Deborah G. Solmor is Chief Legal & People Officer at the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF), where she leads legal and HR functions to support the commercialization of research and technology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the Morgridge Institute for Research. Her work supports WARF’s mission by helping the organization manage risk and execute on strategic priorities.
She previously served as General Counsel for Gateway Foundation. Earlier, she was Vice President, Deputy General Counsel for Litigation, and Chief Compliance Officer at Perdoceo Education Corporation. Deborah began her legal career at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, where she was Counsel in the Chicago office and handled complex commercial litigation.
She is the founder of Ready Set GC, a national initiative supporting new and aspiring women General Counsel, offering community, practical resources, and programming to help them step confidently into the GC role. Deborah serves on the boards of the Madison Children’s Museum and Girls on the Run - South Central Wisconsin. She holds a J.D. from DePaul University and a B.A. from Northwestern University.