Jim Gatto provides strategic advice on intellectual property, regulatory and transactional matters relating to disruptive technologies and business models. He is co-leader of the firm’s Artificial Intelligence team and its Blockchain and Fintech Team.
A decades-long thought leader in the areas of AI, robotics, quantum computing, blockchain, fintech, interactive entertainment, and open source, he brings deep understanding of business, technology and the law to the advice he provides to clients.
Jim advises on all aspects of intellectual property strategy, licensing and enforcement, technology transactions and agreements, and tech-related regulatory issues such as securities, gambling and anti-money laundering (AML).
His practice focuses on:
- Blockchain: including all aspects of NFTs, blockchain games and blockchain applications
- Interactive entertainment: including video games, right of publicity, metaverses, digital art, virtual worlds, AR, VR, fantasy sports, esports and online gambling
- Artificial intelligence: including patent and copyright protection, copyright infringement issues with training AI models, deepfakes, AI code generators, corporate policies on employee use of generative AI, TOS issues, robotics and more
- Open source: including OS clearance and compliance, OS audits, corporate policies on use of OS, M&A diligence and remediation, OS contributions and licensing, patent strategies when using open source and more
Jim’s technical background (he studied electrical engineering and physics) and business acumen, combined with his legal training, enables him to distill complex legal and technological issues into easily understood concepts and business ramifications.
A skilled strategist, he speaks the language of business executives, engineers and lawyers. He identifies technology trends early, thinks through the business, technological and legal issues, and helps clients manage risk as few lawyers can.
Having founded Sheppard’s games, blockchain and AI teams, and as current co-leader of the Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain & Fintech teams and leader of the Open Source team, Jim brings highly developed leadership skills to his work for clients.
Jim teaches a class on AI legal issues at George Mason Law School.
In his free time, Jim enjoys skiing, fly fishing, hiking, good food and wine, cooking and travel.