Avril Xinyi Liu
Contracts & Negotiations Manager at Northwestern University- Claim this Profile
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Topline Score
Bio
LinkedIn User
Avril is one of the most thoughtful and dedicated attorneys I've had the pleasure to work with. She is an incredibly reliable producer of top-quality work in a variety of communication contexts and formats. She is extremely bright and has an excellent legal research background. She is without doubt pro-active in her practice of law and client centric, responsive, and resourceful. On a side note, I found her very present and trustworthy in our meetings and communications, something that I so appreciate. All in all, she went above and beyond for my team, and she was very generous with her time and energy. I am grateful for the contracts have been in such good hands. Avril can always bring the best value for your team, and help build a stronger, more engaged environment for everyone. Definitely an asset on your side. Loyal, fast thinking, and always charming!
Will Martin
Simply put, Avril Liu is incredible. Avril is a quiet powerhouse of legal research with a mind capable of addressing complex issues, whether presented in Mandarin or English. No matter how busy she is, Avril always blows me away by asking whether there is anything she can do to help me. I have been blessed to work with Avril on Foxconn's $10 billion investment in Wisconsin, and my respect and admiration for her grow daily. Avril brings passion, discipline, and respect to her every effort, and makes me a team player by her example.
LinkedIn User
Avril is one of the most thoughtful and dedicated attorneys I've had the pleasure to work with. She is an incredibly reliable producer of top-quality work in a variety of communication contexts and formats. She is extremely bright and has an excellent legal research background. She is without doubt pro-active in her practice of law and client centric, responsive, and resourceful. On a side note, I found her very present and trustworthy in our meetings and communications, something that I so appreciate. All in all, she went above and beyond for my team, and she was very generous with her time and energy. I am grateful for the contracts have been in such good hands. Avril can always bring the best value for your team, and help build a stronger, more engaged environment for everyone. Definitely an asset on your side. Loyal, fast thinking, and always charming!
Will Martin
Simply put, Avril Liu is incredible. Avril is a quiet powerhouse of legal research with a mind capable of addressing complex issues, whether presented in Mandarin or English. No matter how busy she is, Avril always blows me away by asking whether there is anything she can do to help me. I have been blessed to work with Avril on Foxconn's $10 billion investment in Wisconsin, and my respect and admiration for her grow daily. Avril brings passion, discipline, and respect to her every effort, and makes me a team player by her example.
LinkedIn User
Avril is one of the most thoughtful and dedicated attorneys I've had the pleasure to work with. She is an incredibly reliable producer of top-quality work in a variety of communication contexts and formats. She is extremely bright and has an excellent legal research background. She is without doubt pro-active in her practice of law and client centric, responsive, and resourceful. On a side note, I found her very present and trustworthy in our meetings and communications, something that I so appreciate. All in all, she went above and beyond for my team, and she was very generous with her time and energy. I am grateful for the contracts have been in such good hands. Avril can always bring the best value for your team, and help build a stronger, more engaged environment for everyone. Definitely an asset on your side. Loyal, fast thinking, and always charming!
Will Martin
Simply put, Avril Liu is incredible. Avril is a quiet powerhouse of legal research with a mind capable of addressing complex issues, whether presented in Mandarin or English. No matter how busy she is, Avril always blows me away by asking whether there is anything she can do to help me. I have been blessed to work with Avril on Foxconn's $10 billion investment in Wisconsin, and my respect and admiration for her grow daily. Avril brings passion, discipline, and respect to her every effort, and makes me a team player by her example.
LinkedIn User
Avril is one of the most thoughtful and dedicated attorneys I've had the pleasure to work with. She is an incredibly reliable producer of top-quality work in a variety of communication contexts and formats. She is extremely bright and has an excellent legal research background. She is without doubt pro-active in her practice of law and client centric, responsive, and resourceful. On a side note, I found her very present and trustworthy in our meetings and communications, something that I so appreciate. All in all, she went above and beyond for my team, and she was very generous with her time and energy. I am grateful for the contracts have been in such good hands. Avril can always bring the best value for your team, and help build a stronger, more engaged environment for everyone. Definitely an asset on your side. Loyal, fast thinking, and always charming!
Will Martin
Simply put, Avril Liu is incredible. Avril is a quiet powerhouse of legal research with a mind capable of addressing complex issues, whether presented in Mandarin or English. No matter how busy she is, Avril always blows me away by asking whether there is anything she can do to help me. I have been blessed to work with Avril on Foxconn's $10 billion investment in Wisconsin, and my respect and admiration for her grow daily. Avril brings passion, discipline, and respect to her every effort, and makes me a team player by her example.
Credentials
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CCAP Courts E-Filing Certificate
Wisconsin Court System / Wisconsin Supreme Court -
Negotiation for Professionals
Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law
Experience
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Northwestern University
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Greater Chicago Area
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Contracts & Negotiations Manager
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Mar 2022 - Present
• Manage the drafting, analysis, negotiation, and execution of international and domestic sponsored research agreements and contracts applying a combination of expert level skill, professional experience and knowledge of Northwestern University, sponsor, and international and federal regulations and policies. (Agreements include master umbrella, clinical trial, basic and applied research, industry, material transfer, data use, and confidentiality agreements with corporate, government, non-profit and other entities) • Provide supervision for the agreement assignment, and training for contract officers and coordinators. • Safeguard university interests and mission objectives with respect to indemnification, intellectual property, publication, export control, liability, effort reporting, and compliance issues. • Ensure compliance and fiscal integrity of outgoing proposals and incoming awards. • Manage and maintain contracting positions and negotiation playbook updates for assigned business lines and ensure Sponsored Research officers are aware of changes. • Provide institutional guidance for Principal Investigators, and the departments on the life-cycle of awards (with $924 million award annually). • Identify issues in Sponsored Research contracting processes and workflows, provide recommendations for resolution. • Establish and improve templates, tools, and standard procedures related to Sponsored Research contracting, including standard agreement templates, negotiation checklists, and protocols. • Delivers scheduled and ad hoc training for staff within Northwestern Sponsored Research and externally. • Serve as a subject matter expert and Sponsored Research conduit to key stakeholders (e.g., Office of General Counsel, Risk Management, Conflict of Interest, Innovation and Technology, Corporate Engagement, Development and Export Control) and collaborators.
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University of Wisconsin-Madison
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Madison, Wisconsin Area
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Contract Negotiator
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Sep 2019 - Mar 2022
• Grants and contracts officer for the university regarding research funding agreements, working with department administrators, and faculty on the implications of the terms and conditions with respect to the research and UW-Madison policies. • Maintained the lifecycle of agreements, and served as a point of contact for university investigators with funding agencies and partners. Offered an individualized approach to establish partnerships while upholding the university’s missions related to education, research, and public service. • Drafted business associate agreements, sponsored research agreements, service contracts, data use and material transfer agreements, clinical trial agreements, licensing agreements, subaward agreements, master agreements, confidentiality agreements, and other IP-related agreements with International, Federal, State, Corporate and Non-Profit Sponsors. • Collaborated with Federal, State, Industrial, and other sponsoring agency to negotiate terms and conditions, fiscal reporting requirements, statements of works, amendments, and payment schedules. • Liaised with the Office of Legal Affairs, Business Services, Technology Transfer and Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation in negotiating IP and licensing terms.
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Wisconsin Department of Transportation
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Madison, Wisconsin Area
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Legal & Policy Analyst
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Mar 2018 - Sep 2019
Project Management & Government Administration & Legal Services • Member of a cross-agency project lead team providing strategic opinions on Foxconn Technology Group’s investment through analyzing policies and regulations at federal, state, and local municipalities’ levels. • Facilitated the coordination meetings surrounding the Foxconn project with over 20 public and private entities, including, Foxconn, Gilbane Building Company, Hammes Company, Exyte Group, WE Energies, American Transmission Company, City of Racine Water and Wastewater Utilities, and Wisconsin Department of Administration, Wisconsin Department of Transportation, and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Legal Analysis & Legal Research & Policy Regulatory Compliance • Assisted with finalizing the contract between the State of Wisconsin and Foxconn Technology Group for the direct investment and development of 3,000 acres of land. • Prepared legal memoranda for the State of Wisconsin in a variety of legal matters surrounding Foxconn’s foreign direct investment, including drafting and negotiating agreements related to real estate, public infrastructure, and other contractual documents. • Successfully drafted and mediated negotiations of three cooperation memoranda between Foxconn, Racine County, and the Village of Mount Pleasant to resolve issues related to storm water control, development timelines, public/private interface site plans, and easements required for the construction of required public utilities and roadway infrastructure to support the 3,000-acre development. • Assisted with the creation of documentation required for the transfer of over 1,000 acres of property from the Village of Mount Pleasant to Foxconn. • Conducted legal research related to the interpretation of statutory regulations pertaining to the Foxconn development, and provide legal analysis and opinions based on findings.
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Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
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Madison, Wisconsin Area
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Records Management Specialist
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Aug 2017 - Mar 2018
• Corresponded with the public about open records requests and inquiries under Legal Services team. • Coordinated with division staff to collect records and assisted legal review associated with response to these records. • Monitored and tracked the department’s records management and compliance system. • Acted as the key liaison between division staff and supervising attorneys in regard to public records laws, state records retention policy, and open meetings compliance. • Corresponded with the public about open records requests and inquiries under Legal Services team. • Coordinated with division staff to collect records and assisted legal review associated with response to these records. • Monitored and tracked the department’s records management and compliance system. • Acted as the key liaison between division staff and supervising attorneys in regard to public records laws, state records retention policy, and open meetings compliance.
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Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation
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Madison, Wisconsin Area
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Legal & Compliance
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Dec 2016 - Aug 2017
• Tracked current state law, policies, procedures, and reports related to regulatory compliance. • Researched and reviewed contracts for Wisconsin statewide tax credit, loan, and grant projects. • Assisted supervising attorneys with legal research and negotiated contract terms with award recipients. • Maintained the contract database, which included contract logs and expirations. • Worked with the Corporate Compliance Director to compile records and inventory accordingly. • Tracked current state law, policies, procedures, and reports related to regulatory compliance. • Researched and reviewed contracts for Wisconsin statewide tax credit, loan, and grant projects. • Assisted supervising attorneys with legal research and negotiated contract terms with award recipients. • Maintained the contract database, which included contract logs and expirations. • Worked with the Corporate Compliance Director to compile records and inventory accordingly.
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江苏省高级人民法院
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Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
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Judicial Law Clerk
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Sep 2013 - Aug 2014
• Collaborated with the legal & technology department in reconstructing, and developed the updated court database system. • Assisted 2 judges with docketing files and cross-references data to the proper cases for future reference. • Legal research on the national judicial project "The Reform of Chinese Judicial System and Judicial Credibility Construction". • Collaborated with the legal & technology department in reconstructing, and developed the updated court database system. • Assisted 2 judges with docketing files and cross-references data to the proper cases for future reference. • Legal research on the national judicial project "The Reform of Chinese Judicial System and Judicial Credibility Construction".
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Baker McKenzie
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Beijing City, China
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Legal Trainee
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Jun 2013 - Aug 2013
• Researched local policy and regulations regarding foreign exchange control, foreign direct investment, import permits and licensing for companies in the United States. • Assisted supervising attorneys with legal research on entry tax rates applicable to certain products, periodicity of filing returns, transactions, and other compliances across five major Chinese provinces. • Drafted legal memoranda for topics that included non-disclosure agreements (NDA), corporate governance, bylaws, trading and financial agreements, and commercial contracts. • Scheduled conference calls and web meetings across five different time zones, prepared and distributed agendas, and recorded and published meeting minutes and notes.
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北京市昌平区人民法院
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Beijing City, China
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Judicial Law Clerk
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Jun 2012 - Aug 2012
• Researched legal issues, and Drafted legal memoranda for motions and trials arising under Beijing Municipal Land Use Law, Eminent Domain Act, and Local Public Contracts Law. • Drafted bench and written opinions for motion to dismiss, summary judgment motion, motion to seek relief from a judgment for civil case proceedings. • Provided pre-trial, settlement, trial preparation and presentation support, including substantive and procedural assistance to two trial court judges. • Researched legal issues, and Drafted legal memoranda for motions and trials arising under Beijing Municipal Land Use Law, Eminent Domain Act, and Local Public Contracts Law. • Drafted bench and written opinions for motion to dismiss, summary judgment motion, motion to seek relief from a judgment for civil case proceedings. • Provided pre-trial, settlement, trial preparation and presentation support, including substantive and procedural assistance to two trial court judges.
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