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The Office of Legal Counsel

    About the Office of Legal Counsel

    The University of Guelph is a unique community, comprised of two campuses and a combined employee/student population of over 30,000. With a growing need for legal guidance, the Office of Legal Counsel was created to strategically manage the affairs of the University and provide its community with quality legal support and advice. The Office of Legal Counsel reports to the President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Guelph, but also works in conjunction with all the Senior Administration offices.

    Our Role

    The role of the Office of Legal Counsel is to:

    • Provide strategic legal advice directly to the Executive Officers, Deans, Chairs, and Directors in both administrative and academic units, and to such University committees and entities, as appropriate
    • Provide input into legal documents and policies, practices, and any matters having legal significance to the University
    • Retain, instruct and oversee external legal counsel on behalf of the University
    • Manage the costs of legal services in an effective and cost-efficient manner in order to maximize the value of the University’s expenditures and minimize the University’s exposure to risk
    • Participate in special initiatives and sensitive projects on an as-needed basis
    • Provide seminars and other informational initiatives on legal issues affecting the University

    The Office of Legal Counsel Team

    Quick Links

    Diversity and Human Rights
    The Office of the President
    Policies and Procedures
    Brand Guide
    Ombudsman Ontario
    Statues of Ontario Website
    The University's General Counsel Harpreet Hansra

    Harpreet Hansra, BA (Econ), LLB, CIPP-C

    General Counsel

    Email: hhansra@uoguelph.ca

    A graduate of Queen Mary’s University of London Law School in the U.K., Harpreet earlier studied Economics with a specialization in International Trade and International Finance at the University of Waterloo. She holds several certificates, including Risk Management from the University of Toronto as well as the Law of Emergencies, Health Law, and Clinical Risk, Negligence and Claims Management from Osgoode Hall Law School. Called to the Ontario Bar in 2010, she is also a certified information privacy professional in Canada.

    Prior to joining Guelph, she held senior counsel positions with William Osler Health System, Humber College, and The Hospital for Sick Children, and also spent five years in private practice.

    Christina Hollingbury Administrative Assistant to University Counsel

    Christina Hollingbury

    Administrative Assistant to University Counsel

    Email: c.hollingbury@exec.uoguelph.ca

    Currently working towards her Law Clerk designation, she has 21 years of experience at Guelph, having previously held administrative support positions within the Office of Research and the Office of the President.

    Prior to joining Guelph, she spent seven years in finance, in both the Hospitality and Automotive industries.

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    Service of legal documents will be accepted at:

    Office of Legal Counsel
    Room 401, University Centre
    University of Guelph
    Guelph, ON
    N1G 2W1

    Phone: 519-824-4120 Ext. 58633
    Fax: 519-767-5259

    University staff and faculty can call the Office for help with a University-related question. The degree and nature of the help required will be determined based on the circumstances. The Office does not provide general, non-University-related legal advice.

    Contracts, which can include letters of understanding, memoranda of understanding, affiliation agreements, must be signed in accordance with the University’s Signing Authority Policy.

    Under the Canadian Trademarks Act, a trademark can be registered to protect a distinctive word, design or slogan in relation to specific wares or services. Registration can be done by a person or a corporation and is effective for fifteen (15) years. If registration is being done by the University, application is usually done for an Official Mark. An Official Mark provides similar protection of a word, design or slogan but is not restricted to specific wares or services and is not time restricted. Examples would be “University of Guelph” or “Improve Life”. Any academic or administrative units interested in exploring the need for trademark protection should contact the Office.

    Registration for an individual domain name is a fairly simple and inexpensive process. However, there are a number of issues to consider if the domain name is for university-related activity, if an individual wishes to link or point their domain name to a University site or if a University domain name registration is challenged. For further information, contact the University's Computing and Communications Services (CCS) team: ccs.websolutions@uoguelph.ca

    The key to identifying whether any issues arise as a result of sitting on an external board is to be clear as to the capacity in which you sit on the Board; do you sit as a representative of the University or in your individual capacity? The answer to that question may affect the level of participation you may have, potential conflicts of interest that may arise and whether there are concerns about personal liability coverage. If there are questions or concerns, please contact the Office.

    Disclaimer

    This website is maintained by the Office of Legal Counsel at the University of Guelph and is provided for informational purposes only. Although the Office of Legal Counsel updates the information on this website regularly, no guarantees can be made about its accuracy or timeliness. This website is not a substitute for professional advice, whether legal or otherwise. University administrators seeking legal advice should contact the Office of Legal Counsel.

    google map with University Centre tagged in the middle

    General Inquiries

    Phone: 519-824-4120, Ext. 53082
    Fax: 519-767-5259
    Email: legal@uoguelph.ca

    Mailing Address

    Office of Legal Counsel
    University of Guelph
    Room 401, 4th Floor, UC
    Guelph, ON N1G 2W1