The Industry Contract Negotiation Team navigates the complexities of contracts with private sponsors across a spectrum of research activities. From basic and applied research to collaborative endeavors and testing projects, the team specializes in crafting agreements that balance the interests of Nebraska researchers and industry partners while ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory frameworks.
The team has expertise in addressing critical issues during contract negotiations, including intellectual property rights, budget allocations, scope of work delineation, publication rights, indemnification and warranty clauses, termination protocols, and provisions related to confidentiality. Team members leverage their expertise in research administration and legal compliance to facilitate mutually beneficial partnerships that foster innovation and drive impactful outcomes with UNL’s commercial partners.
402-730-8918
Aaron Funk, JD, MBA
Aaron leads the Industry Contract Negotiation Team, working closely with Sponsored Programs, Industry Relations and NUtech Ventures to draft, review and negotiate contracts; advise faculty and staff on university policies and procedures; and liaise with various campus and central administration stakeholders.
Aaron is a seasoned business attorney with wide-ranging experience in contract law, research and development, and beverage industry consultation. Prior to joining Nebraska in 2013, he was general counsel for Telesis Inc. in Lincoln and Everest Group LLC in Omaha. He is principal for Funk Beverage Law PC, providing expertise on real estate, distribution agreements and licensing issues for a variety of companies. Aaron has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and psychology from Chadron State College; a Juris Doctor from the Nebraska College of Law; and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Colorado Boulder.
402-472-1649
Nathan Sheldon, JD
Nathan is responsible for managing and negotiating university contracts with industry partners, including research, service, material transfer, confidentiality and data use agreements.
Before joining Sponsored Programs in 2023, Nathan was a real estate specialist in the University of Nebraska Office of the President, where he gained experience managing real estate transactions and negotiations. Nathan holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration, with a minor in biology, from the University of Nebraska at Kearney and a Juris Doctor from the Nebraska College of Law. He also has a Public Sector Leadership Certificate from Cornell University.
