Robert S. Lavet

Principal

Rob Lavet joined PPSV’s Education Practice Group in 2008 as a Principal. Mr. Lavet counsels schools and financial institutions on a wide range of transactions, litigation and regulatory compliance matters, as well as the resolution of audits and government investigations. He has represented educational institutions and financial institutions responding to Congressional investigations, State Attorney investigations and parallel civil proceedings. He acted as lead counsel in defending one of the largest False Claims Act cases in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. In addition, he has successfully defended numerous state unfair and deceptive trace practices cases against educational institutions. In addition to his litigation practice, Mr. Lavet regularly counsels financial institutions and educational institutions on consumer credit issues including the Truth in Lending Act, Regulation E, The Fair Credit Reporting Act and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

Prior to joining the firm, he was General Counsel to SLM Corporation (Sallie Mae). At Sallie Mae, Mr. Lavet managed the Legal, Corporate Compliance and Student Loan Servicing Policy functions. He regularly advised board members and senior management on securities disclosures and corporate debt offerings; oversaw significant litigation and regulatory matters; led due diligence on numerous acquisitions and transactions; and integrated legal teams of acquired businesses in multiple locations. He and his team of attorneys took on leadership roles in postsecondary education as they developed strategies to address the emerging array of regulatory, legislative, corporate, and transactional challenges facing the nation’s student loan programs. He successfully litigated the only federal court case involving the Department of Education’s attempted application of the prohibited inducement section of the Higher Education Act to a lender.

Before joining Sallie Mae, Mr. Lavet served as a trial attorney in the Civil Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, and as a partner with the law firm Cole, Corette & Abrutyn, where he specialized in complex commercial litigation, and securities litigation. He is a member of the bar of the District of Columbia. He served as a past President of the Washington Metropolitan Area Corporate Counsel Association and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Corporate Counsel.

Mr. Lavet graduated with honors from the University of Pennsylvania in 1976 and received his law degree with honors, from Georgetown University Law Center in 1979.

Honors & Distinctions

Senior Vice President and General Counsel, SLM Corporation (SALLIE MAE), 2005-2008
Finalist, Washington Top Lawyers, General Counsel Category, 2007
Washington Metropolitan Area Corporate Counsel Association, Career Achievement Award, 2007
Judge Advocate General, Special Commendation Award, Army, 1985
US Department of Justice, Outstanding Performance, 1983-1985

News & Publications

Professional Activities

Mentor's Inc. (Board Member, 2008- )
New Hope Housing (Board Member, 2008- )
Association of Corporate Counsel (Board Member, 2002-2008)
Georgetown Law Alumni (Advisory Board Member, 2005-2008)
Georgetown University Law Center (Corporate Counsel Institute Advisory Board Member, 2004-2008)
Washington Metropolitan Area Corporate Counsel Association (Board of Directors, 1996-2002, President, 2001, Vice President and Program Chair, 1999)
American Bar Association