UW-Madison names new director of Administrative Legal Services

Lisa Rutherford, a 14-year veteran of the legal affairs team at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, has been named the new director of UW–Madison’s Administrative Legal Services (ALS), Provost Patrick Farrell announced today (Feb. 22). She will begin the job on March 1.

"Lisa Rutherford has a strong track record of managing the complex and challenging legal environment we face at a major public research university, and I’m confident she will do an excellent job of leading the office," says Farrell, adding that Rutherford emerged from an impressive national pool of candidates.

Farrell also praised the services of current interim ALS Director Charles Hoornstra, who came from the Wisconsin Department of Justice to run the office during the search for a new director. "Hoornstra has led the staff with distinction for almost two years, and we are very grateful for his contributions," Farrell says.

Rutherford will succeed Melany Newby, who served as vice chancellor for legal and executive affairs since 1989 and retired in summer 2006.

Rutherford currently serves as leader of the five-attorney litigation team for ALS. She has expertise in personnel/employment law, medical malpractice/health law, international studies and intellectual property. Rutherford has a bachelor’s degree from Hamline University in St. Paul, Minn., and a law degree from UW–Madison.

"I believe in a proactive approach that includes educating the campus community about the common and emerging legal issues facing the university," says Rutherford. "In addition to the preventative law programs our office has always sponsored, I want our office to be at the table at the onset of issues, when we still have an opportunity to mitigate and make a positive difference. I also want to assist the campus community to become more aware of and more sophisticated users of the services we provide."

Rutherford, who will report directly to the chancellor, will oversee 13 staff members. Her responsibilities include, among others, managing conflict of interest and ethics issues; employment, health and intellectual property law; compliance issues; contracts; and special investigative assignments. The office also responds to Freedom of Information Act requests and manages a range of privacy issues relating to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Rutherford’s salary will be $150,000.