Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (“WARF”) has engaged Major, Lindsey & Africa on an exclusive basis to conduct a global search for a General Counsel. WARF is an equal opportunity employer, values diversity and promotes an inclusive culture.

Organization:

Shepherding the cycle of research, discovery, commercialization, and investment at UW-Madison, WARF was created by University of Wisconsin visionaries to enable the university’s research to solve the world’s problems. As the designated patenting and licensing organization along with investment portfolio management, a venture fund, and drug development, WARF has helped advance transformative discoveries to market for the past century. Currently, as the designated technology transfer organization for the University of Wisconsin–Madison, WARF partners with companies and venture funds all over the world to move university discoveries to the marketplace, improving the lives of millions. WARF currently has more than 1,700 technologies available for licensing, in fields from pharmaceuticals to agriculture, IT, clean tech, medical devices and more. For more information visit www.warf.org.

Overview:

The General Counsel reports to the CEO and is responsible for directing and managing all of WARF’s legal affairs in support of its mission and identifies, assesses, and manages legal, regulatory risk, and related reputational risk. The position serves on the Executive Team and provides legal advice to WARF’s CEO, CFO, Executive and Management Teams, and to the Board of Trustees and its committees on a wide range of legal and regulatory issues. The General Counsel also provides legal advice and assistance to the business development team in connection with transactions and contracts and advances WARF’s goals by providing advice and assistance on legal and policy matters. The position will be the resident expert on WARF’s not-for-profit status and will ensure that WARF’s programs are consistent with its charitable mission. The General Counsel supports commercial transactions, in- and out-licensing opportunities, startups, sponsored research agreements, and other strategies to commercialize WARF’s intellectual property.

Experience:

The successful candidate will have significant legal experience, preferably in a relevant academic, research, or nonprofit institution, as either a General Counsel or other senior legal leader that would involve similar experience. Experience in the life sciences, biomedical, pharmaceutical, or academic research sectors, with a practice focused on transactional or intellectual property matters, or both, is strongly preferred. A combination of not-for-profit and for-profit legal experience throughout one’s career is preferred.

Location/Relocation:

Madison, WI. The General Counsel should be physically located and reside in the Madison area.

Compensation:

Commensurate with experience. The package includes base salary, target bonus and benefits.

About Major, Lindsey & Africa

Founded in 1982, Major, Lindsey & Africa is the world’s largest and most experienced legal search firm. Combining local market knowledge and a global recruiting network, MLA has earned recognition for its track record of successful General Counsel, Corporate Counsel, Partner, Associate and Law Firm Management placements. With offices throughout the U.S., Hong Kong, London, and Tokyo, MLA recruiters are dedicated to understanding and meeting clients’ and candidates’ needs while maintaining the highest degree of professionalism and confidentiality. MLA considers every search a diversity search, and has been committed to diversity in the law since its inception. For these reasons, MLA was voted “Best Legal Search Firm in the U.S.” in the most recent national survey of America’s top law firms. To learn more about MLA, please visit our website at www.mlaglobal.com.

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