Robert B. Donin has been named the University's deputy general counsel.

An attorney in the Office of the General Counsel (OGC) since 1984, Donin has also served as its administrative coordinator since 1993. As deputy general counsel, he will have responsibility for such matters as assigning cases within the OGC, engaging and supervising outside counsel, and long-term planning for the University's legal needs.

In announcing the appointment, Vice President and General Counsel Anne Taylor said: "Bob Donin has been a terrific colleague and a widely admired member of the OGC for 13 years. People across Harvard have come to rely on his superb judgment and his thoroughly professional approach to untangling and resolving complicated issues. He's a tremendous asset to Harvard, and I'm extremely pleased that he has agreed to serve as deputy general counsel."

"I look forward to continuing to work with Anne Taylor and our OGC colleagues to enhance the quality and timeliness of legal services that the General Counsel's Office provides to Harvard," Donin said.

Donin came to Harvard in 1984 as one of the original members of the expanded Office of General Counsel being formed by then-General Counsel Daniel Steiner. His practice at Harvard has been broad and varied, with an emphasis on such matters as student affairs, intellectual property, employment, and antitrust compliance. His recent committee assignments include the University Committee on Information Technology and the University Committee on Patents and Copyrights. He has also been a member of the core team for the central administration's strategic planning efforts.

Before coming to Harvard, Donin served from 1978 to 1984 as an associate and then partner at the Washington, D.C., law firm of Verner, Liipfert, Bernhard & McPherson, where he specialized in civil litigation and regulatory affairs. He began his legal career at the U.S. Department of Transportation, where he was a trial attorney from 1974 to 1977.

Donin holds a bachelor's degree from Colgate University, his law degree from the University of Pennsylvania, and an advanced degree in international law from the University of London, where he was a Fulbright-Hays Scholar.

He lives in Wellesley with his wife, Mary, and their three children.