Vice President and General Counsel

The Vice President and General Counsel is a university-wide position that reports directly to the President and to the Board of Trustees. The General Counsel serves as the chief legal officer for the university, representing and advising all Cornell boards, senior officers, and other officials and units. As part of the President's Cabinet, the General Counsel will be a key legal, policy, and governance advisor on matters of importance to the President and other senior officials, including participation in strategic discussions and major transactions.

The Office of General Counsel is the in-house corporate legal office for Cornell University providing a full range of legal services organized into eight practice areas. The General Counsel will be the executive leader of the Office of General Counsel, across all locations, and of the Office of the Board of Trustees. The successful candidate will be expected to guide those offices with outstanding personal leadership, knowledge, integrity, and management skills. As one of the most senior University officials, the General Counsel will also be expected to be an ambassador for the University's mission and values in all professional settings, demonstrating a commitment to the academic missions of a complex research university. The successful candidate will demonstrate outstanding leadership and management skills. This includes both the ability to lead and manage the offices of General Counsel and the Office of the Board of Trustees, and to work collaboratively with a large, talented, and multi-faceted University leadership team. The ability to clearly communicate legal advice and succinctly present options is essential.

Ideal Experience

• Graduate of an accredited school of law and a member of the New York Bar or eligible to practice law in the State of New York within one year or less.

• Minimum of ten years of legal practice is required and relevant university and academic medical center experience are highly desired. Other government, corporate, law firm, and legal and executive experiences may be helpful, if relevant to the Cornell environment.

• Broad and deep knowledge of a range of issues related to higher education law including but not limited to, statutory and regulatory compliance, anti-trust, intellectual property, employment, research/tech transfer, immigration, real estate, and governance.

• Significant experience advising and supporting governing and advisory boards is also desirable.

DO NOT APPLY ONLINE FOR THIS POSITION:

Cornell University is being assisted in this process by Spencer Stuart and welcomes nominations or expressions of interest. If you wish to submit your own application materials or nominate someone to serve as the next Vice President and General Counsel of Cornell University, please send an email message with supporting materials to: CornellVPandGC@SpencerStuart.com.

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