Chancellor Carol Christ announced the appointment of David Robinson as the interim chief campus counsel on Oct. 3 to take over the position of the late Christopher Patti, 59, who was killed in a bicycle accident in August.

Robinson was previously one of the associate campus counsels in the UC Berkeley’s Office of Legal Affairs alongside Therese Leone and Julie Conner. Until a permanent replacement is found for the chief campus counsel position later in this academic year, Leone and Conner will aid in the transition period by assuming additional responsibilities to ensure that the campus has adequate legal support, Christ said in her campuswide emailed statement.

Before he joined the Office of Legal Affairs in 2011, Robinson worked for a decade in the University of California’s systemwide Office of the General Counsel in the Construction and Legislative Affairs groups. Prior to joining the university, Robinson was a partner at the law firm of Goldfarb & Lipman in San Francisco and graduated from UC Santa Cruz and the UC Hastings College of the Law.

Robinson said in an email that he appreciates the honor of serving the community as interim chief campus counsel.

“I am constantly impressed by the stellar quality of our students, faculty and staff,” Robinson said in his email. “Our whole legal team is committed to maintaining the quality of legal service to the campus that Chris Patti demonstrated and expected of our team.”

Robinson has specific expertise in construction, real estate, land use and environmental law, but he has also been involved with a wide array of complex legal matters, including business affairs and constitutional rights, according to Christ. Christ said in her email that both Robinson’s breadth of knowledge and his thoughtfulness will ensure stability during the office’s transition period.

Leone, who has known Robinson for 15 years, said in an email that she is thrilled that he has been appointed to the position and is honored to continue working with him. In her email, she commended his character and integrity, describing him as a “phenomenal lawyer” and “devoted public servant.”

Campus spokesperson Dan Mogulof said in an email that Robinson has shown “strength, courage and decency” in the transition process.

“I can imagine nothing more difficult than having to step in and step up to fill the vacuum left after the tragic demise of a friend, colleague and leader,” Mogulof said in his email. “David has done exactly that with extraordinary grace, sensitivity and competence, and we are nothing but lucky that he did.”