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Photo note: To download a photo of Strohm, see the end of the release.

Strohm, veteran lawyer with university, health expertise, named general counsel

CHAPEL HILL -- Leslie Chambers Strohm, who has more than two decades of experience representing research universities, academic medical centers and health care-related clients across North America, has been named general counsel at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The UNC Board of Trustees today (July 24) approved the appointment, effective July 31.

Strohm comes to Carolina from Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal, where she was a partner in a 600-member firm that is among the nation’s 85 largest and has offices in St. Louis, Washington, D.C., New York, Chicago, Kansas City, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Before joining Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal, she spent eight-and-a-half years in posts including deputy general counsel and acting general counsel at the Washington University in St. Louis, among the top private U.S. research universities.

"In Leslie Strohm, Carolina is fortunate to be attracting an exemplary legal professional whose experiences and successes – particularly in higher education, business and health care – have prepared her exceptionally well to meet the complex challenges we face in Chapel Hill," said Chancellor James Moeser.

Campus colleagues involved in the search process have been overwhelmingly impressed by Strohm’s comprehensive background, sound judgment and work ethic, he said. "Leslie has a profound appreciation for the special role of our university. Her work on health-care issues from both university and business perspectives will be particularly helpful since Carolina has five health schools and close affiliation with the UNC Health Care System.

"We look forward to her arrival and leadership in effectively representing the interests of students, faculty and staff," Moeser said. "I am also grateful to Glenn George for her excellent service to the campus community as interim general counsel over these past several months."

Strohm was selected and recommended to Moeser by a search committee chaired by Mike Smith, dean of the School of Government. As general counsel, Strohm will serve as UNC’s principal lawyer. She will provide legal advice and counsel to the chancellor, trustees, administrators, faculty,

staff and students. Other duties will include analyzing laws, regulations, proposed legislation and policies to assess their possible impact. Keeping the campus community informed about legal risks and their management will be among other priorities. Strohm will serve as a liaison with the Office of the President, the State Attorney General’s Office and other authorities on legal issues.

Strohm has strong family ties in North Carolina. Her father, the late Donald Chambers, spent his early years in High Point and other relatives are spread out across the state. She has continued to visit regularly. "I was drawn to Carolina, because of its deep and wonderful commitment to serving the people of the state," she said. "It is an honor to be joining a university of Carolina’s caliber and quality. I missed being part of a university community, and I look forward to the opportunity to serve an institution whose mission is to advance teaching, research and service."

At Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal, Strohm was on a team focusing on corporate and health-care matters. During her 10-year tenure, Strohm worked on innovative projects that led to the creation of some of the nation’s first integrated health-care delivery systems, joint ventures between publicly traded companies and physicians, and multi-state health-care enterprises. She was also involved in a number of projects for both public and private universities.

At Washington University from 1984 to 1993, Strohm was instrumental in deliberations resulting in the university’s first policy addressing AIDS and HIV infection as well as a policy and protocol for responding to challenges by animal rights activists. She secured a precedent-setting ruling in the nation’s first campus case to consider if an HIV-infected student should be able to continue his dental studies. She teamed with faculty and administrators on technology-transfer initiatives involving a venture capital company and structured associations among start-up companies, the campus and faculty inventors. She drafted policies on issues such as conflict of interest and academic review for students.

Strohm compiled "AIDS On Campus: A Legal Compendium" following a review of materials and resources addressing AIDS and HIV infection. It was published in 1991 by the National Association of College and University Attorneys to guide campus administrators and attorneys. She has been a lecturer or presenter at numerous national and state professional meetings.

A longtime member and leader of the National Association of College and University Attorneys, Strohm co-chaired the group’s health sciences section and served as vice chair of its member services committee. She belongs to the American Bar and American Health Lawyers’ associations.

An Indiana native, Strohm earned a bachelor’s degree and Phi Beta Kappa honors from DePauw University in 1978. She received a law degree and scholarly writing and Order of the Coif honors from the University of Michigan Law School in 1981.

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Photo URL: http://www.unc.edu/news/pics/admin/strohm_leslie.jpg
Contact: Mike McFarland, (919) 962-8593, mike_mcfarland@unc.edu