Published: Nov. 16, 2015

The University of Colorado Law School underscored its commitment to being a national innovator in the field of ethics and compliance with the announcement that John Francis, a partner at Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP, will join Colorado Law as a Scholar in Residence, leading the newly established Master of Studies in Law (MSL) program in ethics and compliance. Colorado Law also announced today that Sonny Cave (’85), chief compliance and ethics officer at ON Semiconductor, has endowed a fund at Colorado Law to support ethics and compliance programming.

"With John Francis and Sonny Cave's leadership, Colorado Law is building on an already powerful foundation of ethics and compliance programming," said Dean Phil Weiser. "In John Francis, we are bringing a seasoned professional who has long supported Colorado Law as an adjunct professor, member of our health care law program advisory committee, and mentor to drive our efforts in ethics and compliance and support our MSL students. With Sonny Cave, we have an alumnus who is leading by example, demonstrating his engagement in and commitment to supporting Colorado Law's excellence in this field."

Last month, Colorado Law announced the addition of a new MSL track in ethics and compliance that will provide both established professionals and newcomers to the field an opportunity to elevate their careers as ethics and compliance officers.

Francis will also teach in and help expand the school’s health law program. After joining Colorado Law, he plans to remain connected through his firm to the private corporate compliance community.   

Francis brings 25 years of antitrust and health care litigation and compliance experience to Colorado Law. He has worked with leading companies across Colorado, including hospitals and health care systems, telecommunications and technology companies, and trade associations on corporate compliance initiatives.

“I am excited to join Colorado Law, an innovative leader in legal education, ethics and compliance, health care, and other fields,” Francis said. “Over the years, my firm and I have had long and deep connections to this terrific law school, and I look forward to helping build on CU’s tradition of excellence and leadership in new and emerging areas of study and professional development.”

Cave’s endowment will support programs, scholarships, and faculty to enhance learning and instruction in ethics and compliance.

Cave is executive vice president, general counsel, chief compliance & ethics officer, chief risk officer, and corporate secretary of ON Semiconductor. As the company’s founding general counsel, he manages all legal affairs, which includes compliance counseling and intellectual property development.

“Having a superior ethics and compliance program is not only fundamental to running a successful business, but is also a key competitive advantage in our unprecedented era of global commerce,” Cave said. “My goal in establishing this endowment fund is to provide students and faculty with resources and tools that will give them a substantial head start in understanding this critical area, thereby becoming our future leaders, driving even greater change in the ways we do business around the world.”

Colorado Law’s commitment to ethics and compliance programming rests on the innovative Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative, of which Colorado Law was selected as the first and only law school participant in 2014. 

Pictured: John Francis (top), Sonny Cave (left)