Scott McKinney

Scott McKinney is a partner in the Washington, D.C., office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, where he is a member of the firm’s technology transactions practice. He represents companies of all sizes in complex commercial and technology transactions, and advises technology companies and their investors at all stages of company development, from pioneering start-ups to leading global enterprises. 

Scott focuses his practice on frontier technologies, and is a founder and leader of the firm’s cross-practice artificial intelligence and machine learning advisory group. In addition to AI, Scott advises technology innovators in other emerging fields such as blockchain, fintech and DeFi, automated vehicles, robotics, and smart contracts, and he is a nationally recognized speaker on those topics. He is also a subject matter specialist in the area of open source software licensing, advising a variety of companies on open source software compliance and usage. 

Scott is a professor at Georgetown Law and teaches a class that he developed on artificial intelligence, technology transactions, intellectual property, and negotiations. He is also a professor at Columbia Law School, where he teaches a class he created on new and emerging technologies, including AI, autonomous vehicles, NFTs, the metaverse, blockchain, and smart contracts. In addition to working with new and emerging technologies, he frequently advises clients on commercial transactions and intellectual property issues of all types, including in the sports, communications, gaming, media, pharmaceutical, fashion, publishing, music, and education industries.