Kate Nearpass

Nearpass & Koegel PLLC

Kate Nearpass, AWI-CH is the co-founder of Nearpass & Koegel PLLC, a law firm based in Rochester, NY with a focus on conducting independent workplace and campus investigations. Kate's practice includes conducting impartial investigations for a variety of organizations, including higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations, and municipalities. Kate also has a robust higher ed practice and, in addition to conducting Title IX investigations, regularly serves as Title IX hearing officer, Title IX appellate officer, interim Title IX Coordinator, and interim director of college and university equity and compliance offices. Prior to launching Nearpass & Koegel, Kate spent over a decade in higher education as in-house labor and employment counsel, Title IX coordinator, and AVP for Civil Rights Compliance. Kate began her career as a litigator, practicing civil litigation and labor and employment law with both boutique and national firms. Kate earned her J.D. from Albany Law School and her undergraduate degree from Mount Holyoke College. She is licensed as an attorney and private investigator in New York.