Heather K. Gaines

Biography

Heather K. Gaines joined Syracuse as the Deputy General Counsel in January 2023. In this role she provides strategic legal advice and counsel to executive leadership and other business and academic units across campus. Her work includes advising on affiliated entities, complex strategic acquisitions and projects, real estate development, land use and zoning, procurement, contracting, construction and global initiatives. In addition, she works closely with the General Counsel to lead the Office of University Counsel team that advises campus clients on a wide range of matters including litigation, employment, labor, student affairs, real estate, procurement, data privacy and security, development and philanthropy, and a broad range of intellectual property matters. Prior to coming to Syracuse, Heather served as Senior Associate General Counsel at the University of Arizona supervising the business and transactional team in the Office of the General Counsel.

Heather earned her J.D. from the University of Arizona College of Law and B.A. from the University of Arizona. She is licensed to practice law in Arizona and New York.