For immediate use
UNC-Chapel Hill Retains Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom as Outside Counsel
(Chapel Hill, N.C. – Jan. 13, 2015) – The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill today announced that it has retained Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom to represent the University with respect to various ongoing legal matters.
“As we move through a period of transition in the University Counsel’s office, we sought to identify a single national firm to provide outside counsel and integration on numerous pressing legal challenges. We selected Skadden from among several highly regarded firms,” said University Interim Vice Chancellor and General Counsel David Parker. “With Skadden’s diverse expertise, it is best suited to assist the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of University Counsel on several issues the University is addressing. The firm is well-resourced to provide comprehensive advice and counsel on a wide range of related litigation matters, including what we anticipate will be very extensive pretrial discovery obligations.”
In addition to Skadden, the Office of University Counsel will continue to work with a number of North Carolina-based law firms who assist the University on various matters.
Skadden’s engagement has been approved by the Office of the Attorney General and Governor McCrory’s office. Parker will manage and oversee Skadden’s work, with support from others in the Office of University Counsel.
Leading the firm’s work for the University will be Patrick Fitzgerald, a partner with Skadden’s Chicago office. Prior to joining Skadden in 2012, Fitzgerald had a long and distinguished career in public service. In 2001, he was appointed the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. He also served as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Southern District of New York from 1988 to 2001.
“Skadden has extensive experience representing clients on their most critical litigation issues. We are committed to providing ongoing legal support and counsel to Carolina, and have assembled an experienced and efficient team to handle the various legal matters facing the University,” said Fitzgerald.
The Skadden team will also include, as needed, partners Michael Scudder, a former law clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Kennedy, former federal prosecutor who served in the White House Counsel’s office and former general counsel to the National Security Council; Stephen Robinson, former U.S. district judge in New York, former U.S. attorney in Connecticut and former special counsel to the director of the FBI; and Lisa Gilford, an experienced class actions attorney.
No state-appropriated funds or tuition dollars will be used to pay for the work done by Skadden. Total costs will not be available until this work is concluded and the University receives all related invoices.
-Carolina-
UNC-Chapel Hill Communications and Public Affairs contact: Rick White, (919) 962-2091, rick.white@unc.edu
Skadden contact: Colleen Strasser, (312) 407-0697, colleen.strasser@skadden.com