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Office of General Counsel

UFV/Office of General Counsel/About the Office of General Counsel

About the Office of General Counsel

Reporting to the President and Vice-Chancellor, the University General Counsel (“GC”) serves as a member of the President’s executive team and provides broad oversight, leadership, and managerial responsibility over legal affairs.

The General Counsel provides strategic and operational consultative support, advice, and recommendations on a wide range of legal issues including: 

  • legal liability
  • contracts
  • agreements
  • leases
  • insurance
  • conflicts of interest
  • administrative law
  • human rights
  • matters of fairness
  • policy development and application

 

 
Duties and responsibilities of the Office of General Counsel

  • Anticipates, identifies and analyzes legal and other issues as requested, and assists in developing solutions; 
  • Assists senior management in understanding the legal implications of their administrative actions; 
  • Oversees the University’s compliance with applicable privacy and access legislation, including British Columbia’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (“FIPPA”), providing advice to the University community about privacy-related matters under FIPPA and overseeing the University’s response to access to information requests made under FIPPA; 
  • Liaises with the University, College and Institute Protection Program (UCIPP) as required;
  • Serves as a partner in the development of policies and procedures by proactively engaging with campus leaders to ensure they receive legal advice on the governmental frameworks in which they operate;
  • Retains, instructs, and oversees external legal services for the University where appropriate;

 

Members of the Office of General Counsel

Audrey Ackah

General Counsel
Privacy Officer

Abbotsford campus, B303

Phone: 604-557-5302

email Audrey

Stephen Gaspar

Legal Counsel

Office of General Counsel

Abbotsford campus, B303

Phone: 604-864-4654

Toll Free: 1-888-504-7441, ext. 4654

email Stephen

Ashley Bell

Administrative Assistant

Office of General Counsel

Abbotsford campus, B303

Phone: 604-557-4015

Toll Free: 1-888-504-7441, ext. 4015

email Ashley

Joti Gill

Paralegal

Office of General Counsel

Abbotsford campus, B303

Phone: 604-557-5316

Toll Free: 1-888-504-7441, ext. 5316

email Joti