Reuters
New York law firm Sullivan & Cromwell said on Thursday that it has formed a new artificial intelligence practice, as large firms compete to handle clients’ growing AI-related legal needs.
The 800-lawyer firm said the group would be headed by leaders of its intellectual property and finance practices in Silicon Valley, New York and London.
“We see AI as having implications across our entire client base,” said Palo Alto-based partner Nader Mousavi, a co-head of the firm’s IP and technology group who is helping lead the new practice.
Several other large U.S. law firms have also established dedicated AI practice groups over the past year and a half, hoping to capitalize on a surge in AI-related dealmaking, regulatory and litigation work.
Formalizing a practice group can help firms market and expand the work in buzzy, lucrative areas like AI.
Sullivan & Cromwell’s AI-related work has already included representing OpenAI when the ChatGPT-maker extended its partnership with Microsoft through a multibillion-dollar investment by the tech giant in early 2023.
Mousavi said the firm’s work with OpenAI, which is still a client, allowed it to “get a jump on the market.”
The firm’s other AI work has included representing AI platform Character.ai on its partnership with Google Cloud, and warehouse automation company Symbotic in several transactions, including its joint venture with SoftBank to build AI-powered warehouses, according to Sullivan & Cromwell’s website.
Firms are also competing for work in AI-related litigation, such as mounting copyright lawsuits, and regulatory matters as lawmakers probe potential AI risks.
Read full report
