Deputy General Counsel

Grainne Martin
Ms. Martin is Deputy General Counsel for Research and Regulatory Legal Services.  Prior to joining the Office of the General Counsel in 1999, Ms. Martin was the Associate Director and Compliance Officer in the University's Office of Affirmative Action, where she worked in the areas of employment law and civil rights law.  Prior to joining the UI in 1989, Ms. Martin was in private practice and clerked for Judge Allen Donielson of the Iowa Court of Appeals.  She received a B.A. cum laude in French from Cornell College, an M.A. in French from the University of Iowa, and a J.D. from the University of Iowa College of Law, where she served as a Note and Comment Editor of the Iowa Law Review. 

Ms. Martin was a 2005 recipient of the Board of Regents Staff Excellence Award.

  
grainne-martin@uiowa.edu
Direct Dial:  (319)335-2742

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Gay Pelzer
Ms. Pelzer is Deputy General Counsel for Business and Legal Services and adjunct lecturer in the University of Iowa College of Law, where she has taught an annual seminar on higher education law for the past 11 years.   Ms. Pelzer received her B.S.N. Degree cum laude from Coe College, and her J.D. degree with high distinction from the University of Iowa College of Law, where she was awarded Order of the Coif and served as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Corporation Law.  Prior to attending law school, she was a registered nurse specializing in neonatal intensive care and perinatal research.  Since 1995, she has served on the review panel of the American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing.  Ms. Pelzer has offices in both the Office of General Counsel suite and in the College of Medicine.

gay-pelzer@uiowa.edu
Jessup Hall Office:  (319)335-3025
College of Medicine Office:  (319)335-8448

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Senior Associate Counsel

Maria Lukas
Ms. Lukas is a Senior Associate Counsel.  Ms. Lukas previously served as Investigating Officer under the University Faculty Dispute Procedures and periodically taught Trial Advocacy at the University of Iowa College of Law.  Before coming to Iowa City, Ms. Lukas was a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in Indianapolis and an associate at two law firms in Chicago.  Ms. Lukas graduated from the Northwestern University School of Law.  She also earned an MBA from the University of Iowa Henry B. Tippie School of Management.

maria-lukas@uiowa.edu
Direct Dial:  (319)353-0097

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Associate Counsel

James D. Jorgensen

Mr. Jorgensen is an Associate Counsel, and is pursuing his Ph.D. in Higher Education at The University of Iowa.  He received his B.A. with distinction in economics and political science from Iowa State University and graduated from the University of Michigan Law School.  Prior to returning to graduate school, he practiced law for approximately ten years with firms in Chicago and Phoenix, concentrating his practice in employment law and business litigation.  Mr. Jorgensen also teaches business law at Kirkwood Community College.  Mr. Jorgensen focuses on litigation, contracting, estates, and bankruptcy matters.

james-jorgensen@uiowa.edu

Direct Dial:  (319)335-0400

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Associate Counsel

Robert K. Porter

Mr. Porter is an Associate Counsel.  He received his B.A. from Doane College, graduating summa cum laude.  He received his law degree with distinction from the University of Iowa College of Law, while serving as a member of the Law Review and as a faculty research assistant.  Prior to joining the Office of the General Counsel in October 2008, Mr. Porter worked in private practice and with the Iowa Attorney General’s Office.

robert-k-porter@uiowa.edu

Direct Dial:  (319)384-3340

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Associate Director of Athletics for Legal Affairs

Mark Abbott

Mr. Abbott is the Associate Director of Athletics for Legal Affairs.  He has been a member of the Intercollegiate Athletics Department staff since 1989 where he has worked in student services, event management, was the Trademark Licensing Director for 9 years, and Assistant to the Director of Athletics for 6 years.  Before coming to Iowa City, Mr. Abbott practiced law in Davenport, Iowa for 15 years.  He received a B.A. in Psychology from Cornell College, a J.D. from The University of Iowa, and a Masters Degree in Sports Administration from Ohio University.  Mr. Abbott’s office is located in the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics at Carver Hawkeye Arena.

mark-abbott@uiowa.edu

Direct Dial:  (319)335-9227

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