Thomas G. Cline, former vice president and general counsel at Northwestern University, joined Husch Blackwell’s Healthcare, Life Sciences & Education industry team and its Higher Education practice as of counsel November 7, 2016.
Cline comes to Husch Blackwell after retiring from Northwestern at the end of 2015. He had served as the chief legal officer for the university since 2001, providing counsel to the University president and board of directors and directing the university’s legal strategies. He joined the university’s legal staff in 1989 as assistant general counsel, receiving promotions to associate general counsel in 1993 and to deputy general counsel in 1996.
Cline’s accomplishments included drafting and negotiating a 2007 agreement to create a new Northwestern University campus in Qatar and overseeing the legal aspects of a new affiliation agreement between the University and Northwestern Memorial Healthcare. He also led the university’s efforts to improve its risk management and regulatory compliance procedures through the establishment of Northwestern’s first institution-wide compliance office.
“On behalf of Husch Blackwell’s higher education team, we are happy to welcome Tom to our expanding Chicago office,” said Hayley Hanson, partner in the firm’s Higher Education practice group. “His demonstrated leadership and vision during a period of rapid change for the higher education industry will benefit our clients looking for deep expertise across a broad range of legal and compliance issues.”
Cline obtained his J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law (1980) and his B.A. from Yale University (1976). He is a member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA), serving as chair of its board of directors from 2014-2015 and as treasurer from 2008-2011.