Philip L. Harris, currently a partner at the Chicago law firm of Jenner & Block, LLP, has been appointed vice president and general counsel for Northwestern University, effective Jan. 1, 2016, Northwestern University President Morton Schapiro announced today (Nov. 20).

Serving as Northwestern’s chief legal officer, Harris will provide counsel to the president and the Northwestern University Board of Trustees, as well as direct outside counsel on all cases and issues. He will succeed Thomas G. Cline, who is retiring after 27 years at the University.

Harris, 57, brings a strong legal background to the post. He has been a partner at Jenner & Block since 2004 and serves on the firm’s management committee and co-chairs the Product Liability and Mass Tort Defense Practice.  Throughout his legal career, Harris has defended large companies in substantial and complex product liability, mass tort and commercial cases.  He has been the lead attorney in jury trials for those cases. 

Harris also  brings a long history of civic engagement and connections to Northwestern.  He is a fellow of Leadership Greater Chicago and the Aspen Institute Henry Crown Values Based Leadership Program.  He has served on many civic boards in Chicago, including the Chicago Children’s Museum, Children’s Memorial Hospital, the Field Museum of Natural History, the Chicago Humanities Festival, the Chicago Zoological Society and the Chicago Committee for Minorities in Large Law Firms. 

Harris has been a member of Northwestern’s Board of Trustees for 25 years. He is currently a vice chair of the board and a member of the executive committee. He served as chair of the board’s student affairs committee for 10 years, acting as a liaison between the trustees and students. He has chaired several important task forces for the University, including the Native American Outreach and Inclusion Task Force.

- See more at: http://www.northwestern.edu/newscenter/stories/2015/11/philip-l.-harris-...

Philip Harris, currently a partner at the law firm of Jenner & Block, LLP, has been appointed general counsel for Northwestern University, effective Jan. 1, 2016. He will succeed Thomas Cline, who is retiring after 27 years at the University.

As Northwestern’s chief legal officer, Harris will provide counsel to the president and the Northwestern University Board of Trustees, as well as direct outside counsel on all cases and issues. Harris brings a strong legal background to the post. He has been a partner at Jenner & Block since 2004 and serves on the firm’s management committee and co-chairs the product liability and mass tort defense practice.

Harris has been a member of Northwestern’s Board of Trustees for 25 years. He is currently a vice chair of the board and a member of the executive committee. He served as chair of the board’s student affairs committee for 10 years, acting as a liaison between the trustees and students. He has chaired several important task forces for the University, including the Native American Outreach and Inclusion Task Force.

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