Page 8 - OGC Annual Report 2024

8
University of Minnesota Office of the General Counsel
Transactions Group
The OGC transactional attorneys serve as a key resource to the University, providing legal advice and consultation on all manner
of complex business transactions throughout the year. Transactional attorneys and paralegals advise on both high and low dollar
purchasing agreements, external sales agreements, sponsored research agreements, technology commercialization licenses,
investments and bond issuance, complex financial transactions, and real estate transactions and construction agreements. OGC
transactional attorneys work with the University community to protect the University’s intellectual property by advising on patent,
copyright and trademark issues. Beyond business transactions, OGC transactional attorneys advise University units on the legal
implications of international programs, educational affiliations, international and domestic academic partnerships, immigration,
employee benefits and retirement plans, and offer guidance and interpretation of University policy. OGC transactional attorneys
must adapt to quickly changing areas of law, and one area of particular interest is the rapidly increasing use of generative artificial
intelligence by the University community. The Transactions Group is dedicated to learning about the technical and legal aspects of
generative artificial intelligence, and will continue to advise on the legal risks and requirements that accompany use of this rapidly
evolving technology.
400+
AGREEMENTS TO
PURCHASE GOODS
AND SERVICES
180+
AGREEMENTS TO
SELL GOODS OR
SERVICES
300+
RESEARCH AND
TECHNOLOGY
AGREEMENTS
350+
SOFTWARE
LICENSE
AGREEMENTS
OGC advised on:
The Transactions Group has made some significant adjustments to the way it processes agreements for legal review. The
Transactions Group attorneys have worked on improving agreement templates and an addendum that can be used to amend
common contract clauses. On the research side, the Transactions Group holds office hours twice per week to address quick
questions from the contract reviewers in Sponsored Projects Administration. These adjustments have led to much more efficiency
in the legal contract review process, and it has enabled the team to address more complicated agreements and a higher volume of
software license agreements.