Darnele Wright | Chief Campus Counsel and Vice Chancellor of Legal Affairs

Darnele L. Wright was appointed as chief campus counsel and vice chancellor of legal affairs for UCSF in April 2025. She came from UC Legal-Oakland’s Office of the General Counsel, where she spent four years as deputy general counsel for business, transactions, and innovation. 

At UC Legal-Oakland, Darnele led a team of 30 attorneys who worked at the systemwide level to support business transactions, joint ventures and collaborations, public finance, investments, intellectual property, laboratory affairs, energy, tax-exempt organizations, environmental health and safety, real estate, land use, construction, charitable giving, and trusts and estates. 

Prior to joining UC Legal-Oakland, Darnele spent seven years as deputy campus counsel at UCSF, where she supported the campus and health enterprise through a period of tremendous growth. She provided legal and strategic advice on intellectual property, health care, corporate, research, academic and student affairs, graduate medical education, and other issues affecting operations and programs at UCSF’s multiple locations. 

Prior to joining UCSF, Darnele spent five years as assistant general counsel for the University of Miami. She spent her early years after law school at Shutts & Bowen LLP, where she served as an associate member of the business litigation, labor and employment, and intellectual property practice groups. 

Ms. Wright is a graduate of New York University and Boston University School of Law.   

Visit the Office of Legal Affairs website.