Ballard Spahr Launches AI Task Force to Advise on Opportunities and Risk Mitigation

As artificial intelligence works its way into practically every sector of industry and commerce, Ballard Spahr has assembled a task force to advise clients on the opportunities and benefits of AI while helping them minimize risk and comply with evolving laws and regulations.

The firm’s newly formed, multidisciplinary AI team comprises lawyers from practices across the firm. They guide companies and organizations on AI-related contracts and other business transactions, advise on the rapidly evolving regulatory regime, and advocate for clients in disputes. The Ballard Spahr team has experience in the AI issues specific to various industry sectors, including life sciences, health care, financial services, retail and manufacturing, e-commerce, and technology.

“Businesses at every stage of the corporate lifecycle need effective counsel on AI and its far-reaching ramifications,” said Ballard Spahr Chair-Elect Peter Michaud. "We’re bringing together lawyers with knowledge and skill in handling AI matters across various legal areas to ensure that clients receive the full benefit of our vast experience and can feel confident using AI in their businesses."

The team addresses the spectrum of AI-related matters and issues, including:

Contract Review and Negotiation. Task force attorneys ensure that AI contracts and licensing agreements protect client interests and mitigate risks.

Intellectual Property Rights. Ballard Spahr IP lawyers advise clients on using AI for IP analysis, protecting AI innovations, and navigating complex issues around patentability, copyright, and trade secrets.

Data Privacy and Cybersecurity. AI team attorneys guide clients on the legal implications of data usage in AI and help them comply with global privacy laws and regulations, including on biometrics such as facial recognition.

AI Policies. The team helps clients across industries create internal and external policies and protocols specific to the client’s business and applicable to employees, third-party vendors, and other parties.

Ethics and Compliance. Attorneys assist in developing guidelines and policies that align AI initiatives with ethical and regulatory standards issued by government agencies such as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Federal Trade Commission. Task force lawyers have drafted formal comments to government agencies on the use of algorithms in screening.

Litigation and Dispute Resolution. Representation of clients’ interests in AI-related disputes leverages the team’s deep understanding of the AI legal landscape. These lawyers have litigated technologies incorporating AI algorithms, including Section 101 patent-ineligibility challenges and bet-the-company competitor litigation involving patents.

Transactions, Securities, and Public Company Matters. Ballard Spahr lawyers advise on formation and organizational matters, financing and growth strategies, and commercial transactions. They represent clients in the AI aspects of public company reporting requirements.

For media inquiries, please contact Bill Shralow at 215.864.8195.