Meet the Team

Paul Pineau joined Johns Hopkins University in October 2014 as Vice Provost for Strategic Initiatives, and became Senior Vice President and General Counsel in 2015, reporting to President Ronald J. Daniels.  Before joining the University, Mr. Pineau worked as Chief of Staff and Special Assistant State’s Attorney in the Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City.  Prior to that, he worked as an attorney with Zuckerman Spaeder LLP, a boutique litigation firm and as a law clerk to judges on the United States District Court for the District of Maryland and the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.  He also previously served as Executive Director of the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau and is currently serving on the Maryland Appellate Courts Judicial Nominating Commission.

Mr. Pineau graduated magna cum laude from Davidson College, receiving his bachelor’s degree in political science.  He earned his law degree from Harvard Law School, cum laude.

The Senior Vice President and General Counsel serves as the University’s Chief Legal Officer, providing and directing legal services for the Board of Trustees, President, Provost, Vice Presidents, Vice Provosts, Deans, and all University units, as well as aiding in the development of University-wide policy.

113 Garland Hall
3400 N. Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218
(410) 516-8128
(410) 516-5448 Fax
[email protected]

Jane Chase
Executive Assistant and Office Manager
(410) 516-8128
[email protected]

Tiffany R. Wright joined the Office of the Vice President and General Counsel as Deputy General Counsel in May 2023. Prior to joining Johns Hopkins, Ms. Wright served as Associate Counsel to the President in the Office of the White House Counsel. In that position, she provided strategic and legal advice to the President, Vice President, and senior White House advisors on a wide array of legal issues, including Title IX, gender and LGBTQ+ equity, reproductive rights, clemency, and religious liberty.

Prior to her White House service, Ms. Wright directed the Civil Rights Clinic at the Howard University School of Law, and practiced in the Supreme Court and Appellate practices at two international law firms. She served as a law clerk to Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor on the U.S. Supreme Court, Judge David S. Tatel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, and Judge Royce C. Lamberth on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

Ms. Wright earned her law degree, magna cum laude, from the Georgetown University Law Center, and completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Maryland at College Park. Ms. Wright’s life and work have been profiled by the Washington Post, C-SPAN, USA Today, Reuters, and national podcasts.

113 Garland Hall
3400 N. Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218
(410) 516-8128
(410) 516-5448 Fax
[email protected]

Beth Weber
Sr. Administrative Coordinator   
(410) 516-8128
[email protected]

Dan Beck joined the Office of General Counsel as an Associate General Counsel in the Compliance Group in fall of 2022. Dan handles all aspects of legal advice related to public safety matters, including compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations related to public safety, and facilities and emergency management, and development of relevant University policies.

Prior to joining JHU, Dan served as the Chief Counsel for Pennsylvania State Police. In that position, his duties included advising the executive staff on all manner of legal matters, managing civil rights and tort litigation, handling labor disputes and employee disciplinary hearings, developing agency rules and regulations, and representing the department in complex federal litigation.

Prior to his appointment as Chief Counsel for Pennsylvania State Police, Dan served as Chief Counsel of the Police Legal Affairs Division of the Baltimore City Department of Law. In addition to his other responsibilities in that role, Dan worked directly with attorneys from the U.S. Department of Justice and the Monitoring Team, appointed by the U.S. District Court of Maryland, to implement the reforms mandated by the Consent Decree entered into between the City of Baltimore, the Baltimore Police Department and the Department of Justice.

Dan’s prior legal experience also includes serving as an Assistant State’s Attorney in the Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City.

Dan received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Towson University and his Juris Doctorate from University of Baltimore School of Law.

113 Garland Hall
3400 N. Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218
(410) 516-8128
(410) 516-5448 Fax
[email protected]

De’Asia Gillis
Sr. Administrative Coordinator
(410) 516-8128
[email protected]

Clyde serves as an Associate General Counsel in the of Office of General Counsel and practices as a member of the Business Transactions and Commercial Matters and Healthcare, Research and Faculty Matters practice groups. Clyde has a law degree from the University of Baltimore School of Law, a Masters of Science in Real Estate from the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Maryland University College. Clyde is a member of the Maryland Bar Association, Baltimore City Bar Association, and National Association of College and University Attorneys.

1812 Ashland Ave.
Suite 300
Baltimore, MD 21205
(443) 287-0671
(410) 516-5448 Fax
[email protected]

Diana Edwards
Sr. Administrative Coordinator
(410) 502-2843
[email protected]

Steve Book is an Associate General Counsel in the Office of the Vice President and General Counsel’s Compliance Practice Group.  He advises the University on a wide range of compliance matters, leads the development and review of all University policies, and oversees the operation of the University’s compliance hotline.

Steve previously worked as a Senior Equity Compliance Investigator in the University’s Office of Institutional Equity.  Prior to joining Johns Hopkins, Steve was a litigation associate at Kramon & Graham, P.A. in Baltimore, where he defended corporate clients in a variety of employment, consumer protection, health care, and commercial cases.

Steve received his undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland, College Park in 2006 and was a graduate of UMD’s Honors College.  He obtained his law degree from the University of Maryland School of Law in 2010.  Immediately after law school, Steve clerked for the Honorable Patrick L. Woodward, Appellate Court of Maryland.

113 Garland Hall
3400 N. Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218
(410) 516-8128
(410) 516-5448 Fax
[email protected]

De’Asia Gillis
Sr. Administrative Coordinator
(410) 516-8128
[email protected]

Jennifer joined the Office of the Vice President and General Counsel in April, 2013, as a Law Fellow and was promoted to Assistant General Counsel in April, 2014. She received her Law Degree from the University of Virginia. Before joining the General Counsel’s office Jennifer practiced employment law in New Jersey and New York.  In addition to her Juris Doctor from  UVA, she also has a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and a Master of Teaching in Secondary Foreign Language from the University of Virginia.  Prior to law school, Jennifer was a teacher for the New York City Department of Education.

Areas of Practice

Jennifer’s primary practice is with the Litigation & Contested Matters Practice Group, and also advises on Student Affairs issues as well.

113 Garland Hall
3400 N. Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218
(410) 516-8128
(410) 516-5448 Fax
[email protected]

Jaleesa Price
Sr. Administrative Coordinator
(410) 516-8128
[email protected]

Osasu is a Senior Associate General Counsel and the Chief Compliance Officer at the Johns Hopkins University, where she leads the Compliance Practice Group and oversees the University’s compliance function and compliance risk management.

Previously, Osasu had a 15-year legal career in the federal government. She served as a Special Assistant to the President and Senior Associate Counsel at the White House, managing the ethics and compliance program. She was also the Chief Counsel for the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), leading a team of over 40 legal professionals.

Previously, Osasu was a senior advisor and fellow in the Office of the National Cyber Director at the White House, recognized for her Meritorious Service. She also served as an Associate Deputy General Counsel in the Department of the Army, where she received multiple commendations for her work.

Her experience also includes attorney roles at the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Ethics, the National Nuclear Security Administration in the Department of Energy—where she received an award for Legal Excellence—and the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board.

Osasu holds a B.A. in English and Philosophy from the University of Mary Washington, an M.A. in Journalism from Syracuse University, and a J.D. from the University of Baltimore School of Law

113 Garland Hall
3400 N. Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218
(410) 516-8128
(410) 516-5448 Fax
[email protected]

De’Asia Gillis
Sr. Administrative Coordinator
(410) 516-8128
[email protected]

Brandyn J. Hicks joined the Office of the Vice President and General Counsel in February 2017. At Johns Hopkins, her practice is focused on student affairs, athletics, employment litigation, disability-related accommodations in health care research, and public safety advising within the Student Affairs & Employment and Litigation & Contested Matters Practice Groups.

Prior to joining Johns Hopkins in 2017, she served as the Director of Institutional Compliance and Policy for Baylor University. Brandyn previously served as an Assistant District Attorney for the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office where she prosecuted firearms offenses, sexual assaults, crimes against children, narcotics distribution, and economic crimes. Brandyn also served as an Assistant State’s Attorney for the City of Baltimore.

Brandyn is actively involved in pro bono work, including serving as an expungement attorney for the Homeless Persons Representation Project and the Hopkins Diaspora Employee Resource Group. She is an active member of the Board of Trustees of Friends School of Baltimore and a volunteer for the Greater Baltimore Urban League.

Brandyn earned her undergraduate degree, with Honors, from Swarthmore College, and her law degree from Temple University, where she was a staff member for the Temple Political and Civil Rights Law Review. Following law school, Brandyn clerked for the Honorable George W. Overton, Court of Common Pleas of the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania.

113 Garland Hall
3400 N. Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218
(410) 516-8128
(410) 516-5448- Fax 
[email protected]

Beth Weber
Sr. Administrative Coordinator   
(410) 516-8128
[email protected]

Ashley Hoover joined the Office of the Vice President and General Counsel as Associate General Counsel in May 2023.  Her practice focuses primarily on matters related to sponsored research agreements, research integrity and misconduct, research compliance, graduate medical education, and clinical training within the Healthcare and Research Practice Group. Ms. Hoover also advises on business transactions and real estate matters within the Business Transactions and Commercial Matters Practice Group.

Prior to joining The Johns Hopkins University, Ms. Hoover was Senior Associate General Counsel at Towson University in Towson, Maryland, where she was principal legal counsel for transactional matters, focused primarily on sponsored research contracting and compliance, intellectual property, licensing, data privacy and data security, real estate transactions, procurement, regulatory compliance, development, and contracts. Prior to her tenure at Towson University, Ms. Hoover worked in research administration at the Johns Hopkins University, advising on all research contracting and compliance matters, and previously was engaged in private practice where she focused on general corporate representation, complex business and commercial real estate transactions, land use, construction, zoning, and municipal corporation law. Ms. Hoover received a Bachelor of Arts in History from McDaniel College (formerly Western Maryland College) and her Juris Doctor from Gonzaga University School of Law.

1812 Ashland Ave.
Suite 300
Baltimore, MD 21205
(410) 502-2843
(410) 502-2840 Fax
[email protected]

Diana Edwards
Sr. Administrative Coordinator
(410) 502-2843
[email protected]

Bernard Justis is a Senior Associate General Counsel for the University and Co-Leader of the Business Transactions & Corporate Matters Practice Group of the General Counsel’s Office. Bernard represents and advises the University primarily in real estate and business transactions, including gift transactions, construction, financing, and international business operations.

Bernard is an active alumnus of Loyola Blackfield and served on its Board of Trustees for six years (2013 – 2019).  He also volunteered as pro bono legal counsel for Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Central Maryland for over 20 years, until it merged into YMCA of Central Maryland in 2018. Prior to joining the University in 2005, Bernard was a senior assistant general counsel for The Rouse Company, a publicly traded real estate company. Prior to joining The Rouse Company, he practiced law as a member of the creditor’s rights and loan workout group of the law firm of Semmes, Bowen & Semmes.

Bernard is a 1984 graduate of the University of Rochester and a 1987 graduate of the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, where he was a member of the Moot Court Board and the National Moot Court Team.

113 Garland Hall
3400 N. Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218
(410) 516-8128
(410) 516-5448 (Fax)
[email protected]

Jaleesa Price
Sr. Administrative Coordinator
(410) 516-8128
[email protected]

Carrie Kroll McMullan joined the Office of the Vice President and General Counsel as an Associate General Counsel in June 2019.  At Johns Hopkins, her practices focuses on international business and compliance matters within the Business Transactions and Commercial Matters practice group.  She advises clients on a wide range of U.S. and foreign legal matters affecting Johns Hopkins’ work in countries around the world.  This work includes advice regarding complex U.S. laws and regulations, such as import and export requirements and controls, economic sanctions, anti-corruption matters, and federal grant compliance and tax matters related to activity on prime and subcontracts outside of the United States.  Ms. McMullan works with stakeholders around the University to advise on foreign activities, registrations, travel, research, tax and employment matters, and related considerations for international corporate compliance, including non-U.S. entities and University partnerships.  Relatedly, Ms. McMullan advises on compliance with Section 117 of the Higher Education Act (“HEA”).

Prior to joining Johns Hopkins, Ms. McMullan was Counsel at the Venable LLP law firm in Washington, D.C., in the International Trade group, where she worked with U.S. and multinational nonprofit organizations, universities and companies on regulatory and compliance matters before regulatory authorities, including the U.S. Departments of Commerce, State, Treasury, Defense and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.  She also regularly counseled clients in a lobbying capacity, leading briefings before relevant lawmakers, and represented clients in policy meetings with Executive Branch agency officials.  Ms. McMullan was actively involved in pro bono work, including NGO relief efforts in Haiti since the 2010 earthquake involving anti-corruption efforts and housing.  She also previously worked as a Senior Manager on International Compliance at Deloitte LLP, providing internal counsel to Deloitte in its international business activities.

Ms. McMullan received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Virginia in 2001, her Juris Doctor from American University, Washington College of Law, in 2007 and a Masters in International Economics from the American University, School of International Service, in 2007.

113 Garland Hall
3400 N. Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218
(410) 516-8128
(410) 516-5448 Fax
[email protected]

De’Asia Gillis
Sr. Administrative Coordinator
(410) 516-8128
[email protected]

Hope Murphy Tyehimba joined the Office of the Vice President and General Counsel in April 2020, where she is a member of the Student Affairs and Employment Matters and the Healthcare and Research Practice Groups. At Hopkins, Hope advises on matters involving students and employees, including, discrimination, harassment and retaliation, affirmative action, privacy issues, discipline, sexual misconduct and violence, disability-related accommodations, workplace safety, policy review, and contract review and development.

Prior to joining Hopkins, Hope served as general counsel at North Carolina Central University, a constituent institution in the University of North Carolina System, where she was chief legal advisor to the Board of Trustees, chancellor, vice chancellors and other senior campus administrators. Hope’s other experiences in higher education include serving in assistant general counsel roles at NCCU, North Carolina State University and East Carolina University. Before transitioning to higher education, Hope worked as an assistant attorney general at the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office and as a senior associate in private practice.

Hope received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Political Science from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her Juris Doctorate degree from The University of North Carolina School of Law, where she was a member of the Holderness Moot Court, a recipient of the Gressman & Pollitt Oral Advocacy Award and a member of The Order of Barristers. She is currently a member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys and the North Carolina State Bar Tenth Judicial District Professionalism Committee, and serves as a mentor in the Campbell University Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law mentorship program.

113 Garland Hall
3400 N. Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218
(410) 516-8128
(410) 516-5448 Fax
[email protected]

Beth Weber
Sr. Administrative Coordinator
(410) 516-8128
[email protected]

Chris joined the Office of the Johns Hopkins University Office of the Vice President and General Counsel as Associate General Counsel in August 2024 in the Healthcare & Research Practice Group.  Mr. Reinard primarily advises the School of Medicine on healthcare transactions, including clinical affiliations, service line partnerships, and collaboration agreements.     

Prior to joining Johns Hopkins, Chris spent 12 years with Highmark Health, an integrated healthcare finance and delivery enterprise located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, most recently serving as Senior Counsel supporting healthcare delivery activities. 

Chris holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and a J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh and is a member of the Mt. Lebanon Hospital Authority Board. 

1812 Ashland Ave.
Suite 300
Baltimore, MD 21205
(410) 502-2843
(410) 502-2840 Fax
[email protected]

Diana Edwards
Sr. Administrative Coordinator
(410) 502-2843
[email protected]

Phil Roberts is Senior Associate General Counsel at The Johns Hopkins University and Co-Leader of the Business Transactions & Commercial Matters Practice Group.  Prior to joining Johns Hopkins in January of 2005, Phil practiced as a civil litigator in the private and public sectors.

At Johns Hopkins, Phil focuses on contracts, business and commercial transactions, intellectual property (copyright, trademark, patent and trade secrets), and privacy and information security.  Phil earned his undergraduate degree from Bowdoin College (1985) and his law degree from the University of Maryland (1988).

1812 Ashland Ave.
Suite 300
Baltimore, MD 21205
(410) 502-2843
(410) 502-2840 Fax
[email protected]

Jaleesa Price
Sr. Administrative Coordinator
(410) 516-8128
[email protected]

Syma Siddiqui joined the Office of the Vice President and General Counsel as an Associate General Counsel in 2017. At Johns Hopkins, Ms. Siddiqui’s practice focuses on the University’s employee benefit plans. She supports the University’s Human Resources function with respect to ensuring regulatory compliance with ERISA, HIPAA, the Affordable Care Act, COBRA, IRC, as well as DOL and IRS rules and regulations. Ms. Siddiqui also advises on plan administration and plan operational issues.

Prior to joining Johns Hopkins, Ms. Siddiqui spent several years working for the U.S. Department of Labor as both a regulatory attorney and a trial attorney in the Office of the Solicitor’s Plan Benefits Security Division in Washington D.C. and in its Regional Office in Boston. Ms. Siddiqui also practiced commercial litigation at Baker & McKenzie LLP in San Francisco and corporate finance at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati PC in Palo Alto. 

Ms. Siddiqui graduated from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, cum laude, and the Georgetown University Law Center. Ms. Siddiqui is a member of the Student Affairs & Employment Matters practice group.

113 Garland Hall
3400 N. Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218
(410) 516-8128
(410) 516-5448 Fax
[email protected]

Beth Weber
Sr. Administrative Coordinator
(410) 516-8128
[email protected]

Gerard St. Ours is a Senior Associate General Counsel in the Office of the Johns Hopkins University Vice President and General Counsel. He is the leader of the Student Affairs & Employment Matters Practice Group. Gerard advises on all aspects of higher education law, with a focus on employment and student issues, including discrimination and harassment, affirmative action, disability law, legal regulation of the workplace, student and employment policy, collective bargaining and union-management relations, labor arbitration, student affairs and disciplinary procedure, faculty employment, and employment contracts. Gerard also advises on lobbying and political law compliance.

Gerard has made numerous presentations on legal issues pertaining to higher education and employers, and he is an active member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA), where he has served on continuing education and annual program committees. Gerard served on the NACUA Board of Directors from 2010-2013.

Prior to joining Johns Hopkins, Gerard specialized in employment and labor law on behalf of management clients. Gerard earned his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Virginia.

113 Garland Hall
3400 N. Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218
(410) 516-8128
(410) 516-5448 Fax
[email protected]

Beth Weber
Sr. Administrative Coordinator
(410) 516-8128
[email protected]

Terri Turner is a Senior Associate General Counsel in the Office of the Johns Hopkins University Office of the Vice President and General Counsel.  She is the leader of the Litigation & Contested Matters Practice Group.

Terri received her B.A. (1978), M.A. (1980) and J.D. (1985) from the University of Michigan. She came to Baltimore in 1985 to work for the Venable law firm. She left the firm in 1988 to become an Assistant State’s Attorney in Montgomery County, Maryland. Then she returned to Venable in 1990, becoming a partner in 1995. From 2000 until 2003, Terri served as Executive Director of Citizens Planning and Housing Association, a Baltimore nonprofit organization. In February 2003 Terri accepted a position as Assistant General Counsel at Marriott International. In 2005 she added the duties of Corporate Secretary to her job responsibilities. She left Marriott in June 2007 to become Associate General Counsel at Johns Hopkins University.

113 Garland Hall
3400 N. Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218
(410) 516-8128
(410) 516-5448 Fax
[email protected]

Jaleesa Price
Sr. Administrative Coordinator
(410) 516-8128
[email protected]

Nicholas Tymoczko joined the Office of the Vice President and General Counsel as an Associate General Counsel in January 2022. Nick is a member of the Business Transactions & Commercial Matters group. His practice focuses on intellectual property matters (patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets) and other commercial transactions.

Before joining Johns Hopkins, Nick was an associate at Paul Hastings LLP with a practice focusing on complex patent litigation and related intellectual property disputes. He also previously worked at Hogan Lovells US LLP as a general litigation and intellectual property associate.

Nick received his J.D., magna cum laude, Order of the Coif, from the University of Minnesota Law School, and a B.A. in philosophy with general honors from the University of Chicago.

1812 Ashland Ave.
Suite 300
Baltimore, MD 21205
(410) 502-2843
(410) 502-2840 Fax
[email protected]

Jaleesa Price
Sr. Administrative Coordinator
(410) 516-8128
[email protected]