For the first time in its 125-year existence, the Rosemont, Illinois-based Big Ten Conference has hired its first chief legal officer, and created a deputy general counsel position to bolster its new legal department, the organization announced Monday.

Erica McKinley has been named the conference's first general counsel and chief legal officer. She will report directly to commissioner Kevin Warren and oversee legal, corporate governance, enterprise risk management, compliance, litigation, regulatory, corporate, National Collegiate Athletic Association matters and outside counsel management. She will also work closely with the general counsel of Big Ten schools.