OGC - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- General Counsel
- Legal Assistant, Senior
Angela Federico joined the Office of General Counsel in June 2018 and assists Senior Associate General Counsel David Wagner and Associate General Counsel Joshua Estavillo.
Ms. Federico's background includes litigation and complex case practice in the private sector as well as corporate business matters. Ms. Federico received her Associate's Degree from Pima Community College in its Legal Assistant Program.
Job Titles:
- Deputy General Counsel
- Vice President
Job Titles:
- Associate General Counsel
- General Counsel
Chris Pastore joined the Office of General Counsel in September 2019. His practice focuses on employment and student-related matters.
Prior to joining the University, Mr. Pastore was Of Counsel at Ogletree Deakins, an international labor and employment law firm, where he represented employers in state and federal lawsuits and in administrative investigations and litigation. Mr. Pastore also provided advice and counsel to employers on a wide range of employment law matters, with an emphasis on occupational safety and health.
Mr. Pastore earned his law degree from the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law in 2008 and his B.A. in Political Science from the University of Arizona in 2004. Mr. Pastore is a member of the State Bars of Arizona and Nevada.
Job Titles:
- General Counsel
- Senior Associate
David Wagner's work at the University focuses primarily on employment and student affairs matters. Much of his time is devoted to advising administrators on employment-related issues and ensuring compliance with federal and state employment laws, which includes representing the University in matters involving the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights. Additionally, Mr. Wagner routinely provides advice on interpreting and applying University policies in areas such as promotion and tenure, employee and student due process, and employee leaves. Mr. Wagner also works closely with the University's Disability Resource Center to promote and foster accessibility for employees and students at the University, as well as members of the public who interact with the institution. Finally, Mr. Wagner frequently works with the University's Athletics program on contractual matters and issues involving NCAA compliance.
Mr. Wagner joined the Office of the General Counsel in August 2012. Prior to that, he was an associate at two law firms in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he provided counsel to clients and represented them in employment lawsuits in state and federal courts and before various administrative bodies.
Mr. Wagner is a proud Wildcat, having graduated from the University of Arizona in 2003 (B.A. History, summa cum laude). He attended law school at the University of Texas School of Law, graduating in 2006 (J.D., cum laude). Mr. Wagner is a member of the State Bar of Arizona and the National Association of College and University Attorneys.
Job Titles:
- Associate General Counsel
Dena Sanders joined the University of Arizona Office of the General Counsel in April 2024. Her practice focuses on employment, transactional, and constitutional matters.
Prior to joining the University, Ms. Sanders worked as Associate General Counsel at Banner Health, where she advised senior leadership on a multitude of health law issues, including academic affiliations, patient privacy, consent, and various transactional matters. Prior to this, Ms. Sanders was an associate attorney at Littler Mendelson and at Fennemore Craig, where her practice focused largely on labor and employment matters.
Ms. Sanders is a graduate of California State University - Northridge (B.A. English Literature, 2011, cum laude) and the Georgetown University Law Center (J.D., 2017, magna cum laude). She is a member of the State Bar of Arizona and the National Association of College and University Attorneys.
Job Titles:
- General Counsel
- Senior Associate
Elizabeth Miller's practice focuses on employment and student-related matters with a particular emphasis on the University of Arizona Health Sciences colleges.
Ms. Miller joined the University of Arizona Office of the General Counsel in January 2015. Prior to joining the University, Ms. Miller was in private practice in Tucson and Washington, D.C. Her practice included representing employers and employees in civil lawsuits in state and federal court and before administrative bodies. She also provided on-going counsel and advice to employer clients on a wide range of legal and policy matters.
Ms. Miller earned her law degree from the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law in 2008. She also holds a M.A. in Higher Education Administration from the George Washington University (2005) and a B.S. in Public Relations from Northern Arizona University (2001). Ms. Miller is a member of the State Bars of Arizona and Virginia. She is also a member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys.
Job Titles:
- General Counsel
- Senior Director, Operations and Strategic Affairs
Jennifer Bailey joined the Office of General Counsel in 2016 and serves as an investigator on legal matters.
Ms. Bailey's professional background includes work with the federal government. Ms. Bailey earned a paralegal certificate from George Mason University and is certified as an advanced paralegal (ACP) by the National Association of Legal Assistants.
Job Titles:
- Associate General Counsel
Mr. Estavillo started in the University's Office of the General Counsel in October 2007. During his time in OGC, he has had the opportunity to work with and advise administrators, faculty, and staff from across campus.
Mr. Estavillo earned his Bachelor of Arts degree, cum laude, in English from the University of California, Riverside in 1997. In 2004, Mr. Estavillo earned a Double Master of Arts with High Distinction in English Literature and Teaching Writing from Humboldt State University in Arcata, California. Mr. Estavillo is a 2007 graduate of the University of Arizona, James E. Rogers College of Law. Mr. Estavillo is a member of the State Bar of Arizona.
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel
Laura Todd Johnson began in her position as the University's General Counsel in July 2012 after having served as a University Attorney for the University of Arizona since 2002. As Senior Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel, Ms. Johnson reports directly to President Robert C. Robbins, M.D. and is responsible for providing advice and support to the President and other members of the University administration, as well as members of the Arizona Board of Regents. Ms. Johnson oversees litigation involving the University and is responsible for a broad range of legal issues, including those involving institutional governance, intellectual property and licensing, research contracts and compliance, international transactions, employment matters, charitable giving, student-related issues, real estate, taxation, and government regulations.
Prior to joining the University, Ms. Johnson was a founding partner of a Tucson law firm where her area of practice focused on employment discrimination litigation in federal and state courts. Ms. Johnson is also a former trial attorney with both the Phoenix and Chicago District Offices of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission where she litigated individual and complex class discrimination suits.
Ms. Johnson received her B.A. degree, magna cum laude, and her J.D. degree, cum laude, from the University of Arizona. She is a past Chair of the Arizona State Bar Employment and Labor Law Section, and is a member of the Arizona State Bar Association and the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA). Ms. Johnson recently completed her term as the immediate past Chair of the NACUA Board of Directors.
Job Titles:
- Associate General Counsel
- General Counsel
Lawton Jackson joined the Office of General Counsel in January 2024. Her legal practice is concentrated in Title IX and the Clery Act, alongside a general legal practice in higher education.
Ms. Jackson previously served as a partner at a law firm in Mesa, Arizona, specializing in representing K-12 school districts and community colleges throughout the state of Arizona. Her work primarily involved Title IX, Section 504, ADA compliance, and student discipline. Prior to this, she was an Assistant Attorney General in Arizona, providing legal counsel to the Arizona Department of Education. Ms. Jackson's experience also includes roles in regulatory compliance and early dispute resolution in both Arizona and Washington state education departments.
Ms. Jackson holds a JD from Arizona State University School of Law, with a certificate in Biotechnology and Genomics (2014). She earned her undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice Administration from the University of Phoenix (2010). Licensed to practice in Arizona and Washington, she is also a member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys.
Job Titles:
- General Counsel
- Legal Assistant, Senior
Lori Eckert joined the Office of General Counsel in March 2009 and assists Senior Associate General Counsel Stephanie Rosenberg and Associate General Counsel Chris Pastore and Sandra Jonas.
Ms. Eckert joined the Office of the General Counsel in 2009 as the front office Administrative Associate and then promoted to Legal Assistant in 2013. Ms. Eckert's background includes administrative experience in a variety of corporate and community settings. She holds both an MBA and a B.A. in Human Resource Management from National University.
Job Titles:
- General Counsel
- Legal Assistant, Senior
Miriam Perez joined the Office of the General Counsel in November 2018 and assists Vice President and Deputy General Counsel Art Lee, and Associate General Counsel Sarah Hestad and Emma Blummenthal.
Ms. Perez's background includes six years of experience as a legal assistant in criminal litigation in the public sector. Ms. Perez has an A.A.S. degree in Paralegal Studies from Pima Community College.
Job Titles:
- General Counsel
- Administrative Support
Pearl Byrne joined the Office of the General Counsel in April 2016 and serves as the Administrative Assistant.
Ms. Byrne's higher education experience encompasses over 22 years of combined service in various roles at the University of Arizona and the University of Hawaii. In addition, her legal background includes previous service in the Office of the General Counsel and experience in the private sector as the Receptionist/Secretary at a Honolulu, Hawaii law firm specializing in real estate law, breach of contract, and family law. Ms. Byrne attended Chaminade University in Honolulu and is a past President of the UA Beta Group.
Job Titles:
- General Counsel
- Senior Associate
Stephanie S. Rosenberg joined the University of Arizona Office of the General Counsel in June 2012. Her practice area focuses on business, transactional, and constitutional matters.
Prior to joining the University, Ms. Rosenberg served as the General Counsel to the Humble Independent School District near Houston, Texas. In that capacity, Ms. Rosenberg advised the Superintendent and Board of Trustees on all legal matters affecting the district, including employee contract administration and labor laws, purchasing and contract issues, student discipline and education matters, policy development, and federal and state laws, regulations, and constitutional principles. Prior to joining Humble ISD, Ms. Rosenberg was an associate attorney in the Corporate Reorganization & Restructuring section of Bracewell LLP, where her practice concentrated on federal bankruptcy litigation and appeals.
Ms. Rosenberg is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin (B.A., 1996), and the Villanova University School of Law (J.D., 2001, magna cum laude, Order of the Coif), where she served as the Editor-in-Chief for the Villanova Law Review. She is a member of the State Bar of Arizona and the National Association of College and University Attorneys. Ms. Rosenberg is licensed to practice in Arizona.