LSC: Office of Legal Affairs

Office of Legal Affairs

The Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) serves as in-house counsel. The General Counsel, as head of the office, serves as chief legal advisor to the Corporation and performs the duties of Secretary of the Corporation.

The Office carries out traditional "lawyer" functions, including negotiating, drafting and reviewing legal instruments such as contracts, settlement agreements, releases, applications for funding, and grant documents, and representing the Corporation's interests in litigation, directly or through retention and oversight of outside counsel. OLA provides legal advice to the Corporation's Board of Directors and President, as well as to the various offices in the Corporation. Finally, the General Counsel is responsible for interpreting statutory requirements and drafting implementing regulations for consideration by the Board. The General Counsel reports to the President and has a secondary reporting relationship with the Board.

Staff

Victor M. FORTUNO, Vice President for Legal Affairs, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, vfortuno@lsc.gov

Patricia BATIE, Manager of Board Operations and FOIA Officer, pbatie@lsc.gov

Mattie COHAN, Senior Assistant General Counsel, mcohan@lsc.gov

Mark FREEDMAN, Assistant General Counsel, mfreedman@lsc.gov

Katherine WARD, Executive Assistant, kward@lsc.gov

Links

Office of Legal Affairs External Opinions

LSC Offices

Executive Office Office of Compliance & Enforcement Office of Financial & Administrative Services Office of Government Relations & Public Affairs Office of Human Resources Office of Information Management Office of Information Technology Office of Inspector General Office of Legal Affairs Office of Program Performance