Sr Counsel, Ofc Counsel

GENERAL PURPOSE:

Provides legal services and advice on research regulations and transactions, both domestic and international, involving intellectual property matters, tech transfer, and privacy issues for all components of the University, including but not limited to the University of Rochester Medical Center and its Center for Health and Technology (CHeT), the Office of Research and Project Administration, Office for Human Subjects Protection, Office of Research Accounting and Costing Standards, UR Ventures (technology transfer), and the Laboratory for Laser Energetics.

Exercising independent judgment and initiative, Senior Counsel shall work collaboratively with the other lawyer(s) in the Office of Counsel to provide oral and written legal advice and assistance to University officers and administrators in a timely manner, regarding state and federal laws and regulations and University policies, and address questions and issues affecting University business and compliance, including but not limited to academic and clinical research; commercialization of research and technology transfer (including potential conflicts of interest); human subject research; federal and state privacy laws; university-owned intellectual property (including patent, copyright, trademark, and trade secret); research misconduct; unrelated business income tax/private use, export control compliance, and related regulatory/compliance issues.

For all substantive areas below:

• Deliver consistent, superior quality, timely, ethical, and efficient legal services for the University and its affiliates consistent within standards of professional conduct, while contributing positively to a collegial, cooperative work environment;

• Manage special projects, as assigned, to identify legal issues to management and recommend appropriate action, including through coordination with lawyers in the Office of Counsel and other University constituents, including the Director and staff of CHeT and the University’s Chief Privacy Officer;

• Stay informed about and update the Office of Counsel about important, relevant changes in regulations and laws relating to research and privacy matters relevant to the University’s operations;

• Conduct risk management and legal educational presentations for administrative personnel, including the development of legally compliant training materials on topics related to research, privacy and intellectual property;

• Fulfill occasional need to render legal advice on topics tangentially related to research, privacy and intellectual property matters; and

• Undertake such other duties as may be assigned by the General Counsel (including acting on his/her/their behalf in event of absence, as requested), to include duties that may be initially requested by senior administrators.

Other Functions:

• Work with and oversee outside counsel and/ or consultants on legal matters, including disputes in which the University is a party.

• Assure appropriate retention of legal office records

• Assist with hiring of new employees and interns

• Carry out educational outreach to campus, including formal training and presentations for campus clients

Note: Attorneys in the Office of Counsel work on a hybrid schedule, to include some days in the Rochester office each week.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Work with University offices responsible for the negotiation of sponsored research and clinical trial agreements (and related confidentiality agreements) and the submission of federal, state and foundation grants and contracts, answer questions and assure compliance with complex federal funding and other regulatory requirements

• Negotiate or support negotiation of complex transactions, including IP licenses, data/material transfer agreements, matters of copyright, and other projects involving the use or conveyance of intellectual property rights, data, and research results

• Consistent with parameters established by the Vice President and General Counsel, act as primary counsel on intellectual property transactions and assessing related legal liability and indemnification issues

• Opine on compliance, research conflict of interest issues, and the development of research-related policies

• Work with University offices responsible for the initiation and administration of international research relationships, such as reviewing and advising on memoranda of understanding, collaboration agreements, financial and tax implications and adherence to foreign laws and regulations

• Draft, revise and review agreements including contracts, letters, settlements, and memoranda of understanding, as well as training materials and policies

• Collaborate and interact with colleagues in the Office of Counsel as well as campus employees on projects, training, and compliance efforts relating to research, intellectual property, tech transfer, research misconduct, and related privacy matters

• Advise University departments and divisions regarding complex issues involving HIPAA and other federal and state health privacy laws; Counsel on issues related to privacy and data security compliance, risk management, and class action litigation relating to statutes such as GDPR, CCPA, GLBA, FCRA, CFBA and other data protection and privacy laws

• Provide secondary support to healthcare departments and divisions, including the HIPAA Privacy Office, IT Security team and the Office of Integrity and Compliance to address health privacy issues and ensure adherence to policies, especially with regard to Business Associate Agreement

• Conduct legal research and analysis

• Advise the Research Subjects Review Board (institutional review board for the University of Rochester) on policy matters, unanticipated adverse events, investigator non-compliance with research requirements; reliance agreements, risk-assessments, and other matters relating to the oversight of human subject research

• Advise the University Committee on Animal Resources (UCAR) on compliance with state and federal statutes, rules and regulations regarding the conduct of animal research

Other duties as assigned

REQUIREMENTS:

• Juris Doctorate required

• Ten years of relevant legal experience with demonstrated depth and specialized knowledge in one or more fields of law relevant to the needs of the University or an equivalent combination of directly relevant education and experience required;

• Experience in some combination of the fields of research regulation, tech transfer, intellectual property, and contract law preferred;

• Direct experience working with a research-intensive university or academic medical center, ideally including experience working with faculty researchers and health care clients preferred.

• Excellent interpersonal skills required;

• Excellent written and oral communication skills required;

• Ability to work successfully and collaboratively with senior administration, managers, supervisors, and employees required;

• Excellent analytical and problem¿solving skills required;

• Flexibility to work without supervision and the ability to handle a variety of matters with varying deadlines required.

• Admission to the New York State bar or registration in New York to work for the University as in-house counsel required

NOTE: This document describes typical duties and responsibilities and is not intended to limit management from assigning other work as required.

The University of Rochester is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion to advance the University’s mission to Learn, Discover, Heal, Create – and Make the World Ever Better. In support of our values and those of our society, the University is committed to not discriminating on the basis of age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, military/veteran status, national origin, race, religion/creed, sex, sexual orientation, citizenship status, or any other status protected by law. This commitment extends to the administration of our policies, admissions, employment, access, and recruitment of candidates from underrepresented populations, veterans, and persons with disabilities consistent with these values and government contractor Affirmative Action obligations.

How To Apply

All applicants must apply online.

EOE Minorities/Females/Protected Veterans/Disabled

Pay Range

Pay Range: $176,405 - $282,256 Annually

The referenced pay range represents the minimum and maximum compensation for this job. Individual annual salaries/hourly rates will be set within the job’s compensation range, and will be determined by considering factors including, but not limited to, market data, education, experience, qualifications, expertise of the individual, and internal equity considerations.

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Location: Central Administration
Full/Part Time: Full-Time
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