DLA Piper has launched its Artificial Intelligence practice, which will focus on assisting companies as they navigate the legal landscape of emerging and disruptive technologies, while helping them understand the legal and compliance risks arising from the creation and deployment of AI systems.

Thought leadership

The practice will be led by partners Larissa Bifano (Boston) and Danny Tobey MD (Dallas) in the US, and partners Gareth Stokes (Birmingham), Mark O'Conor (London) and Robert Seidel (Edmonton) internationally. DLA Piper advises on all legal aspects of the AI ecosystem, including data management and security; privacy law; intellectual property protection; digital transformation strategies and related technology services like blockchain; machine learning and robotics; smart contracts; digital health; big data analytics; and the Internet of Things. The lawyers in the Artificial Intelligence practice work collaboratively with developers of new AI technologies and with established businesses looking to implement AI software. The firm highlights its thought leadership credentials in AI law, including team members recognized for leading work on legal issues in AI by the Library of Congress in 2019, and Lord Tim Clement-Jones, who chaired the House of Lords select committee on AI in the UK.

“Sector-focused”

Larissa Bifano said, “Our global platform provides us with a broad base of sector-focused practitioners to respond to the wide range of legal challenges across jurisdictions, especially in areas such as regulatory compliance, privacy and ethics.” Gareth Stokes explained the team can help companies with new challenges throughout their business life cycle, “Our team is well-positioned to counsel entrepreneurs, investors and other participants in the artificial intelligence ecosystem on all of their business and legal needs.” AI will be a major theme at the firm's upcoming Technology Summit events and has its own DLA Piper Technology Summit blog.