Thomas Dorer Joins Jackson Lewis

HARTFORD, CT (February 24, 2016) Jackson Lewis P.C., one of the country’s preeminent workplace law firms, is pleased to announce Thomas Dorer has joined the firm’s Hartford office as Principal.  Mr. Dorer joins Jackson Lewis after serving as Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary at the University of Hartford.

“We are thrilled to welcome an attorney of Tom’s caliber to our office,” said Tanya A. Bovée, Hartford Office Managing Principal.  “His in-house experience and higher education expertise bring a unique perspective that will serve our clients well.”

“Tom will be instrumental in the development of Jackson Lewis’ Higher Education industry group,” added Firm Chairman Vincent A. Cino.  “We are pleased to add him to our robust list of former in-house attorneys from colleges and universities as we continue to represent some of the nation’s largest and most preeminent educational systems in all aspects of higher education law.”

At the University of Hartford, Mr. Dorer was responsible for the full scope of legal issues impacting higher education, including employment law, student and academic affairs, regulatory compliance, Title IX, contracts, privacy law, tax law and corporate governance.  As a member of the University President’s senior management team, Mr. Dorer provided leadership in policy formation and consensus-building on a range of issues critical to the University mission.

“Tom Dorer has been a superb leader, an excellent colleague, and a trusted source of advice, support and legal counsel for the University of Hartford,” said Walter Harrison, the University’s president.  “His background as a University administrator and general counsel at two universities provides him with a tremendous base of knowledge about and insight into the legal issues facing higher education today.”

A member of, and volunteer with, the National Association of College and University Attorneys since 1998, Mr. Dorer regularly presents at national and regional conferences on topics such as legal ethics, risk management and disability law.

Prior to joining the University of Hartford, Mr. Dorer served as general counsel at West Virginia University, where he played a lead role in situation management, external and governmental relations, policy development and consensus-building on issues critical to the University.  Mr. Dorer was previously an associate counsel for the University of Massachusetts, an associate attorney at Dow, Lohnes & Albertson and a law clerk to the Hon. Anne E. Thompson, U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. Prior to attending law school, Mr. Dorer served in university administration at Brown University and Ohio University.

Mr. Dorer received his B.A. from Brown University, his EdM at Harvard University and his J.D. from the University of California-Berkley.  He is admitted to practice in Massachusetts and West Virginia.