Langley, Larry D.

Jay Urwitz is a partner in the Washington office of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP and was a member of the Executive Committee of the predecessor firm, Hale and Dorr LLP. He specializes in legislative and regulatory work for educational institutions and companies, and in government contracting. He joined the firm in 1985.

Practice

Mr. Urwitz represents educational institutions and educational and publishing companies on authorizations and appropriations for scientific and educational purposes, utilization of intellectual property and the provision of education and health services. He represents those interested in both K-12 and higher education regulations and proceedings. Mr. Urwitz represents education parties on specific matters before the departments and also represents universities and companies with respect to contracting issues arising in the programs and federal departments that fund education.

Mr. Urwitz has also been extensively involved in government contracting and legislative representation for clients in the electronics/software and biotechnology industries. In addition to experience in negotiating contracts, resolving contract compliance and performance issues, Mr. Urwitz has a particular background in intellectual property ownership and utilization, stemming from research agreements and licensing of government-sponsored technology.

Mr. Urwitz was appointed by then Secretary of Defense Cheney to the Government-Industry Technical Data Committee, which was established by Congress. He was appointed to chair the Software Subcommittee. The committee substantially reformed the technical data rights provision in the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement. Mr. Urwitz was also appointed by former President Clinton to the Presidential Rank Review Board in 1995.

Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Urwitz was the legislative assistant for domestic policy to former Senator Edward M. Kennedy, where he was the senior advisor on a variety of economic and programmatic issues.

Professional Activities

Mr. Urwitz has written and lectured on education, government contract and public policy issues. His articles have been published in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The National Law Journal and other publications such as Aviation Week, Defense News, Education Week and Managing Intellectual Property. He has lectured before the Education Industry Association, the National Association of College and University Attorneys, the National Association of Federal Education Program Administrators and the State Educational Technology Directors Association, and he served on an American Council on Education panel on distance education. He has also lectured before the New England Corporate Counsel Association, Massachusetts Software Council, Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education and the Washington Board of Trade.

Community Involvement

Mr. Urwitz is a member of the Board of Trustees of Teachers College, Columbia University and of the Board of Trustees of the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation.