Thomas Hylden

Tom Hylden retired from Powers on December 31, 2018.

Thomas Hylden practiced law in Washington since receiving his degree.

Thomas' background is primarily as a litigation and trial lawyer, with principal involvement in private commercial litigation and civil and criminal litigation against the United States. In addition, as a result of several noteworthy litigation successes under the Higher Education Act, he developed a substantial practice representing clients in the higher education community in federal and state regulatory and compliance matters, regulatory aspects of education investments, mergers, and acquisitions, and educational accreditation.

Thomas' education practice extended to all aspects of the educational regulatory environment, including regulatory compliance generally, regulatory advice and representation in connection with mergers, acquisitions and securities underwritings, program review and Inspector General audit resolution, accreditation and credentialing proceedings and appeals, and regulatory litigation. His clients included public and nonprofit educational institutions, publicly traded and privately held for-profit institutions, trade associations, and strategic and financial investors. He represented clients before the United States Department of Education, various state agencies, accrediting and credentialing agencies, and the federal and state courts.

Thomas' litigation practice included general commercial and federal program litigation for healthcare, education, and other clients of the firm, and the representation of individuals and corporations in connection with administrative and Inspector General investigations, Congressional investigations, grand jury and independent counsel investigations, and False Claims Act and white collar criminal defense litigation. He was successful lead counsel in numerous reported and unreported matters in the federal and state courts.

Significant reported decisions include Marlboro Corporation v. The Association of Independent Colleges and Schools, 556 F.2d 78 (1st Cir. 1977); Wallace v. United States, 669 F.2d 947 (4th Cir. 1982); In re Paradyne Corporation, 803 F.2d 604 (11th Cir. 1986); Bornstein v. National Union Fire Insurance Company, 828 F.2d 242 (4th Cir. 1987); Ross University School of Medicine v. Cavazos, 716 F. Supp. 638 (DDC 1989); Avirgan v. Hull, 932 F.2d 1572 (11th Cir. 1991); Association of Accredited Cosmetology Schools v. Alexander, 774 F. Supp. 655 (DDC 1991), affirmed, 979 F.2d 859 (DC Cir. 1992); Career College Association v. Riley, 74 F.3d 1265 (DC Cir. 1996); and Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies v. Browner, 24 F.Supp. 2d 83 (DDC 1998).

Thomas has been admitted to practice before various federal district and appellate courts. He is a member of the Section of Litigation, the Criminal Justice Section, White Collar Crime Committee, and the Administrative Law Section of the American Bar Association.