Joseph E. Oliva, Esq. serves as General Counsel
to St. John’s University. He joined the University as
Associate General Counsel in October 2000. He was promoted to
General Counsel in April 2005.
In his role as General Counsel, Mr. Oliva is the University’s
Chief legal officer providing counsel to the Board of Trustees, the
President and other University administrative offices. Mr.
Oliva oversees all legal matters involving the University,
including governance, business transactions, contracts, real
estate, athletic compliance, intellectual property, litigations,
immigration matters, student affairs, employment, labor
negotiations, regulatory compliance and risk management.
Prior to his position at St. John’s, Mr. Oliva worked as a
litigation associate at the firms Willkie, Farr & Gallagher LLP
and Garfunkel, Wild & Travis, P.C.
Mr. Oliva graduated summa cum laude from St. John’s
University (B.S., Finance) and magna cum laude from St.
John’s School of Law. He served on the St. John’s Law
Review. Mr. Oliva is currently in the Diaconate Formation
Program for the Diocese of Rockville Centre and is expected to be
ordained as a permanent deacon in May 2013. He resides on
Long Island with his wife and their three children.