Vice President and General Counsel

The Vice President and General Counsel (VPGC) serves as the chief legal advisor to the LSU Foundation Board of Directors and executive leadership team, providing guidance on legal, regulatory, governance, and employment law matters. Reporting to the President & CEO, the VP/GC analyzes and interprets applicable laws and Foundation policies, manages legal risk, and delivers practical solutions supporting the Foundation’s mission and operations.

The VP/GC oversees the review, drafting, and negotiation of a wide range of contracts and legal documents, collaborates with development officers on gift agreements, planned giving and complex bequests, and provides counsel on human resources matters, including compliance with employment and labor laws. This role requires sound judgment, discretion, integrity, and collaborative leadership across diverse stakeholders and issues.

Position Responsibilities:

• Review and draft contracts and a broad range of legal documents (e.g., gift agreements, professional services contracts, cooperative endeavor agreements, and investment-related agreements), ensuring compliance with applicable laws and LSU Foundation policies while supporting effective contract management practices.
• Partner closely with development officers to structure and document philanthropic donations that advance the university's mission while ensuring legal compliance, donor intent, and institutional interests are protected.
• Provide legal counsel regarding charitable giving vehicles, including charitable remainder trusts, charitable lead trusts, gift annuities, donor-advised funds, real estate, and other complex assets.
• Advise leadership on human resource–related legal matters, ensuring compliance with applicable employment and labor laws and mitigating organizational risk.
• Provide legal support and coordination for all legal activities relating to LSUF operations and activities (e.g., corporate management and compliance, gift agreements, asset management, trust administration, and public-private projects).
• Oversee all legal demands and litigation relating to LSUF operations and activities; represent LSUF, its subsidiary entities, directors, and officers; and coordinate with insurers in covered claims.
• Manage and oversee the legal structures of projects associated with the LSU Real Estate and Facilities Foundation, the LSU Property Foundation, and all other affiliate organizations and subsidiaries.
• Keep abreast of and informed on best practices and current developments relevant to LSUF operations and activities, including legislation, court decisions, and legal trends that could impact LSUF.
• Collaborate with executive leadership to identify areas of potential liability, reputational injury, or obstruction of LSUF’s mission, and implement risk management practices (e.g., annual assessments, resource allocation) to mitigate such impacts; incorporate assessments of mission-critical risks and risk management into strategic decision-making.
• Collaborate with executive leadership to design and implement legal, regulatory, and ethical compliance procedures and best practices (e.g., preservation of confidentiality, avoidance of conflicts of interest, whistleblower protection).
• Manage the solicitation, review, and coordination of automobile and property insurance quotes, ensuring comprehensive coverage evaluation, competitive pricing, and alignment with organizational risk management requirements.
• Act as counsel and chief legal advisor to the governing boards of LSUF and its affiliated entities, the President & CEO, and executive leadership.
• Supervise the Assistant to the Vice President and General Counsel and Board Administrator and the Assistant General Counsel.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the President & CEO and/or Board.