Our Approach
Dorf Nelson & Zauderer LLP advises AI startups, investors, and operating companies on the legal issues that arise when artificial intelligence is built, funded, acquired, or used in the business. Our Artificial Intelligence Practice protects companies developing AI software, provides fractional general counsel from our AI team, and helps commercial businesses manage AI risk and compliance.
We work with clients in New York, California, New Jersey, and nationwide.
Who We Help
AI startups building software
We protect early-stage and growth-stage companies that are developing AI products, models, platforms, and tools. That includes entity and founder matters, IP ownership, data rights, customer and vendor contracts, privacy and security programs, and fundraising support.
Venture capital firms and family offices
We help investors perform legal due diligence on AI companies, identify IP, data, privacy, and regulatory risks, and prepare term sheets and investment documents for AI startup financings.
Large companies acquiring AI startups
We counsel acquirers on AI-company diligence, deal structure, IP and data-asset transfer, customer-contract risk, and post-closing integration of AI products and policies.
Large and small commercial businesses
We advise organizations that are not AI vendors but use AI in operations, products, or customer service. We assess AI risk, draft AI policies, and update existing policies so they align with HIPAA, CMMC, GDPR, PCI DSS, the New York SHIELD Act, CCPA/CPRA, and other applicable requirements.
AI Legal Services
Fractional General Counsel for AI Startups
Our AI lawyers provide fractional general counsel for AI startups and growing technology companies that need ongoing legal support without a full-time in-house team. Typical work includes contract review, policy development, privacy and security counseling, fundraising support, and day-to-day legal intake on AI product and commercial issues.
Protecting AI Startups
- Intellectual property strategy for models, software, training data, and outputs
- Founder, employee, and contractor invention assignment and confidentiality
- Customer, SaaS, API, and data-licensing agreements
- Open-source, third-party model, and training-data risk review
- Privacy, security, and go-to-market compliance for AI products
Investor Diligence and Term Sheets
- Legal due diligence for venture funds and family offices investing in AI companies
- Review of IP chain of title, data sources, vendor terms, privacy posture, and regulatory exposure
- Preparation and negotiation of term sheets and related investment documents
- Risk memos for investment committees
AI Startup Acquisitions
- Buy-side diligence on AI technology, data assets, contracts, and compliance
- Transaction support for acquisitions, acqui-hires, and strategic investments
- Allocation of AI-specific risks in purchase agreements and disclosure schedules
AI Risk Counseling for Operating Companies
- Assessment of legal risk from employee use of generative AI and third-party AI tools
- Guidance on disclosure, bias, confidentiality, vendor management, and “AI washing”
- Coordination with cybersecurity, employment, and commercial contracting
AI Policies and Compliance Updates
- HIPAA
- CMMC
- GDPR
- PCI DSS
- New York SHIELD Act
- CCPA/CPRA and other state privacy laws
- Sector and contractual security requirements
Contact Our Artificial Intelligence Lawyers
To discuss protection for an AI startup, fractional general counsel, investor diligence, a term sheet, an AI-company acquisition, or AI policy and compliance updates, contact the Cyber Security, Data Privacy & AI Practice Group at Dorf Nelson & Zauderer LLP.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you work with AI startups?
Yes. We represent companies building AI software and related products. We help protect their IP, contracts, data rights, and compliance posture, and we can serve as fractional general counsel.
Can your AI team act as fractional general counsel?
Yes. Our AI lawyers provide fractional GC support for startups and growing companies that need regular counsel on product, commercial, privacy, and fundraising matters.
Do you help VCs and family offices invest in AI companies?
Yes. We perform legal due diligence and prepare or negotiate term sheets and investment documents for AI startup investments.
Do you handle acquisitions of AI startups?
Yes. We advise companies acquiring AI businesses on diligence, deal documents, and integration of AI assets, contracts, and policies.
Can you update our policies for HIPAA, CMMC, GDPR, PCI, and the NY SHIELD Act?
Yes. We draft AI policies and revise existing privacy and security policies so they address AI use and remain aligned with those frameworks and related state and sector rules.
Do you only work with technology companies?
No. We also advise large and small commercial businesses that use AI tools but are not AI vendors.