The Office of the General Counsel (“OGC”) provides and coordinates all legal representation, advice, and services for the College.
OGC attorneys advise stakeholders on a broad spectrum of campus legal matters including employment, risk management, contracts, business and tax issues, intellectual property, constitutional rights and obligations, discrimination and harassment, policy implementation and interpretation, privacy, and regulatory compliance.
Occidental’s General Counsel, Nora Kahn, is the College’s chief legal officer and has authority to direct the legal affairs of the institution. The General Counsel reports to the President of the College and regularly advises the College’s senior leadership, board of trustees, faculty leadership, and other stakeholders.
The OGC provides the following services on behalf of the institution:
- management of litigation, claims, demands, disputes, releases, and settlements
- legal advice, counsel, and guidance
- contract review and assistance
- risk assessment and management
- policy drafting and analysis
- response to subpoenas, requests for documents, and other service of process
- support for regulatory and compliance matters
OGC attorneys also serve as the point of contact for all external legal matters and are responsible for selecting, retaining, and supervising outside counsel.
The OGC is a collaborative, problem-solving team committed to acting with integrity and expertise to help achieve its mission. Our goals are to protect and promote ’s mission, values, and strategic initiatives by mitigating legal risks and costs. We partner with stakeholders across campus and work closely with them to understand the College’s needs and try to find a creative solution to legal issues.
The OGC represents stakeholders only for those matters within the course and scope of their employment. The OGC cannot provide legal advice or assistance for members of the Occidental community in their personal capacity.