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OALS: Professional Biographies
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Lisa H. Rutherford
Director; Senior University Legal Counsel
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Principal Practice Areas:
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employment law; medical malpractice law and risk management; civil rights; student conduct; faculty and academic staff governance and procedures; international study abroad programs.
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Background:
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Ms. Rutherford received a B.A. degree with distinction from Hamline University and a J.D. degree from UW–Madison. She joined OALS in 1993.
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John C. Dowling
Senior University Legal Counsel
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Principal Practice Areas:
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athletics; civil rights; employment law; faculty governance and procedures; and public records and open meetings law.
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Background:
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Mr. Dowling received both B.A. and J.D. degrees from The Ohio State University. He was in the private practice of law in Columbus, Ohio, for five years and then served for seven years as an Ohio Assistant Attorney General, where he was Colleges and Universities Coordinator. He joined OALS in January 1996.
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Benjamin Griffiths
Senior University Legal Counsel
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Principal Practice Areas:
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tax, trademark, business law, non-profit corporations, environmental law, export and customs, immigration, athletics, research and sponsored grants issues.
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Background:
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Mr. Griffiths received a B.A. degree from Miami University (Ohio) and a J.D. degree from UW–Madison. He served as legal counsel for a small business and as a staff attorney/contract author for a public interest law firm for several years before joining OALS in 1993.
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Rebecca C. Hutton
University Legal Counsel
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Principal Practice Areas:
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medical malpractice law and risk management; affiliation agreements and other contracting in the health sciences area; HIPAA.
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Background:
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Ms. Hutton received a B.A. degree from Barat College, Masters Degrees from the University of Michigan and University of Wisconsin–Madison, and a J.D., cum laude, from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. She served as Associate University Legal Counsel at OALS, Director of Risk Management for UW Hospital and Clinics, and HIPAA Privacy Officer for the University of Wisconsin–Madison before rejoining OALS in 2005.
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Kathleen S. Irwin
Distinguished University Legal Counsel
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Principal Practice Areas:
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research grants, and contracts; intellectual property law; conflict of interest and scientific misconduct regulation.
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Background:
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Ms. Irwin received a B.A. in biology from Drake University, an M.S. in post-secondary educational administration from UW–Madison, and a J.D. cum laude, also from UW–Madison. She was a medical technologist with various clinical and research laboratories and served as an instructor with the UW–Madison Medical Technology Program. Prior to joining OALS in 1983, she was an attorney for the State of Wisconsin Legislature.
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Nancy K. Lynch
Senior University Legal Counsel
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Principal Practice Areas:
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student governance and procedures; student conduct; intellectual property, computer security, public records; diversity and affirmative action issues, and employment law.
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Background:
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Ms. Lynch received a B.A. degree with Distinction from UW–Madison in 1991 and earned a J.D. degree, cum laude, in 1996, also from UW–Madison. Prior to joining OALS in 1997, she was in private practice in Chicago, Illinois.
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Pamila Majewski
Paralegal Confidential
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Principal Duties:
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investigate notices of claim and employment discrimination complaints; provide general paralegal support to attorneys.
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Background:
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Ms. Majewski received a Paralegal Certificate from the American Institute for Paralegal Studies in 1996. She was employed as a paralegal with the Department of Regulation and Licensing for over 9 years before joining OALS in 2007.
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Brian D. Vaughan
University Legal Counsel
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Principal Practice Areas:
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employment law; medical malpractice and risk management; and general higher education law
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Background:
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Mr. Vaughan received both a BA degree in 1996 and a JD degree in 1999 from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Prior to joining OALS in October 2008, he served as a Deputy Attorney General with the California Department of Justice and clerked for the late Honorable A. Andrew Hauk, U.S. District Court, Central District of California.
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Lisa A. Wilson
University Legal Counsel
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Principal Practice Areas:
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general health law; human subjects research; stem cell research; research grants and contracts, and conflicts of interest.
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Background:
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Ms. Wilson received her B.A. from UW–Milwaukee in 1993 and her J.D., summa cum laude, from Northern Illinois University in 1999. Prior to joining OALS in 2003, she clerked for two years for the Illinois Court of Appeals, one year for the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, and worked in private practice.
