John Daniel Named UA System General Counsel & Senior Vice Chancellor

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The University of Alabama System on Friday announced that John Daniel has been named general counsel and senior vice chancellor of the UA System.

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His appointment was effective Friday and the UA System Board of Trustees will meet later this month to approve the hire.

The UA System says Daniel brings more than two decades of distinguished legal experience within the UA System, including 20 years in the UAB Office of Counsel, where he served as chief university counsel.

Daniel has also served as the UA System’s interim general counsel since April 2024.

“John Daniel’s decades of legal experience in higher education and health care and his unparalleled understanding of the UA System make him uniquely qualified for this role,” UA System Chancellor Sid J. Trant said. “His steady leadership, thoughtful counsel and long-standing commitment to the UA System’s mission are significant assets that will provide confidence as we navigate a rapidly evolving legal environment for education and health care.”

In his new role, Daniel will be tasked with serving as the chief legal officer for the UA System, providing legal guidance to the Board of Trustees, chancellor, and senior leadership across all UA System institutions and affiliates.

He will also oversee the Office of Counsel, managing both internal legal staff and external legal partners, in addition to reporting directly to the chancellor.

“Having spent the majority of my career within the University of Alabama System, I have seen firsthand the transformative impact our universities and health system have on the state and beyond,” Daniel said. “I am honored to continue that work as general counsel and look forward to working with our talented Office of Counsel and leadership across the UA System as we all work to advance our important mission to improve lives through teaching, research and service.”

Daniel has served as UAB’s chief university counsel since 2006 and spent two years as a staff attorney in UAB’s Office of Counsel prior to that.

Before his time at UAB, Daniel practiced law at Johnston Barton Proctor & Powell LLP in Birmingham for nine years, three of which he served as a partner.

Daniel earned his Bachelor of Arts from The University of Alabama in 1991 and his Juris Doctor, with honors, from the UA School of Law.

Daniel later received his LL.M. in Taxation from New York University School of Law.

“John Daniel has long been a trusted legal advisor within the University of Alabama System, and his judgment, integrity and institutional knowledge make him exceptionally well-suited to lead the UA System’s legal operations,” said Trustee W. Davis Malone III, chair of the Board’s Legal Affairs Committee. “We are pleased to recommend his appointment with great confidence and look forward to his continued counsel and leadership.”

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