Clemson University names new general counsel
January 20, 2012
CLEMSON, SC – January 20, 2012 – Clemson University has named an alumnus with 21 years of legalexperience ranging from trial litigation to managing a universityresearch foundation to be its new general counsel.
W.C. Chip Hood, who currently serves as executive director andattorney for the Medical University of South Carolina Foundation forResearch Development, will begin a new assignment as Clemson’s chieflegal adviser in April.
Chip was selected after an excellent search process that drewoutstanding candidates and involved input from the entire campus, saidPresident James F. Barker. He brings not only a wealth of relevantexperience but also a set of values that make him a good fit forClemson. He practices high performance with high integrity.
Hood succeeds the late Clay Steadman, who died unexpectedly April 17, 2011, after serving as general counsel for seven years.
Hood earned a bachelor of science in electrical engineering fromClemson in 1985, a master’s in biomedical science from MUSC and a jurisdoctor degree from the University of South Carolina.
I am truly honored to be called to serve my alma mater and follow inthe footsteps of my friend and colleague Clay Steadman, said Hood.With the outstanding legal team that Clay assembled I am confident thatwe can help Clemson become one of the nation’s top-20 publicuniversities.
As legal counsel and then head of MUSC’s research foundation, Hoodhas provided leadership and strategies for MUSC’s university-industrypartnerships, economic development activities and entrepreneurialactivities. He has provided advice on a range of legal matters,including not-for-profit law, research contracts, intellectual propertyand technology transfer, international collaborations and humanresources, as well as assisted with university policy development andstrategic planning.
Previously, he led the Charleston office of Needle and Rosenberg, anAtlanta-based intellectual property firm, where he represented majorresearch universities across the country, including Clemson.
Hood also ran his own litigation practice in Charleston; was anassociate with Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth and Detrick, P.A., inHampton, S.C.; and an electronics engineer for the U.S. Navy’s NavalElectronics Systems Engineering Center (now SPAWAR) in Charleston. Healso has served as an adjunct professor at the Charleston School of Law,teaching courses related to intellectual property, patents andlicensing. Hood is member of the South Carolina Bar and a registeredpatent attorney.
