Associate Attorney - Transactions Lead The Research Foundation for SUNY
PositionID: 133351 Locations: Albany, NY
About The Research Foundation for SUNY: The Research Foundation for The State University of New York (RF) is the largest comprehensive university-connected research foundation in the country.
Our mission is to provide talent, services, and technology that empower SUNY to research, innovate, and transfer discoveries that transform the world's knowledge economy.
Our vision is to make SUNY the best place for faculty, students and staff to research, innovate, and solve the world's most pressing problems.
The RF serves SUNY by providing essential administrative services that enable SUNY faculty to focus their efforts on the education of students and the performance of life-changing research across a wide range of disciplines including medicine, engineering, physical sciences, energy, computer science, and social sciences.We work with the academic and business leadership of SUNY campuses to support research and discovery through the administration of sponsored projects and technology transfer and management of intellectual property for public benefit and economic growth.
The RF is committed to diversity, inclusion and a working environment that enhances productivity, creates personal and professional opportunities, unleashes everyone's full potential and fuels innovation. We hold the organization and each other to the highest standards of integrity, accountability and ethical behavior.
Visit www.rfsuny.org and connect with the us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Learn about SUNY at www.suny.edu.
ADDITIONAL CENTRAL OFFICE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS As a learning organization, the RF encourages all employees to continue to grow and develop professionally. At the RF Central Office, employees are offered many opportunities for learning and development, including Professional Development Planning, a 12-month Mentoring Program, Tuition Reimbursement, Job Rotation, DiSC Profile Behavioral Assessment, Employee Engagement Teams, Job Skills Training, and an Employee Wellbeing Team. Job Description: FUNCTION & SCOPE: Reporting to the Deputy General Counsel and Secretary, candidate will be a responsible for corporate business transactions, intellectual property licensing, and related legal matters arising out of the Foundation's sponsored programs, innovation and partnerships activity, and corporate functions. Functions may include contract drafting, review and negotiation, dispute resolution, policy advisement, and litigation management.Candidate will work closely with Research Foundation executive management as well as campus academic and business leadership, managers of entities affiliated with the Research Foundation and SUNY's Office of General Counsel. Day-to-day duties will involve a wide range of transactions reflecting the complex work of the Research Foundation. It is expected that the candidate execute the responsibilities of the position independently and make legal determinations in the areas of responsibility.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Counsel RF and SUNY business leaders and all campus constituencies on a broad range of complex legal, business, and strategic issues, including those attendant to nonprofit and academic environments. These may include the areas of corporate governance, basic and applied research and industrial research, industry and government contracting, intellectual property transactions, strategic alliances, construction, export controls, finance, accounting and tax procurement, legislative analysis, real estate, federal acquisition rules and regulations (FARS and DFARS), and other corporate and business transactions.
In coordination with the Department of Innovation and External Affairs and each of the Technology Transfer Directors at the decentralized campuses, negotiate and draft all documentation associated with joint ventures, real estate transactions, and technology transfer, including all documentation associated with the Research Foundation's receipt, management, and divestiture of equity interests arising from licensing transactions, with corresponding benefits to the Research Foundation's centralized and campus technology transfer offices.
Lead the Transactions and Advanced Licensing Practice Group and its coordination with the Department of Innovation and External Affairs, including providing day-to-day supervision, workload management, and review of work product of attorneys in the Practice Group in providing counsel and advice in the early stages of engagement with licensees to the conclusion of a deal.
Under the supervision of the General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel, manage engagements of outside counsel defending SUNY campuses (typically de-centralized) in licensing and IP-related litigation.
Support functional areas in contract template revisions, contract interpretation and guidance, and development and review of policies, and develop and present training for RF and SUNY campus leaders, managers and employees on legal issues relating to the above subject areas.
Prepare, negotiate, and manage contracts, leases, license agreements, and other legal documents with contractors and subcontractors, vendors, research sponsors, and governmental entities. Contracts may include commercial contracts, master services agreements, lease agreements, license agreements, non-disclosure agreements, material transfer agreements, equipment and real property leases, sales and purchase agreements, procurement contracts, software licenses, and employment and consulting agreements.
Primary negotiator and point of contact for lease and finance transactions for campus operating locations and RFCO.
Provide counsel regarding and develop transactional documents supporting public-private collaborations and industry partnerships, and facilitate the financial and legal structuring of new business entities.
Promote and support RF policies, procedures, mission, values, and standards of ethics and integrity; support the corporation's control environment by helping to identify, assess, and manage legal risks and liabilities, assisting with the creation, implementation, and enhancement of corporate processes, polices, and procedures, and partnering with business unit leaders to identify and facilitate business process improvement initiatives.
Provide legal support and guidance to cross-functional working groups.
Engage in proactive dispute resolution, employing principled negotiation and non-adversarial bargaining. Requirements: EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE Required:
JD from an accredited law school, be a member in good standing or be registered as in-house counsel in the New York State bar.
A minimum of 8years of experience, including in-house counsel or related law firm practice.
Proven ability as self-motivated individual with a strong work ethic, superior organizational skills, and a record of accomplishment dealing successfully with complex issues with thorough analysis, the ability to innovate approaches to legal issues in support of strategic objectives, excellent judgment, business acumen, and common sense.
Ability to handle multiple tasks in a fast-paced, team environment and work well independently and under time constraints.
Management experience including allocation of workload, review of work product, and mentoring of associate legal counsel(s)
Strong commercial contracts and corporate transactional experience including: drafting, reviewing, negotiating, revising and advising on a variety of sophisticated and complex transactions such as research and development contracts, services and consulting agreements, inbound/outbound licensing agreements, technology agreements, and partner and vendor agreements.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including presentation and training capabilities and ability torelate and work well with people of many cultures, disciplines, and levels of experience.
Willingness to travel to campuses in the SUNY system as needed.
Proficiency in Microsoft word; competency in PowerPoint and Excel.
Preferred: The candidate will also:
Have experience in representing academic research organizations and/or faculty, researchers, and academic administrators and appreciation for the culture needs, and interests of academic research institutions and faculty in connection with research, sponsored program administration, technology transfer, and public-private partnerships.
Have experience that includes federal contracting, procurement, and regulatory compliance specifically compliance with OMB rules.
Have an entrepreneurial spirit and experience in corporate formation.
Demonstrate confidence and leadership with humility; be self-assured but not self-important.
Solve problems proactively and with an open-mind.
Thrive on uncertainty in a dynamic and complex working environment.
Accept constructive criticism with grace and a sense of humor. Additional Information: As an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer, The Research Foundation for SUNY will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant's race, color, creed, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, transgender status, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, physical and mental disability, criminal record, genetic information, predisposition or carrier status, status with respect to receiving public assistance, domestic violence victim status, a disabled, special, recently separated, active duty wartime, campaign badge, Armed Forces service medal veteran, or any other characteristics protected under applicable law. The Company will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. Application Instructions: Applicants interested in applying MUST submit the following documents:
1. Resume/Cv 2. Cover Letter
After submitting your resume/CV, the subsequent pages enable you to upload additional documents including a cover letter.
