discrimination, harassment, bullying, and sexual misconduct.

  • Hellstedt joined Fisher Phillips on Monday, March 9, 2026.

The players

Sara Hellstedt

An experienced education law expert who has joined Fisher Phillips as a partner in its Higher Education, K-12 Education and Workplace Investigations practices.

Fisher Phillips

A national labor and employment law firm that has expanded its education-focused legal services by hiring Hellstedt in its Portland, Maine office.

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The takeaway

The addition of Hellstedt, a respected education law specialist, underscores Fisher Phillips' strategy to bolster its capabilities in serving academic institutions facing complex compliance and reputational challenges, particularly around sensitive misconduct investigations.