Cliff Iler named university's general counsel

University of Arizona President Suresh Garimella announced on Wednesday, Oct. 15, that he has selected Clifton ("Cliff") Iler as the university's new general counsel following a national search. 

Iler will oversee the university's Office of the General Counsel, leading a team of in-house attorneys and providing legal advice to Garimella and other senior leaders. He brings three decades of experience in higher education and healthcare law to the role, succeeding Laura Todd Johnson, who retired earlier this year after 23 years of distinguished service at the university. 

Iler currently serves as university counsel and senior assistant attorney general at the University of Virginia, where, unlike the U of A, the senior legal advisor to the institution reports to the state's attorney general. His legal expertise includes higher education governance, research and compliance, health care law, employment and faculty matters and First Amendment and constitutional issues. 

Prior to UVA, Iler worked at the University of Kentucky, where he held the positions of deputy general counsel for faculty, students and research and associate general counsel for healthcare. Earlier in his career, he worked at MCG Health, Inc., affiliated with the Medical College of Georgia, and with Alston & Bird LLP in Atlanta as part of the firm's Products Liability Group and Litigation and Trial Practice groups. 

Iler earned a degree in English and economics from Centre College and a Juris Doctor from the University of Kentucky College of Law. His appointment begins in November.