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Lee Tiedrich is an IP/technology transactions partner at Covington & Burling LLP and co-chair of the firm’s global and multi-disciplinary Artificial Intelligence Initiative. She brings together an undergraduate education in electrical engineering and over twenty-five years of legal experience to counsel clients on a broad range of intellectual property, technology transactions, AI governance, data and other matters, which often involve cutting-edge technologies (such as AI, IoT, VR and AR) and require innovative legal and business solutions. Her work spans several industries, including fintech, digital health, mobility/autonomous vehicles, IoT, consumer products, enterprise, sports, and energy.
Clients turn to Ms. Tiedrich for her thought leadership and practical approach on AI and emerging technologies and for her deep expertise with technology matters and transactions. She is a trusted advisor on evolving global policy issues, including with respect to AI governance, data transformation and intellectual property. She also leverages her expertise in this quickly evolving area to advise clients on governance practices for AI and to provide a wide range of product counseling advice. Ms. Tiedrich has guided numerous clients through intellectual property and technology matters arising in mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, investment transactions, and securities offerings, and she has pioneered approaches for addressing AI in the corporate context. Ms. Tiedrich also has extensive experience negotiating a broad spectrum of IP/tech transactions, including data collaborations and license agreements, cloud services agreements, patent licenses, content agreements, brand licenses, and hardware and software development agreements. She also counsels clients on strategies for maintaining, protecting, and expanding their intellectual property assets and for navigating privacy and data security matters in transactions.
Ms. Tiedrich serves on the Board of Visitors of Duke University’s Pratt School of Engineering and the Dean’s Council for Penn Law Women. She has written and spoken extensively on AI and other technology matters before government, business (including senior executive and board members), academic and other leaders, including in Europe, India, the Middle East, Canada and the United States. Speaking engagements have included programs at the Council on Foreign Relations, at the Singapore Embassy (with the Singapore Ambassador to the US), the Global Governance of AI Roundtable (under the auspices of the President of Greece), with the Federal Judicial Conference, with Aspen Institute, with the Society of Corporate Secretaries and Governance Professionals, at the US-China AI Tech Summit, and at Stanford, Duke, New York University and the University of Pennsylvania. At the invitation of the UAE Ministry of Artificial Intelligence, she participated in the 2019 World Government Summit in Dubai, including the Global Governance of AI Roundtable.
Ms. Tiedrich is a Senior Lecturing Fellow at Duke University Law School. She has been a peer reviewer for the law book division of Oxford University Press. She is registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, has served on the Council of the American Bar Association’s Section of Science and Technology, is a member of the IEEE, and served as a reviewer of the Law Committee chapter of the IEEE’s Ethically Aligned Design (First Edition), published in 2019. She received her J.D., cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and B.S.E., magna cum laude, from Duke University, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society.
- Reliance Industries Ltd in its acquisition of a majority interest in Individual Learning, which operates Embibe, an AI online educational platform.
- Aristocrat Leisure Limited in $990 million acquisition of Big Fish Games, Inc.
- Mexichem, S.A.B. de C.V. on its $1.895 billion acquisition of an 80 percent stake in Netafim, Ltd., the world’s largest irrigation company, from private equity and buyout firm Permira, Kibbutz Magal and Kibbutz Hatzerim.
- HPE in its acquisitions of Scytale, MapR, BlueData, and Plexxi.
- A major software company in a joint venture and licensing transaction with an automotive manufacturer to develop vehicle components containing the vendor’s software.
- Democratic Data Exchange and Golden State Warriors in technology transactions.
- Fortune 500 companies on AI governance, product counseling, and commercial agreements addressing emerging AI issues.
- QUALCOMM in its $2.5bn recommended cash offer for CSR plc and in the purchase of assets of a UK-based 450 MHz handset design and manufacturing company, including the related intellectual property.
- Famy Care Limited in the $750 million sale of its women's health business to Mylan Laboratories Limited.
- UCB in the sale of its specialty generics division to Lannett and, previously, the announced sale to Advent International and Avista Capital Partners.
- Legg Mason, Inc. in its investment in Precidian Investments LLC, a leader in the creation of innovative financial technology products, specializing in exchange-traded fund and mutual fund development, and associated trading and pricing technologies.
- Thomson Reuters Corporation in the divestiture of its Healthcare business to affiliates of Veritas Capital for $1.25 billion and in its acquisitions of Information Holdings Inc. (NYSE: IHI) and Solucient.
- BBVA in its acquisition of Simple Finance Technology.
- Meda AB in its acquisitions of Acton Pharmaceuticals and of MidNite, an OTC sleep aid product.
- Johnson & Johnson in a divestiture to Energizer Holdings.
- Microsoft in its patent monetization transaction with Nokia and Core Wireless involving 2000+ wireless patents.
- Grupo Sura, the Colombian financial group, and its affiliate AFP Integra S.A. in the $516 million acquisition of 50% of AFP Horizonte S.A., the Peruvian pension fund, from BBVA.
- Magticom Ltd., the leading mobile operator in the Republic of Georgia, in its acquisition of retail and corporate ISP cable assets from Caucasus Online LLC.
- HaloIPT on Qualcomm’s acquisition of its automotive wireless charging technology.
- National Geographic Society in the sale of its Hampton Brown school publishing business to Cengage Learning, Inc.
- King Pharmaceuticals in its $3.6 billion merger with Pfizer.
- Medarex in its $2.4 billion merger with Bristol-Myers Squibb.
- OptiSolar in its $400 million sale of it project development business to First Solar, Inc.
- Numerous clients in stand-alone intellectual property and technology agreements, including license agreements, collaboration and development agreements, reseller and supply agreements, and agreements for marketing and exploiting technology-based products and services.
- Procter & Gamble in its sale of ThermaCare, a leading over-the-counter heatwrap, to Wyeth Consumer Healthcare, a division of Wyeth.
- Gleacher & Company, Inc. in the sale of substantially all of the assets of its ClearPoint subsidiary to Homeward Residential, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Ocwen Financial.
- Charlesbank Capital Partners in its formation of Blacksmith Brands, which purchased the Efferdent, Luden's and PediaCare brands from Johnson & Johnson, and subsequent sale of Blacksmith Brands to Prestige Brands.
- The UK-based Dunlop Slazenger Group in its disposition of the Maxfli golf brand and related assets to Taylor Made Golf Company.
- MidFirst Bank in its acquisition of Steele Street Bank & Trust.
- Illumina in its acquisition of NextBio.
- Snow Phipps Group in its acquisition of Acentia (formerly ITSolutions).
- XLHealth Corporation, a provider of health care services, in its acquisition of Leprechaun, LLC.
- Another major consumer products company in its strategic acquisition and licensing of patents and other intellectual property important for its next generation products.
- TouchTunes, the largest out-of-home digital entertainment network, in its acquisition of White Rabbit Game Studio, creators of PlayPorTT and developers of portable, on-location game systems.
- AudioCodes, Inc., an Israeli telecommunications equipment manufacturer, in its US acquisitions of two venture-backed companies: Nuera Communications and Netrake Corporation.
- New Media Distribution, a Russian-language television programming production and content company, in an equity investment by a Russia-focused private equity fund.
- National Geographic Society in the formation and launch of the domestic and international versions of the National Geographic Channel in partnership with NBC and Fox.
Pro Bono
- Representing Global Initiative on Sharing Influenza Data (GISAID), a non-profit organization formed to foster the international sharing of avian influenza isolates and related data.
- Representation in connection with the Collective and Augmented Intelligence against COVID-19 ("CAIAC").
- Media Counsel to the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.
- Learning and Leadership in Families, Inc. (d/b/a LearnLead), an organization that supports school readiness and success in the early grades.
- "The State of the District of Columbia Public Schools 2010: A Five Year Update," Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs (August 2010), Co-Author
- The publisher of Checkbook Magazine in connection its PatientCentral website.
Memberships and Affiliations
- Senior Lecturing Fellow at Duke University Law School
- Oxford University Press, Peer Reviewer for the Technology, Media and Telecoms Law Books Division
- Contributor to Law Committee Chapter in Ethically Aligned Design (First Edition), which was published in 2019 by the IEEE Global Initiative on Ethics of Autonomous and Intelligent Systems (A/IS)
- Member of the Board of Visitors for the Duke University Pratt School of Engineering
- Work Life Law Center, UC Hastings College of the Law, Board Member
- Dean's Council for Penn Law Women, Member
- Member of Global Data Commons Task Force
- Women's Bar Association of DC, member of host committee for 2013 annual dinner
- The ABA Section of Science and Technology, Past Council Member and Committee Chair
- Federal Communications Bar Association, past Co-Chair of the Online Communications Committee
January-February 2021, Journal of Robotics, Artificial Intelligence & Law
January 11, 2021, Inside Tech Media
The newly enacted National Defense Authorization Act (“NDAA”) contains important provisions regarding the development and deployment of artificial intelligence (“AI”) and machine learning technologies, many of which build upon previous legislation introduced in the 116th Congress. The most substantial federal U.S. legislation on AI to date, these provisions will ...
December 8, 2020, Inside Tech Media
President Donald Trump signed an executive order (EO) on December 3, providing guidance for federal agency adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) for government decision-making in a manner that protects privacy and civil rights. Emphasizing that ongoing adoption and acceptance of AI will depend significantly on public trust, the EO charges the Office of ...
November-December 2020, Journal of Robotics, Artificial Intelligence & Law
November 4, 2020, Inside Tech Media
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (“NIST”) has published the first draft of the Four Principles of Explainable Artificial Intelligence (NISTIR 8312), a white paper that seeks to define the principles that capture the fundamental properties of explainable AI systems. AI Initiative Co-Chair Lee Tiedrich, Sam Choi, and James Yoon discuss the ...
October 6, 2020, Covington Digital Health
In this edition of our regular roundup on legislative initiatives related to artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, the Internet of Things (IoT), and connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs), we focus on key developments in the European Union (EU). There has been some policy activity in the U.S. this quarter, including the re-introduction of the SELF-DRIVE ...
October 6, 2020, Inside Tech Media
In this edition of our regular roundup on legislative initiatives related to artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, the Internet of Things (IoT), and connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs), we focus on key developments in the European Union (EU). There has been some policy activity in the U.S. this quarter, including the re-introduction of the SELF-DRIVE ...
September 8, 2020, Inside Tech Media
The FTC has recently provided new guidance on the use of AI and algorithms, including a blog post that focuses on the benefits and risks of AI. Former FTC Commissioner Terrell McSweeny, AI Initiative Co-Chair Lee Tiedrich, and Jadzia Pierce discuss the post, along with other AI-focused guidance from the FTC, in The Journal of Robotics, Artificial Intelligence ...
September 8, 2020, Covington Digital Health
The FTC has recently provided new guidance on the use of AI and algorithms, including a blog post that focuses on the benefits and risks of AI in the “Health AI” space. Former FTC Commissioner Terrell McSweeny, AI Initiative Co-Chair Lee Tiedrich, and Jadzia Pierce discuss the post, along with other AI-focused guidance from the...… Continue Reading
August 21, 2020, Covington Digital Health
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (“NIST”) is seeking comments on the first draft of the Four Principles of Explainable Artificial Intelligence (NISTIR 8312), a white paper that seeks to define the principles that capture the fundamental properties of explainable AI systems. NIST will be accepting comments until October 15, 2020. In February ...
August 20, 2020, Inside Tech Media
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (“NIST”) is seeking comments on the first draft of the Four Principles of Explainable Artificial Intelligence (NISTIR 8312), a white paper that seeks to define the principles that capture the fundamental properties of explainable AI systems. NIST will be accepting comments until October 15, 2020. In February ...
July-August 2020, Intellectual Property & Technology Law Journal
July 22, 2020, Inside Tech Media
On July 17, 2020, the High-Level Expert Group on Artificial Intelligence set up by the European Commission (“AI HLEG”) published The Assessment List for Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence (“Assessment List”). The purpose of the Assessment List is to help companies identify the risks of AI systems they develop, deploy or procure, and implement appropriate ...
July 17, 2020, Inside Tech Media
In this update, we detail the key legislative updates in the second quarter of 2020 related to artificial intelligence (“AI”), the Internet of Things (“IoT”), cybersecurity as it relates to AI and IoT, and connected and automated vehicles (“CAVs”). The volume of legislation on these topics has slowed but not ceased, as lawmakers increasingly focus...… Continue ...
July 15, 2020, Covington Alert
In this update, we detail the key legislative updates in the second quarter of 2020 related to artificial intelligence (“AI”), the Internet of Things (“IoT”), cybersecurity as it relates to AI and IoT, and connected and autonomous vehicles (“CAVs”). The volume of legislation on these topics has slowed but not ceased, as lawmakers increasingly focus on the ...
July 7, 2020, Covington Digital Health
On June 4, 2020, Representatives Anna Eshoo (D-CA-18), Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH-16), and Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ-11) introduced the National AI Research Resource Task Force Act. This bipartisan bill would create a task force to propose a roadmap for developing and sustaining a national research cloud for AI. The cloud would help provide researchers with access to ...
July 6, 2020, Inside Tech Media
On June 4, 2020, Representatives Anna Eshoo (D-CA-18), Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH-16), and Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ-11) introduced the National AI Research Resource Task Force Act. This bipartisan bill would create a task force to propose a roadmap for developing and sustaining a national research cloud for AI. The cloud would help provide researchers with access ...
June 11, 2020, Inside Tech Media
The COVID-19 pandemic is accelerating the digital transition and the adoption of artificial intelligence (“AI”) tools and Internet of Things (“IoT”) devices in many areas of society. While there has been significant focus on leveraging this technology to fight the pandemic, the technology also will have broader and longer-term benefits. As the New York Times...… ...
June 10, 2020, Covington Alert
The COVID-19 pandemic is accelerating the digital transition and the adoption of artificial intelligence (“AI”) tools and Internet of Things (“IoT”) devices in many areas of society. While there has been significant focus on leveraging this technology to fight the pandemic, the technology also will have broader and longer-term benefits. As the New York Times has ...
June 4, 2020, Inside Tech Media
In February 2020, the Trump Administration released the American Artificial Intelligence Initiative’s One Year Annual Report, detailing the Administration’s progress since launching its “American Artificial Intelligence Initiative” by signing Executive Order 13859 on February 11, 2019. The Administration’s Report highlights areas where it identifies progress in ...
June 2, 2020, Covington Digital Health
On May 28, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) hosted a meeting of the G7 Science & Technology (S&T) Ministers to collaborate on COVID-19 response and recovery. The G7 S&T Ministers emerged from the meeting with a declaration, in which they expressed their intent to: Enhance cooperation on shared COVID-19 research...… Continue Reading
May 20, 2020, Covington Digital Health
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has played an important role in battling COVID-19 since the initial outbreak: HealthMap – an AI tool from Boston Children’s Hospital that scans news reports, social media, and other data for signs of disease outbreaks – first sounded the international alarm after picking up reports of an emerging virus in Wuhan, China....… Continue ...
May 12, 2020, Inside Tech Media
Though it seems like the distant past now, in this update we detail the notable legislative events from the first quarter of 2020 on artificial intelligence (“AI”), the Internet of Things (“IoT”), cybersecurity as it relates to AI and IoT, and connected and autonomous vehicles (“CAVs”). Prior to the slowdown in non-COVID related legislation that...… Continue ...
May 7, 2020, Covington Alert
Though it seems like the distant past now, in this update we detail the notable legislative events from the first quarter of 2020 on artificial intelligence (“AI”), the Internet of Things (“IoT”), cybersecurity as it relates to AI and IoT, and connected and autonomous vehicles (“CAVs”). Prior to the slowdown in non-COVID related legislation that accompanied the ...
May 1, 2020, Covington Digital Health
Artificial intelligence (AI) is burgeoning in many industries, including healthcare. As the legal landscape around AI continues to evolve, how can organizations operationalize trustworthy AI applications? Lee Tiedrich and Lala R. Qadir share ten steps in this article with Law360. For more information about AI, please see our “AI Toolkit.”… Continue Reading
April 28, 2020, Covington Digital Health
Lee Tiedrich, B.J. Altvater, and James Yoon recently published an article summarizing recent developments in artificial intelligence law and policy on the University of Pennsylvania Law School’s Regulatory Review. The article primarily focuses on developments in the United States, including the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act introduced by ...
April 14, 2020, Covington Digital Health
On April 8, 2020, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) released a blog post about the use of artificial intelligence (“AI”) and algorithms in automated decisionmaking. The blog highlighted the potentially great benefits and risks presented by increasingly sophisticated technologies, particularly in the “Health AI” space. However, it also emphasized that ...
April 3, 2020, Covington Digital Health
The rapid spread of COVID-19, along with the effectiveness of existing public health response plans and the impacts of social distancing on the economy, have raised the question of how new technology can be used to address and manage the pandemic. On April 1, 2020, the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence hosted “COVID-19 and...… ...
March 18, 2020, Covington Alert
To assist companies that are developing technology solutions to help predict, mitigate or contain the spread of COVID-19, our cross-practice digital health team has put together a checklist of considerations to keep in mind. For additional guidance, please visit our COVID-19 Legal and Business Toolkit or reach out to us at COVID19@cov.com.
AI and Attorney Obligations Are Still Outpacing the Law
February 4, 2020, Legaltech News
Lee Tiedrich spoke with Legaltech News about lawyers’ obligations pertaining to the law and artificial intelligence. Ms. Tiedrich indicated that much like the internet in the 1990s, the growth of technologies such as AI continues to outstrip the development of the law. The lack of absolute regulatory clarity raises the stakes for organizations. “You need to be ...
Designing Ethics into AI
January 31, 2020, Data Privacy Day, Duke University
January 24, 2020, Inside Tech Media
U.S. federal policymakers continued to focus on artificial intelligence (“AI”) and the Internet of Things (“IoT”) in the fourth quarter of 2019, including by introducing substantive bills that would regulate the use of such technology and by supporting bills aimed at further study of how such technology may impact different sectors. In our fourth AI...… Continue ...
January 24, 2020, Covington Alert
U.S. federal policymakers continued to focus on artificial intelligence (“AI”) and the Internet of Things (“IoT”) in the fourth quarter of 2019, including by introducing substantive bills that would regulate the use of such technology and by supporting bills aimed at further study of how such technology may impact different sectors. In our fourth AI & IoT ...
December 13, 2019, Legaltech News
Lee Tiedrich is quoted in Legaltech News regarding the continued use of artificial intelligence, despite ethics concerns. Ms. Tiedrich says that companies could put in “good governance processes to manage the [AI] product design, development and implementation in accordance with their ethnical principles.” She also noted that to limit bias, it is also necessary ...
Operationalizing Compliance Through Data Analytics
November 7, 2019, HCCA's 5th Annual Healthcare Enforcement Compliance Conference, Washington, DC
October 22, 2019, Inside Tech Media
Federal policymakers continued to focus on artificial intelligence (“AI”) and the Internet of Things (“IoT”) in the third quarter of 2019, including by introducing substantive bills that would regulate the use of such technology and by supporting bills aimed at further study of how such technology may impact different sectors. In our third AI &...… Continue ...
September 23, 2019, Bloomberg Law
Lee Tiedrich recently participated in the “AI and the Rule of Law Roundtable” in Athens and spoke with Bloomberg Law about with the event, which was , focused on ensuring that AI tech works as intended—and that those who implement and operate such systems are competent to do so. Ms. Tiedrich says, “Although the Roundtable participants came from different ...
AI Governance & Ethics and Data Issues - What Lies Ahead?
September 17, 2019
Ethics, Privacy and Bias in AI and ML Applications
September 12, 2019, Thomson Reuters 4th Annual Government Conference, Carnegie Institution for Science, Washington, DC
July 18, 2019, Inside Tech Media
Federal and state policymakers continued to focus on artificial intelligence (“AI”) and the Internet of Things (“IoT”) in the second quarter of 2019, including by introducing both substantive measures that would regulate the use of the technology and by supporting funding bills aimed at increasing investment. In our second AI & IoT Quarterly Legislative ...
AI and IoT: The Evolving Legal Landscape, Law & Technology Program for Federal Judges
May 28, 2019, Co-hosted by the Federal Judicial Center and Duke Law School
Harnessing the Power of Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things
May 17, 2019, Annual UBP Investor Advisors Conference
Key Issues and Practical Guidance
May 13, 2019, 2019 PLI Annual Cloud Computing Conference
May 1, 2019, Inside Tech Media
Federal and state policymakers introduced a range of new measures on artificial intelligence (“AI”) and the Internet of Things (“IoT”) in the first quarter of 2019. In our initial AI & IoT Quarterly Legislative Update, we detail the notable legislative events from this quarter on AI, IoT, cybersecurity as it relates to AI and IoT,...… Continue Reading
Emerging Technologies and the Effect on the IP Industry
March 21, 2019, Understanding Emerging Technologies, Washington College of Law, IP Symposium
AI & Machine Learning - The New Frontier for Advertisers
March 20, 2019, ANA 2019 Advertising and Law & Public Policy Conference
Artificial Intelligence
March 14, 2019, Presentation to outside board of directors
Connected and Automated Vehicles: Creating a Consistent Regulatory Framework
March 2019, Aspen Institute and Covington & Burling Roundtable
UAE World Government Summit and Global Governance of AI Roundtable Participant
2/10/2019-2/12/2019
At the invitation of the UAE Ministry of Artificial Intelligence, Lee Tiedrich participated in the Global Governance of AI Roundtable ("GGAR") and World Government Summit held in Dubai. The GGAR brought together governmental, business, civil society, academic, and other leaders in AI from around the globe to discuss frameworks for implementing AI. Also at the ...
AI and IoT: Navigating the New Legal Horizons to Capitalize on Opportunities
December 19, 2018, KPMG AI/IoT Forum in Bangalore, India
Where are we now?
November 30-December 1, 2018, New York University Summit on Artificial Intelligence in a Democratic Society
November 5, 2018, Legaltech News
Lee Tiedrich spoke with Legaltech News regarding a recent survey on the legal and regulatory risks of artificial intelligence. Ms. Tiedrich suggested clients take a global perspective when assessing what laws are relevant to a particular AI program. She notes that artificial intelligence is not limited to a single jurisdiction, and clients should seek advice on ...
AI and IoT: Navigating the New Legal Horizon
October 9, 2018, Women's General Counsel Network
Presentation on Global Innovation, along with Singapore Ambassador to the U.S. and Dean of Duke Fuqua Business School
September 25, 2018, Singapore Embassy
GC Cheat Sheet: The Hottest Corporate News Of The Week
July 6, 2018, Law360
Lee Tiedrich's comments from the U.S.-China AI Tech Summit are highlighted in this Law360 article providing a roundup of the top corporate news stories from the past week. According to Tiedrich, there’s a recognition that the new technology brings new legal challenges.
July 2, 2018, The Recorder
Lee Tiedrich recently spoke at the U.S.-China AI Tech Summit and is quoted by The Recorder in an article examining the pros and cons of introducing AI into the judicial process. According to Tiedrich, AI in the justice system also implicates questions of transparency and intellectual property. In cases where it’s alleged that AI perpetuates hiring discrimination ...
July 2, 2018, Law360
Lee Tiedrich recently spoke at the U.S.-China AI Tech Summit to discuss "AI in the Law" and is quoted in a Law360 article. According to Tiedrich, there is a recognition that the new technology brings new legal challenges. “One issue that’s been getting a lot of attention in the United States is whether and to what extent AI applications need to provide ...
AI, Internet of Things, Privacy, Big Data and Cloud Computing Briefing
June 2018
May 1, 2018
WASHINGTON—Covington advised Elbit Systems Ltd. in its $120 million acquisition of the assets and operations of the privately owned U.S. company, Universal Avionics Systems. Elbit Systems is an international high technology company engaged in a wide range of defense, homeland security, and commercial programs throughout the world. Universal Avionics is a ...
2018: New Year, Same Glass Ceiling for Women in Tech?
January 18, 2018, UC Hastings College of the Law, Work Life Law Center
November 30, 2017
WASHINGTON—Covington represented Aristocrat Leisure Limited in its $990 million acquisition of Big Fish Games, Inc. This acquisition expands Aristocrat’s Social Gaming business into new game genres. Aristocrat is a global provider of gaming solutions. It offers a diverse range of products and services including electronic gaming machines and casino management ...
Intellectual Property Issues for Emerging Fashion Companies
October 2017, UIA Congress
May 31, 2016
NEW YORK—Covington is advising MagtiCom Ltd., the leading mobile operator in the Republic of Georgia, on its definitive agreement to acquire retail and corporate ISP cable assets from Caucasus Online LLC. The deal is expected to close on or around August 1, 2016. Following the successful conclusion of the transaction, MagtiCom will be the first and only operator ...
New Frontiers in Medicine: eHealth and Big Data
May 3, 2016, Covington Boston Life Sciences Symposium
Big Data and Predictive Analytics
September 29, 2015, Society of Corporate Secretaries and Governance Professionals Regional Fall Conference, The New Equilibrium: Balancing Perspectives
Covington Advises Public Pension Capital on Partnership with Kramer Van Kirk Credit Strategies
May 15, 2015
WASHINGTON, DC, May 15, 2015 — Covington represented Public Pension Capital, LLC in the formation of a strategic partnership with and investment in Kramer Van Kirk Credit Strategies LP, a Chicago-based manager of collateralized loan obligations with more than $4 billion in assets under management. Public Pension Capital also acquired a stake in KVK Technology ...
Moving to the Cloud: Privacy and Other Key Considerations for Healthcare Entities
May 13, 2015, Life Sciences Essentials Webinar Series
Covington Represents Underwriters in Cidara IPO
April 20, 2015
NEW YORK — Covington advised the underwriters in the $76.8 million initial public offering of common stock of Cidara Therapeutics, Inc. Shares of Cidara trade on the NASDAQ Global Market under the ticker “CDTX.” Cidara is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of anti-infectives for treatment of diseases ...
June 26, 2014
NEW YORK, June 26, 2014 — Covington & Burling advised MidFirst Bank in connection with its agreement to acquire Steele Street Bank. The acquisition, expected to close in the first quarter of 2015, is subject to shareholder and regulatory approval and other customary conditions. MidFirst, one of the five largest privately owned banks in the United States, is a ...
Covington Receives Top Tier Nods in Legal 500 U.S.
June 26, 2014
WASHINGTON, DC, June 26, 2014 — The Legal 500 U.S. has ranked Covington & Burling in its top tier in eight practice areas and recognized 23 individual attorneys as “Leading Lawyers” in the directory’s 2014 edition. Additionally, Legal 500 “recommended” 42 Covington practice areas and 153 Covington lawyers. The eight Covington practices given the top tier ranking ...
Covington Advises Forest Laboratories in $1.1 Billion Acquisition and $415 Million Royalty Monetization
April 27, 2014
NEW YORK, April 28, 2014 — Covington & Burling represented Forest Laboratories in a definitive agreement to acquire Furiex Pharmaceuticals, a drug development collaboration company, for up to $1.46 billion. The acquisition of Furiex expands Forest’s offerings in gastroenterology. Forest agreed to pay $95 per share in cash, or approximately $1.1 billion in the ...
Covington Advises BBVA in Acquisition of Simple
February 20, 2014
NEW YORK, February 20, 2014 — Covington & Burling represented Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, an international financial group based in Spain, in its acquisition of financial technology company Simple. The acquisition is part of BBVA's strategy to lead the technology-driven change that is transforming the financial services industry. According to Francisco ...
Covington Awarded Top HRC Rating for Sixth Year
December 9, 2013
WASHINGTON, DC, December 9, 2013 — For the sixth consecutive year, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation has awarded Covington & Burling the top rating of 100 percent in the 2014 Corporate Equality Index. Covington’s 100 percent rating reflects its written non-discrimination policy, sexual orientation and gender identity training, and support for same-sex ...
12/4/2013
WASHINGTON, DC, December 4, 2013 — Covington & Burling advised Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund in its $860 million acquisition of General Chemical Holding Company. The acquisition will expand Chemtrade’s North American water treatment chemicals and sulfuric acid businesses into new geographic areas and broaden the company’s specialty chemicals product portfolio. ...
Covington Receives Top Tier Nods in Legal 500 U.S.
June 7, 2013
WASHINGTON, DC, June 7, 2013 — The Legal 500 U.S. has ranked Covington & Burling as a top tier firm in six practice areas and recognized 21 individual attorneys as “Leading Lawyers” in the directory’s 2013 edition. Additionally, Legal 500 “recommended” 38 Covington practice areas and 148 Covington lawyers. The six Covington practices given the top tier ranking ...
Covington Advises Grupo Sura in $516 Million Acquisition
4/23/2013
NEW YORK, April 23, 2013 — Covington & Burling advised Sura Asset Management S.A. and AFP Integra S.A., affiliates of the Latin American financial group Grupo de Inversiones Suramericana, in a joint acquisition with Profuturo AFP S.A., an affiliate of The Bank of Nova Scotia, of 100 percent of the shares of AFP Horizonte, S.A., the Peruvian pension fund manager, ...
December 11, 2012
LONDON, 11 December, 2012 — Covington & Burling acted as legal advisers to Meda in its acquisition of MidNite, an OTC sleep-aid product. Meda is a leading international specialty pharmaceutical company. The Covington team was led by partner Peter Laveran with assistance from Karen Brooks. The team also included Philip Young and trainee Philippe Bradley ...
November 28, 2012
NEW YORK, November 28, 2012— Covington & Burling is advising Grupo Financiero Banorte S.A.B. de C.V., and its affiliate Afore XXI Banorte, S.A. de C.V., in a $1.6-billion acquisition of Afore Bancomer, S.A. de C.V. from the Spanish bank, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A., which would create Mexico’s largest pension fund. Afore Bancomer is Mexico’s second ...
Covington Awarded Top HRC Rating for Fifth Year
November 14, 2012
WASHINGTON, DC, November 14, 2012 — For the fifth consecutive year, the Human Right Campaign Foundation has awarded Covington & Burling the top rating of 100 percent in the 2013 Corporate Equality Index. Covington’s 100 percent rating reflects its written non-discrimination policy; sexual orientation and gender identity training; support for same-sex partners of ...
Covington Receives Top Tier Nods in Legal 500 US
August 14, 2012
WASHINGTON, DC, August 14, 2012 — Covington & Burling LLP has received a top tier ranking in six practice areas and 18 individual attorneys are named “Leading Lawyers” in the recently released Legal 500 US 2012 edition. Additionally, Legal 500 US also “recommended” 36 Covington practice areas and 123 Covington lawyers. The six Covington practices given the top ...
4/23/2012
NEW YORK, April 23, 2012 — Covington & Burling represented Thomson Reuters in a definitive agreement to sell its Healthcare business to an affiliate of Veritas Capital for $1.25 billion in cash. The sale, expected to close in the next few months, is subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions, including the expiration or termination of ...
Covington Advises HaloIPT on Qualcomm’s Acquisition of its Automotive Wireless Charging Technology
November 21, 2011
LONDON, 21 November, 2011 — Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) has acquired substantially all of the technology and other assets of HaloIPT, a leading provider of wireless charging technology for electric road vehicles. Covington & Burling LLP advised HaloIPT on the transaction. HaloIPT's financial adviser was Innovator Capital, the London based cleantech ...
Covington Advises Microsoft in Standards-Essential Wireless Patents Portfolio Transaction with MOSAID and Nokia
September 2, 2011
SAN FRANCISCO, September 2, 2011 — Covington & Burling LLP represented Microsoft Corp. in a patent monetization transaction involving the acquisition by MOSAID Technologies Incorporated of Core Wireless Licensing S.a.r.l., a Luxembourg company that holds a portfolio of 400 patent families, consisting of approximately 2,000 wireless patents and patent ...
June 29, 2011
WASHINGTON, DC, June 29, 2011 — Covington & Burling LLP represented National Geographic Society in its agreement with Cengage Learning to sell its digital and print school publishing unit and to extend additional rights to use the National Geographic brand in higher education and library markets worldwide. National Geographic’s school publishing unit includes ...
June 9, 2011
WASHINGTON, DC, June 10, 2011 — Covington & Burling LLP received 92 individual mentions and 32 practice mentions in the Legal 500 US 2011 edition. Legal 500 reviews the strengths and strategies of law firms in more than 90 countries in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, North and South America, and the Caribbean. Here are the Covington lawyers and practices ...
1/6/2011
NEW YORK, January 6, 2011 — Charlesbank Capital Partners has announced that it has acquired Peacock Engineering Company, LLC, a leading provider of outsourced food packaging and supply chain management services to many of the nation’s largest branded consumer products companies, from Behrman Capital. The terms of the transaction, which closed on December 21, ...
October 12, 2010
NEW YORK, October 12, 2010 — King Pharmaceuticals and Pfizer announced today that they have entered into an agreement for Pfizer to acquire all of the outstanding stock and stock equivalents of King for $14.25 in cash per share, or aggregate consideration of $3.6 billion. Covington & Burling LLP advised King on the transaction. King is a vertically integrated ...
September 21, 2010
NEW YORK, September 21, 2010 — Prestige Brands Holdings, Inc. has announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of the stock of Blacksmith Brands Holdings, Inc., a portfolio company of Charlesbank Capital Partners, for $190 million in cash. Covington & Burling LLP advised Charlesbank on the transaction, which is expected to close in ...
August 2010, Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs
June 23, 2010
WASHINGTON, DC, June 23, 2010 — Covington & Burling LLP received 85 individual mentions and 23 practice mentions in the Legal 500 US 2010 edition. Legal 500 reviews the strengths and strategies of law firms in more than 90 countries in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, North and South America, and the Caribbean. Here are the Covington lawyers and practices ...
11/2/2009
NEW YORK, NY, November 2, 2009 — Charlesbank Capital Partners, LLC has announced the formation of Blacksmith Brands Inc. with the acquisition of five over-the-counter consumer products brands from McNEIL-PPC, Inc. Covington & Burling LLP advised Charlesbank on the transaction. The brands acquired by Blacksmith include: Efferdent denture cleaner; Effergrip ...
7/22/2009
NEW YORK, NY, July 22, 2009 — Medarex and Bristol-Myers Squibb announced today that Bristol-Myers Squibb entered into an agreement for Bristol-Myers Squibb to acquire all of the outstanding stock and stock equivalents of Medarex for $16.00 in cash per share, or aggregate consideration of $2.4 billion. Covington & Burling LLP advised Medarex on the ...
July 16, 2009
NEW YORK, NY, July 16, 2009 — Snow Phipps Group, LLC, a private equity firm, announced on July 7 that it had completed the acquisition of ITS Holding Company (ITSolutions), a leading information technology services provider to US government civilian, national security, and intelligence agencies, along with Mr. Stefan Lalos, co-founder and CEO of ITSolutions. ...
4/10/2009
NEW YORK, NY, April 10, 2009 — First Solar, Inc. has announced the completion of its previously announced acquisition of OptiSolar’s project development business. Covington & Burling LLP advised OptiSolar on the deal. OptiSolar is a California-based independent power producer committed to delivering clean, competitively priced electricity to the power grid from ...
Covington Advises Procter & Gamble On Sale of ThermaCare
7/17/2008
NEW YORK, NY, July 17, 2008 — Wyeth Consumer Healthcare, a division of Wyeth, announced that it signed an agreement to purchase ThermaCare, a leading over-the-counter heat wrap, from Procter & Gamble. Covington & Burling LLP advised Procter & Gamble on the transaction. Introduced in the United States in 2002, ThermaCare Heat Wraps use heat therapy to relieve ...
Covington Advises Coty on Deal with Church & Dwight
7/9/2008
NEW YORK, NY, July 9, 2008 — Coty Inc. has completed its previously announced sale of the Orajel brand and other brands of Del Pharmaceuticals to Church & Dwight Co., Inc. for $380 million in cash. Covington & Burling LLP advised Coty on the transaction. Coty is the world’s largest fragrance company with annual sales in excess of $3.5 billion. Church & Dwight ...
Covington Advises Pfizer on Acquisition of Serenex
3/3/2008
NEW YORK, NY, March 3, 2008 — Pfizer Inc. announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Serenex Inc., a privately held biotechnology company. Covington & Burling LLP advised Pfizer on the transaction. Pfizer, the world’s largest research-based biomedical and pharmaceutical company, discovers and develops innovative medicines to treat and help ...
1/2/2008
NEW YORK, NY, January 2, 2008 — Pfizer announced on December 31 that it has completed the cash tender offer for the outstanding shares of common stock of Coley Pharmaceutical Group, Inc., a publicly-held biopharmaceutical company specializing in vaccine adjuvant technology and a new class of immunomodulatory drug candidates designed to fight cancers, allergy and ...
11/01/2007
NEW YORK, NY, November 1, 2007 — Mainfreight Limited has completed its acquisition of AMEX-listed Target Logistics, Inc. in an all-cash transaction. Covington & Burling LLP advised Mainfreight on the transaction. Mainfreight is a global supply chain logistics provider with approximately 3,000 team members based in operations in New Zealand, Australia, Asia, and ...
10/12/2007
NEW YORK, NY, October 12, 2007 — TouchTunes Music Corporation, the largest on-location digital entertainment network, has announced its acquisition of White Rabbit Game Studio, creators of PlayPorTT and developers of portable, on-location game systems. Covington & Burling LLP advised TouchTunes on the transaction. White Rabbit executives and employees will form ...
4/16/2007
NEW YORK, NY, April 16, 2007 — The Thomson Corporation closed the sale of its Thomson Medical Education business to ABRY Partners, a Boston based private equity firm. Covington & Burling LLP advised The Thomson Corporation on the transaction. The Thomson Corporation is a leading global provider of integrated information-based solutions to business and ...
Covington Advises Hanesbrands in Spin-Off from Sara Lee
9/29/2006
<?xml:namespace prefix="st1"?><st1:state w:st="on">WASHINGTON</st1:state>, D.C., September 29, 2006 — <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Covington</st1:place></st1:city> represented Hanesbrands Inc. in its recent spin-off from the Sara Lee Corporation. Hanesbrands began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol HBI on September 6. ...
Strategies for Improving the Retention of Women Lawyers
Winter 2006, DC Women’s Bar Association
Software, Patents and Technology Licensing Matters
January 1, 2005, Marcus Evans Software Conference
1999, Pike & Fisher
Winter 1995, 3 CommLaw Conspectus 17, Catholic University
The National Information Infrastructure Initiative and the Emergence of the Electronic Superhighway
1994, 46 Federal Communications Law Journal 397 (Indiana University)
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