Cleary Gottlieb’s AI Task Force, composed of lawyers from our leading practices across the globe (including litigation and enforcement, antitrust and competition law, intellectual property, privacy and cybersecurity, M&A and corporate governance), works collaboratively across disciplines and jurisdictions to advise global clients on all aspects of Artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI (Gen-AI) development, licensing, deployment, acquisition and usage, as well as asserting and defending against claims involving deepfakes and other Gen-AI elements.

AI is increasingly transforming business models and processes across sectors, presenting a host of opportunities, risks, and challenges for businesses, investors and regulators.

Building on our track record of representing the world’s leading technology companies, Cleary Gottlieb has been at the forefront of these developments. Our AI practice has guided clients in a wide range of sectors through the strategic issues associated with AI, particularly in a rapidly evolving and complex regulatory landscape.

Our Capabilities

We represent developers, users, licensees, victims, acquirers, sellers, investors, and high-growth companies in AI-related matters across a broad range of sectors. Our experience includes:

  • Advising on novel intellectual property and technology issues relating to the training, development, and use of Gen-AI and large language models (LLMs), including in connection with copyrights, trademarks, publicity rights, and other implications for AI product development and deployment, licensing transactions and strategic collaborations, and claims involving AI-generated synthetic media and deepfakes;
  • Assessment and management of data protection, privacy and cybersecurity risks and liabilities associated with AI and Gen-AI, including privacy-by-design advice, compliance and privacy policies, and advice in connection with various AI-related transactions, such as M&A and licensing; 
  • Navigating complex digital regulation, export controls, and foreign direct investment regulatory regimes that are constantly evolving, including the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act) and other regulations concerning the use of AI;
  • Advising on litigation risks arising from development, licensing, or usage of AI tools and on offensive claims relating to misuse, misappropriation, and violation of rights as a result of deepfakes and other Gen-AI deployment;
  • Antitrust and competition law advice for or in connection with AI companies, including collaboration, collusion, standards setting, safety initiatives, joint ventures, concentration, and exclusionary practices (e.g., bundling or tying AI tools with other products);
  • Advice on a wide spectrum of corporate issues that are core concerns in light of rapidly evolving AI, including in connection with M&A, corporate governance, capital markets, and SEC filings; 
  • Advising on all phases of the AI company life cycle, from pre-IPO financings to venture capital, IPO, M&A, or dual-track exit strategies.

Our Team

Our AI practice consists of a multidisciplinary and multijurisdictional group of Cleary partners with a wealth of transactional, advisory, litigation, and regulatory experience from both private practice and government service. They repeatedly have been recognized for their work by The American Lawyer, Benchmark Litigation, Chambers (Global and USA editions), Global Competition Review, IFLR, The Legal 500, and other publications.

Cleary’s culture of cross-practice collaboration allows us to focus on achieving the best results for clients. Our lawyers’ deep industry knowledge provides added value to every engagement in this space.

Notable Experience

  • Google in its acquisition of AI pioneer DeepMind Technologies. 

  • 3M in its $1 billion acquisition of M*Modal’s technology business, a leader in cloud-based, conversational AI-powered systems.

  • Various technology and financial companies on the development and launch of generative AI-powered products, the negotiation of collaborations with market-leading providers of generative AI systems, and the training and distribution of large language models (LLMs). 

  • Content owners and media groups in the protection and enforcement of publicity rights and rights in content.

  • AI companies in privacy advice (including privacy-focused product design and privacy policies), terms of use, and partnership agreements with content providers and AI developers.

  • A leading AI company, focused on revenue optimization, in multiple investments.

  • Major corporations on the risks and opportunities associated with the deployment, integration, and use of generative AI capabilities, including confidentiality, security, trade secrets, and public company disclosure matters.

  • HOPU as a co-lead investor in the $620 million Series C+ round financing of SenseTime Group Inc.

  • Numerous companies in the data protection and privacy issues associated with the large-scale use of data in AI systems.

  • TPG Asia in its $360 million investment in Fractal Analytics.

  • Sixth Street Growth in its investments in Emplifi.

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