Vice President and General Counsel

Cornell University invites applications and nominations for the Vice President and General Counsel.

DO NOT APPLY THROUGH THE CORNELL SYSTEM FOR THIS POSITION, INFORMATION MUST BE SUBMITTED ONLY TO SPENCER STUART AS INDICATED BELOW.

To Apply

Cornell University has engaged Spencer Stuart to assist with this search. Candidates

interested in applying or those wishing to nominate someone for the position should submit materials to CornellVPandGC@SpencerStuart.com.

For additional information about Cornell University, please visit https://www.cornell.edu/.

The Opportunity

The Vice President and General Counsel (GC) is Cornell’s chief legal officer and a member of the President’s Cabinet. Reporting directly to the President and to the Board Chair, the GC serves as a key legal, policy, and governance advisor to the President, Board of Trustees, and university leadership.

The GC leads the Office of General Counsel, including 20+ attorneys across four practice areas, and oversees all outside counsel. The role encompasses legal oversight for all Cornell campuses and operations, including Weill Cornell Medicine.

Key areas of responsibility include:

• Providing strategic legal advice across academic, research, clinical, administrative, and business functions.

• Overseeing litigation, regulatory matters, investigations, and enterprise compliance efforts.

• Advising on policy development, governance, and Board matters, including supervision of the Secretary of the Corporation.

• Supporting major transactions, research partnerships, technology transfer, global programs, capital projects, real estate, and construction.

• Ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations, including matters related to the land‑grant colleges.

• Upholding academic freedom, free expression, and the university’s foundational principles.

• Leading and developing a high‑performing, collaborative legal team across multiple locations.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will bring:

• A J.D. from an accredited law school; admission to the New York Bar or eligibility within one year.

• At least fifteen years of legal practice, preferably including experience in higher education, academic medicine, complex research institutions, government, or comparable nonprofit entities.

• Deep knowledge of higher‑education‑related legal areas, including compliance, employment, academic and research issues, governance, real estate, intellectual property, and litigation management.

• Demonstrated ability to advise senior leaders, exercise sound judgment, and address complex, multidisciplinary issues.

About Cornell University

Cornell University is a leading research institution distinguished by its unusual dual identity: a privately endowed Ivy League university and the land‑grant institution for New York State. With this distinctive configuration, the university has a special responsibility to make contributions in all fields of knowledge in a manner that prioritizes public engagement and helps to improve the quality of life in New York, the nation, and the world. Cornell’s mission is to discover, preserve, and disseminate knowledge, to educate the next generation of global citizens, and to promote a culture of broad inquiry throughout and beyond the Cornell community. Today, Cornell University consists of 15 schools and colleges. The university is governed by a 64-member board of trustees, which includes representatives from the faculty, students, staff, alumni, and New York State. Cornell is fortunate to have a balanced budget of approximately $6.4 billion, a healthy endowment, and an enviable history of attracting research funds. The General Counsel role is based in Ithaca, a vibrant community in the Finger Lakes region known for its natural beauty, cultural richness, and high quality of life.

To Apply

Cornell University has engaged Spencer Stuart to assist with this search. Candidates

interested in applying or those wishing to nominate someone for the position should submit materials to CornellVPandGC@SpencerStuart.com.

For additional information about Cornell University, please visit https://www.cornell.edu/.

University Jo