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Acting on the recommendation of University of California Board of Regents’ chair Gerald L. Parsky and UC President Robert C. Dynes, UC regents today (Nov. 16) appointed Charles F. Robinson as general counsel of the regents and vice president for legal affairs, Office of the President, effective January 1, 2007.

Robinson, 49, was selected following a nationwide search that produced a pool of a dozen candidates to replace James E. Holst who retired as general counsel from UC in June.

Since 2000, Robinson has been vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary for the California Independent System Operator Corporation, California’s wholesale electric transmission operator based in Folsom, CA. Prior to that, he served as assistant general counsel for Packard Bell in Sacramento, division counsel for the Raychem Corporation in Menlo Park, and he was a partner at Heller Ehrman White and McAuliffe in San Francisco, CA. He holds an undergraduate degree from Harvard University and a J.D. from Yale University.

Reporting jointly to the president and to the regents, the UC General Counsel oversees a staff of 40 attorneys and 45 paralegal, administrative and support staff in the UC systemwide headquarters in Oakland, as well as another 17 attorneys at six of the 10 UC campuses with resident counsel.

"I believe Charles is a great choice as UC’s next general counsel," said Parsky. “He has substantial experience as senior counsel to large California organizations, and he brings to UC demonstrated leadership and a sincere dedication to public service.”

Dynes also expressed his support for Robinson.

“I am very pleased Charles has accepted this appointment," Dynes said. “I believe he understands well our mission as a world leader in teaching and research, the complexities of our system, and the unique responsibilities we have to the public.”

“I am honored by this appointment, and very excited to have the opportunity to serve this tremendous institution,” Robinson said. “The University of California is known for its standards of excellence in its service to the people of California, and I will work hard to help ensure those standards continue to be met.”

UC counsel Jeffrey Blair has been serving as acting general counsel during the search for a permanent replacement, and he will continue in that role until Robinson takes office.

“Both President Dynes and I would like to express our appreciation to Jeff for the great job he has done providing continuity to general counsel staff and advising the university leadership during this transition,” said Parsky.

Attorneys in the general counsel's office handle a broad and complex range of legal affairs, including litigation, labor law and personnel matters, real estate acquisition, development and leasing, environmental regulations, patents and technology transfer, tax, public financing and lending, general liability, intellectual property, disability rights, medical regulations and health law, estates and trusts, and various contracts associated with the business operations of the UC system.

As general counsel, Robinson will receive an annual salary of $400,000 which represents an increase over former general counsel Holst’s salary of $292,700, along with the following additional compensation related items:

Per policy, standard health, pension, and senior management benefits, and standard sick leave and vacation accrual. Per policy, 5 percent monthly contribution to the Senior Management Supplemental Benefit Program. Per policy, an automobile allowance of $8,916 per annum. Per policy, use of administrative funds for official entertainment and other purposes. Per policy, participation in the Mortgage Origination Loan Program (MOP). Per policy, relocation of household effects. As an exception to policy, reimbursement of reasonable costs associated with temporary accommodations not to exceed $25,000 over a period of six months from start of employment, to assist with the transition of Mr. Robinson and his family from his current location to Oakland.

Robinson is married and has one child. A biography and photo of Robinson is available at: www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/2006/robinson.html

For more information about UC’s Office of General Counsel, please visit:
www.ucop.edu/ogc/

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