Liz DeChellis
Partner & Title IX Program Director, AWI-CH
Liz DeChellis, AWI-CH, is a Partner with Van Dermyden Makus Law Corporation. Her practice focuses on conducting workplace investigations as well as Title IX investigations and hearings. She is available as an expert in evaluating Title IX and sexual harassment matters.
Liz DeChellis, AWI-CH, is a Partner with Van Dermyden Makus Law Corporation. Her practice focuses on conducting workplace and Title IX campus investigations. Liz frequently serves as a Hearing Officer in Title IX campus sexual assault cases. She is available as an expert in evaluating Title IX and sexual harassment matters.
Trained in Trauma Informed Forensic Interviewing, Liz is an experienced investigator in Title IX sexual misconduct claims. Liz understands best practices in the Title IX arena, and the challenges facing schools and parties when sexual violence allegations surface. Liz has investigated matters at K-12 Districts, Community Colleges, and Universities. Her investigations have included interviews of administration, faculty, and staff, as well as paraeducators. She has investigated cases involving University faculty and administrators, underage complainants, multiple respondents, and complex issues involving incapacitation and consent.
Liz is an expert in conducting Title IX Hearings. She serves as our Hearing Officer Director and routinely serves as a Hearing Officer for Title IX matters. In this role, Liz serves as the final adjudicator, completing the complaint and investigation process. She also serves as an Appeal Officer when students challenge the process, the outcome, and/or the sanction. Liz has overseen cases involving dating violence, drug abuse, sexual assault, and incapacitation. She has experience questioning parties using trauma-informed techniques, making admissibility and relevance decisions, and issuing well-reasoned, thorough decisions.
Liz serves on the faculty of T9 Mastered, a training program for college and school district officials involved in Title IX compliance and investigation.
Liz also conducts workplace investigations related to harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and misconduct. She also conducts trainings for staff and management on a variety of legal issues, including sexual harassment and discrimination prevention, as well as how to conduct effective investigations.
Prior to joining Van Dermyden Makus, Liz was employed at UC Davis where she routinely provided policy and contract interpretation to management and staff, responded to grievances and complaints, acted as the University Advocate for administrative hearings, and negotiated contracts with labor unions. Additionally, she conducted investigations and fact-findings. Prior to law school, Liz worked in Human Resources for various companies, providing advice and assistance with recruitment, hiring, termination, and performance management.
Liz graduated from McGeorge School of Law in 2012 and earned an undergraduate degree from UC Davis. She is licensed to practice law in the State of California, and is certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR).
CA State Bar No. 286431