Ray exclusively represents higher education and other nonprofit executives and boards of trustees. His clients include colleges, universities, associations, and other nonprofits. He has represented over 250 university boards of trustees, college presidents, and other nonprofit executives during his more than 25 years in practice.
He frequently counsels both boards of trustees and presidents on such matters as contracts, executive compensation, performance evaluation, goal-setting, current and deferred compensation, Intermediate Sanctions, Sarbanes-Oxley, and best practices for managing nonprofit institutions.
Ray is a frequent speaker at the Association of Governing Board’s National Conference on University Trusteeship and on the programs of other higher education associations. He is also a regular contributor to the Chronicle of Higher Education. His legal work and compensation analyses have gotten him recognition in many national publications, including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Post.
Earlier in his career, Ray served in the public sector as special assistant, Office of the Secretary, US Department of Health, Education and Welfare.
He has also served as an adjunct faculty member at both the School of Law and the School of Medicine at George Washington University and Harvard University’s School of Public Health. In addition, he has lectured at the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill), UCLA, Yale, and many others.
Ray is the first person in the history of Harvard University to have earned degrees from both its law school (JD) and its graduate School of Public Health (MSc).
Recognitions & Awards
- Best Lawyers in America: Education Law (2013)
- Chambers USA: District of Columbia – Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation (2012 – 2013)
Professional & Community Involvement
- Member (1991 – 1995), Board of Trustees of Monmouth University
- Member, American Bar Association
- Member, National Association of College and University Attorneys
Ray exclusively represents higher education and other nonprofit executives and boards of trustees. His clients include colleges, universities, associations, and other nonprofits. He has represented over 250 university boards of trustees, college presidents, and other nonprofit executives during his more than 25 years in practice.
He frequently counsels both boards of trustees and presidents on such matters as contracts, executive compensation, performance evaluation, goal-setting, current and deferred compensation, Intermediate Sanctions, Sarbanes-Oxley, and best practices for managing nonprofit institutions.
Ray is a frequent speaker at the Association of Governing Board’s National Conference on University Trusteeship and on the programs of other higher education associations. He is also a regular contributor to the Chronicle of Higher Education. His legal work and compensation analyses have gotten him recognition in many national publications, including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Post.
Earlier in his career, Ray served in the public sector as special assistant, Office of the Secretary, US Department of Health, Education and Welfare.
He has also served as an adjunct faculty member at both the School of Law and the School of Medicine at George Washington University and Harvard University’s School of Public Health. In addition, he has lectured at the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill), UCLA, Yale, and many others.
Ray is the first person in the history of Harvard University to have earned degrees from both its law school (JD) and its graduate School of Public Health (MSc).
Recognitions & Awards
- Best Lawyers in America: Education Law (2013)
- Chambers USA: District of Columbia – Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation (2012 – 2013)
Professional & Community Involvement
- Member (1991 – 1995), Board of Trustees of Monmouth University
- Member, American Bar Association
- Member, National Association of College and University Attorneys
Speaking Engagements
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Speaker,
Negotiating a Presidential Contract: How to Protect the University While Being Fair to the President,
2013 AGB National Conference on Trusteeship,
Association of Governing Boards, San Francisco, CA
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Speaker,
Reaching an Agreement: Negotiating Your Contract, Knowing Your Options,
Spectrum Executive Leadership Program,
American Council on Education, Alexandria, VA
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Speaker,
Presidential Contracts: Are You Adequately Protected if Things Go Awry?,
The American Council on Education's 95th Annual Meeting,
American Council on Education (ACE), Washington, DC
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Speaker,
Executive Compensation and Contracts: Best Practices in 2013,
2013 National Association of Independent Schools Annual Conference,
National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), Philadephia, PA
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Speaker,
Presidential Employment Agreement: Necessity, Negotiation, and the Issues,
2013 National Assocation of Independent Colleges and Universities Annual Meeting,
NAICU, Washington, DC
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Speaker,
Negotiating Your First Presidential Contract,
40th Annual Institute for Chief Academic Officers,
The Council of Independents Colleges (CIC) , San Antonio, TX
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Speaker,
Reaching an Agreement: Making the Right Choice and Negotiating that Contract,
Advancing to the Presidency,
American Council on Education (ACE), Washington, DC
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Speaker,
Academic Affairs Winter Meeting,
American Association of State Colleges & Universities
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Speaker,
Presidential Compensation in 2010: Improving Your Contract,
2010 Annual Meeting,
National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, Washington, DC
Newsroom
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Raymond D. Cotton Speaking at the Association of Governing Boards National Conference on Trusteeship, ()
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Raymond D. Cotton to Speak at American Council on Education’s Spectrum Executive Leadership Program , ()
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Mintz Levin’s Raymond D. Cotton to Speak at American Council on Education’s 95th Annual Meeting, ()
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Mintz Levin’s Raymond D. Cotton to Present at 2013 National Association of Independent Schools Conference, ()
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Mentioned in
FCC Board Quiet in Talley’s Exit, Frederick News-Post ()
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Raymond D. Cotton to Speak at Annual Meeting of National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, ()
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Quoted in
Tallying Talley, Frederick News-Post ()
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Quoted in
Contracts Negotiations Put Morgan State, University of Iowa Presidents in Tenuous Positions, Inside Higher Ed ()
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Quoted in
WilmU Chief’s Salary near Top, The News Journal ()
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Quoted in
Pay and Perks Creep Up for Private-College Presidents, The Chronicle of Higher Education ()
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Quoted in
U of I’s Mason Working without Contract, Des Moines Register ()
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Raymond D. Cotton to Speak at Annual Meeting of Association of Public and Land Use Universities, ()
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Quoted in
FSCJ’s Wallace Isn’t Only State College President with Lucrative Contract, The Florida Times-Union ()
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Raymond D. Cotton to Speak at CIC 40th Annual Institute for Chief Academic Officers , ()
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Mintz Levin’s Raymond D. Cotton to Speak at American Council on Education’s “Advancing to the Presidency” Workshop, ()
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Quoted in
Famous People Need Not Apply as Ivy League Hunts for Presidents, Bloomberg ()
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Quoted in
Board of Regents Approves Incentive Plan Based on Graduation Rates, The Shorthorn ()
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Quoted in
Who’s in Charge of Sports? Maybe Not the President, The Chronicle of Higher Education ()
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Quoted in
Yale President Richard Levin to Step Down in 2013, Bloomberg ()
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Quoted in
UT-Pan American President Pledges to Give Bonuses Away, The Texas Tribune ()
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Sixty Mintz Levin Attorneys Included in The Best Lawyers in America, 2013 Edition, ()
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Quoted in
U. of Texas System Adopts a Performance Pay System for Campus Presidents, Inside Higher Ed ()
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Quoted in
UT System Plan for Incentive Pay Stirs Debate, The Statesman ()
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Quoted in
Big Ten Proposal Wouldn’t Pass Muster, Lawyer Says, The Chronicle of Higher Education ()
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Mentioned in
U-Va. Dean Tapped for Interim President Suspends Preparations for New Job, Washington Post ()
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Mintz Levin Attorney Raymond D. Cotton Featured in Chambers USA 2012 Guide, ()
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Mentioned in
U-Va. President Teresa Sullivan Reportedly Asked to Stay on by Some Board Members, Washington Post ()
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Mentioned in
U-Va. Faculty Senate to Meet in Emergency Session Sunday over Teresa Sullivan’s Ouster, Washington Post ()
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Quoted in
Michael Gottfredson Sole Finalist for University of Oregon President, Oregon Live ()
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Forty-One Mintz Levin Attorneys Featured in Chambers USA 2012 Guide, ()
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Quoted in
Presidential Pay Is Still a Potent Political Target, The Chronicle of Higher Education ()
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Quoted in
UI Has Spent Millions on Search Firms, The News Gazette ()
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Quoted in
Hogan’s Rocky Tenure at Connecticut Hinted at Potential Problems at Illinois, Inside Higher Ed ()
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Quoted in
Turmoil Costs U of Illinois on Some Fronts, Associated Press ()
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Quoted in
University of Illinois President Hogan Resigns, Associated Press ()
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Mintz Levin’s Raymond D. Cotton to Present at American Council on Education’s 94th Annual Meeting, ()
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Quoted in
Bruininks Steered $355,000 in U Funds to His New U Post, Star Tribune ()
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Quoted in
Trustees Meet with University of Illinois President, Direct Him to Rebuild Trust with Faculty, The Chicago Tribune ()
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Quoted in
Howard Spends Big on Administrator Bonuses, Then Announces Austerity Measures, Inside Higher Ed ()
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Quoted in
With Presidential Hire, U. of Vermont Tests New Spouse Policy and Aims to Avert Repeat of Controversy, The Chronicle of Higher Education ()
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Mintz Levin’s Raymond D. Cotton to Speak at NAICU Annual Meeting, ()
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Mintz Levin’s Raymond D. Cotton to Present at Council of Independent Colleges 2012 Presidents Institute, ()
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Quoted in
Outgoing UMDNJ President to Continue Earning $380K Salary as a Consultant, Records Reveal, The Star Ledger ()
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Mintz Levin’s Raymond D. Cotton to Present at Annual Meeting of Public University Leadership, ()
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Quoted in
Marital Difficulties, Inside Higher Ed ()
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Quoted in
Ex-College Chiefs Stay Paid, Atlanta Journal-Constitution ()
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Mintz Levin’s Ray Cotton Speaks at Annual Meeting of American Council on Education, ()
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Quoted in
Mills Among Lowest-Paid NESCAC Presidents, The Bowdoin Orient ()
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Mintz Levin Attorney Raymond D. Cotton to Speak at the National Association of Independent Colleges & Universities Annual Legislative Conference, ()
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Quoted in
Stockton College President Saatkamp Requests Early Payout of $176,000 in Bonus Money, The Press of Atlantic City ()