Hilda O’Keeffe
University Solicitor
18th December 2015
Office of Corporate and
Legal Affairs (OCLA)
Research Support in UCC…
Who, What, Where, When
Who: Structure & Function
Corporate Secretary:
Deputy Corporate Secretary:
University Solicitor:
Michael Farrell
Nora Geary
Hilda O’Keeffe
Areas of Functional Responsibility:
Governing Body (related Committees)
University Governance
Statutes and Regulations*
Legal Affairs*
Compliance (e.g. Data Protection compliance)* (Catriona O’Sullivan)
Insurance* (Kathryn O’Driscoll)
Risk Management (Mairéad Loughman)
Archives & Records (Catriona Mulcahy)
Health and Safety
Website: http://www.ucc.ie/en/ocla/
Who: Legal Affairs Team
LAWYERS/IN HOUSE COUNSEL/SOLICITORS/LEGAL
• Hilda O’Keeffe (Provision of legal services)
•
Contact: hilda.okeeffe@ucc.ie
• Audrey Huggard (Data Protection, Clinical Trials, Research Contracts)
•
Contact: ahuggard@ucc.ie
• Paddy Martin (All Tyndall-related Research Contracts, Commercial Contracts and IP matters in
conjunction with TTO)
•
Contact: paddy.martin@tyndall.ie
• Christine Alcorn (Research Contracts, Office of Technology Transfer contracts, IP)
•
Contact: c.alcorn@ucc.ie
• Jonathan Hurley (Research Contracts, Property Matters, Commercial matters)
•
Contact: oclagen@ucc.ie
What: Legal Advice
• Provide solution focused, practical, legal advice to assist
University in achieving the strategic goals
• Seek to ensure the legal, ethical and financial integrity of the
University are protected and enhanced
• Understanding of University business to support informed
decision making and management of risk
• Advise signatory who considers legal risk together with
benefits of research to the University, strategic importance
and financial risk/benefit.
• Signatory /Approver is set out under
the Signing Authority Policy
- all legally binding agreements must be reviewed by OCLA
https://www.ucc.ie/en/media/support/ocla/legalaffairs/SigningAuthorityFeb2011.pdf
WHAT: CONTRACT REVIEW
• Provide advice and practical solutions on research
and IP issues such as
•
•
•
•
•
•
Confidentiality
Publications
Intellectual Property
– ownership/protection/commercialisation
Use in further funding applications
Use in other research projects
• Through RSS– branch of support
-
Grant Awards (European/Irish/UK/Other)
Inter-institutional agreements
Industry agreements
Collaboration/Consortium Agreements
License Agreements
Clinical Trials Agreements
Researcher Placement Agreements
Equipment Agreements
Tenders….
When: Research Support
Services
• How OCLA and RSS interact:
• Contract submitted for signature to RSS
with background information/instructions
• RSS liaison submits to OCLA for legal review
• Potential legal issues and points of note for RSS/PI
with proposed solution or mitigation
• Returned to RSS liaison (single point of contact)
• Forwarded to PI
• Further action decided
• OCLA – any issues contact to discuss
• Exception – For Tyndall-related contracts, direct contact can be made with Paddy
Martin or through one of the Tyndall-based case managers ie. no engagement with
RSS.
Streamlining review
• More information the better
• - what are you trying to achieve
• - identify any significant risks or concerns
• - advise on strategic importance for you
The more we understand about your
research/business aims, the more informed and
focused the advice.
• Instruction (e.g. H2020, PFQ)
• Template agreements
- Industry Engagement
- SFI Research Centres
Why: BENEFITS
• Facilitate research whilst maintaining integrity
• Solutions which meet your objectives
• Ensure appropriate insurance cover is in place
• Informed decision making and understanding &
management of risk
• Ensure Legislative Compliance e.g. Data
Protection, Export Control, Clinical Trials
• Avoid unnecessary risk and unintended
outcomes
• Ensure your objectives
are achieved
Where
First Floor, East Wing,
Main Quadrangle,
Western Road, Cork
Contact details:
http://www.ucc.ie/en/ocla/contact/
Hilda O' Keeffe
University Solicitor
Office of Corporate & Legal Affairs
University College Cork, Ireland
Phone: +353 (0) 21 490 1880
Email: Hilda.okeeffe@ucc.ie
QUESTIONS
THANK YOU