Office of General Counsel Contacts
MAIN OFFICE (518) 434-7045
RFContracts@rfsuny.org
RFLegal@rfsuny.org
Chris Ashley, General Counsel (chris.ashley@rfsuny.org)
Mr. Ashley joined the RF in February 2014. Before joining the RF he spent 14 years with the University of Wisconsin System where he served as senior counsel and most recently, as deputy general counsel. Before working with the UW System, he was assistant general counsel for the National Science Foundation where he handled a wide portfolio of legal and policy issues in federally sponsored research. Mr. Ashley also worked on legal ethics matters as a staff attorney in the White House Counsel’s office and was in private practice in the labor and employment section of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius in Washington, D.C. for four years. Mr. Ashley earned his bachelor’s degree from Swarthmore College and his law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School.
Rich Agnello, Deputy General Counsel (rich.agnello@rfsuny.org)
Mr. Agnello has been with the RF since 2008. Prior to entering law school, he worked at the University of Rochester’s School of Medicine and Dentistry where his lab studied the regulation of hypoxia-inducible factor 1a in various keratinocyte models. He presented his work at three international conferences and published one journal article and two abstracts. Mr. Agnello is also a Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional and is a Certified Mediator in Albany County. He earned his bachelor’s degree from King’s College and his law degree from Albany Law School with a concentration in intellectual property law.
Scott Shurtleff, Senior Associate In-House Counsel (scott.shurtleff@rfsuny.org)
Mr. Shurtleff joined OGC in May 2013. Before coming to the RF, he was co-director of sponsored programs at the University at Buffalo. He previously worked for the London School of Economics and Political Science as a Research Center Manager, was the manager of the Research Grants Office at University of York in the UK, and worked for MIT for eight years in various positions including assistant director and contracts manager. He also worked in private law practice for six years. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the Syracuse University School of Management and his law degree from Boston University.
Ryan Williams, Senior Associate Counsel (ryan.williams@rfsuny.org)
Mr. Williams joined the RF in July 2014. Prior to joining the RF, he worked in the Boston office of the international law firm, Sullivan & Worcester, LLP, where he focused primarily on finance, private equity and commercial real estate matters. He is a native of the Capital Region and earned his bachelor’s degree from the University at Albany and his law degree from Northeastern University. He is admitted to practice law in the State of New York and Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Allison Gottlieb, Associate Counsel (allison.gottlieb@rfsuny.org)
Ms. Gottlieb joined the RF in September 2017. Prior to joining the RF, she worked in the labor and employment departments of the law firms of Bond, Schoeneck & King, PLLC, and Kelley Drye & Warren LLP out of New York City, focusing on employment litigation, employee relations and labor matters. Ms. Gottlieb received her bachelor’s degree from St. John Fisher College in Rochester, New York, and her law degree from Albany Law School. She is admitted to practice law in the State of New York.
Carol A. Mangano, Board of Directors Coordinator and Legal Assistant (carol.mangano@rfsuny.org)
Ms. Mangano joined the RF in September 2013. She came to the RF with over 30 years of board, legal, event planning, and project management experience. She earned her bachelor of science degree in education from SUNY Geneseo.