Page 5 - OGC Annual Report 2020

Practice Areas in the Office of the General Counsel
OGC attorneys represent and counsel the University in many areas, including the following:
• Litigation and other contested matters
• Student affairs
• Labor and employment
• Data privacy and public disclosure law
• Health care
• Real estate and construction
• Technology transfer and intellectual property transactions
• International programs
• Corporate and commercial transactions
• Securities and finance
• Gifts and tax
• Research regulation
Select Highlights
OGC Response to COVID
Since January 2020, when the University suspended student programs in China, the OGC has provided advice and counsel related to many of the various ways the University has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. These efforts have included interpreting contracts and advising about
the suspension of international programs in February; reviewing and negotiating a contract for support services related to remote learning after
in-person instruction was suspended in March; interpreting and providing advice related to the University’s housing contracts with students after the decision was made to encourage students
not to return to campus after Spring Break; advising and counseling University leadership about transitioning to a work-from-home expectation for employees; supporting legal and compliance needs of the Office of Academic Clinical Affairs and the various research and other arms of the University in their efforts to control the virus; providing advice related to new or existing contracts impacted by the virus (including contracts related to events both on- and off-campus); negotiating a new contract related to the virtual commencement ceremonies the University held in May; advising University leadership about the Sunrise Plan that allowed certain employees to begin returning
to campus in May; consulting with the Office of Human Resources and Senior Leadership about mechanisms (like furloughs and early retirement incentives) to mitigate against the financial disruption the virus has caused; providing advice and counsel related to the University’s plans for the return of students and faculty to campus for the new academic term; and working with the Athletics Department to interpret and implement NCAA health and safety protocols for returning student-athletes, and address the challenges arising from the cancellation and postponement of NCAA competitions.
ANNUAL REPORT 2020 5