Laura Todd Johnson

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.