General Counsel

The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) provides legal advice and services to the entire New York Tech community. Key areas include:

Contracts

We strive to structure and document agreements that are efficient, cost-effective, maximize any revenues, minimize potential liabilities, and preserve all necessary rights.

  • All contracts should be submitted to the OGC for review or drafting. It is helpful to consult us early in the process so that we can suggest potential contract terms before the other party thinks all terms have been agreed upon. Remember, also, that oral agreements are binding in most instances, so be careful not to make unauthorized commitments.

  • Form contracts may be used by certain departments after agreement with the OGC as to the circumstances for their use.

Human Resources Issues

Any issues involving employees should be brought first to the Office of Human Resources, which will consult with the OGC as appropriate.

Intellectual Property

Copyrights, trademarks, and protectable ideas are some of the university’s most valuable assets. As intellectual property owners, we also need to be careful not to infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others. Accordingly, it is important to consult with the OGC regarding the availability of protection for ideas and materials in both the academic and media/marketing realms, including potential patent and trademark applications, the appropriate placement of copyright and trademark notices, and the permissibility of using materials created by others.

Dispute Resolution

The OGC strives to solve disputes and problems in a way that will minimize any damage to New York Tech in the short and long term.

  • Any person attempting to serve a subpoena, summons, or other legal process on New York Institute of Technology should be sent to the OGC, which has the sole authority to accept service on behalf of the university.

  • All contacts from lawyers, whether correspondence or on the telephone, should also be referred to the OGC.

Compliance and Prevention

We work with many departments on issues regarding regulatory and legal compliance, including, for example, human resources, financial aid, student affairs, and athletics. The OGC engages in training efforts in order to prevent problems before they occur.

Notary Services

We provide notary services (free of charge) for members of the New York Tech community, including faculty, staff, and students.