Five Attorneys Present at National Association of College and University Attorneys Annual Conference; Steve Sencer Receives Distinguished Service Award

Five Ropes & Gray attorneys presented at the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA) 2025 Annual Conference in Seattle.

Higher education and health care partner Mark Barnes spoke on the June 23 panel “Major Changes to Research Misconduct Regulations Stemming From the September 2024 ORI Final Rule.” After nearly two decades, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Research Integrity has issued new research misconduct regulations that go into effect in January 2026 and require institutions to make significant revisions to their research integrity processes. The panelists discussed the impact of the new regulations on interactions with peer-review journals and possible structural modifications to institutional policy.

Higher education and health care partner Mike McGrath presented June 24 on the panel “Nonprofit Revenue Generating Commercial Activity.” The panelists discussed key nonprofit policy and legal considerations related to nonprofit colleges and universities engaged in revenue generating commercial activities such as joint ventures, venture fund formation, sponsorships, licensing, tax-exempt bond financing and partnerships with for-profit enterprises.

Higher education and tax partner Kendi Ozmon presented June 25 on the panel “Current Developments in Federal Tax Law.” The speakers addressed late-breaking developments in federal tax legislation, renewable energy tax credits, and practical steps for tax compliance in uncertain times.

On June 25 higher education and health care counsel Minal Caron spoke on the panel “Navigating Legal Complexities of Faculty Research Abroad: Compliance, Security and Training.” The session explored the legal and regulatory challenges that academic institutions and their faculty face when conducting research abroad and collaborating with foreign researchers and organizations, in light of increasing regulatory requirements and government scrutiny.  

Higher education and health care counsel Steve Sencer co-presented “Research Lexicon: An Overview of University Research,” at NACUA’s Lawyers New To Higher Education workshop on June 22. The workshop is offered annually by NACUA, and is taught by leading members of the higher education legal community.

Steve Sencer was also honored with the NACUA Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes attorneys who have given extraordinary service to NACUA and institutions of higher learning over an extended period. Prior to joining Ropes & Gray, Steve was Senior Vice President and General Counsel at Emory University, and served as the Chair of the Board of NACUA.

NACUA aims to enhance legal assistance to colleges and universities by educating attorneys and administrators on the nature of campus legal issues and offers continuing legal education programming.