Georgetown Law Launches New Institute for Technology Law and Policy

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Building on its growing expertise in the field, Georgetown Law today announced the launch of the Georgetown Institute for Technology Law and Policy. The Institute will be led by Alexandra Reeve Givens, who most recently served as chief counsel for IP and Antitrust on the Senate Judiciary Committee, working for senior Democrat Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt)(L’64).

"As technology transforms the law, the economy, government, and every aspect of daily life, Georgetown Law is uniquely positioned to advance the conversation on technology law and public policy,” said Georgetown Law Dean William M. Treanor. “Leveraging our presence in Washington, D.C., and the deep expertise of our full-time and adjunct faculty, the Institute will provide an important forum for the thought leaders and lawmakers shaping technology policy today.”

The Institute will convene conferences and workshops on new and emerging technology issues and create opportunities for law students to gain deep exposure in the field. The Institute will soon begin a Technology Law & Policy Scholars program for students to gain immersive experience in technology policy. The Institute will also launch the Georgetown Technology Review this fall.

“Now is an essential time for nuanced, thoughtful conversation about how policymakers should respond to the opportunities and challenges created by new technologies,” said Givens. “I am thrilled to help lead this effort at Georgetown Law.”

The Institute is the latest of a number of recent Georgetown Law initiatives focused on the impact of technology. Georgetown’s Center on Privacy and Technology, launched in 2014, recently released a groundbreaking report on the use of facial recognition by law enforcement nationwide. The Communications and Technology clinic, part of Georgetown’s long-standing Institute for Public Representation, recently filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission relating to police use of a “stingray” device to intercept cell phone calls. Georgetown Law is also home to a stellar Center on National Security and the Law, sponsoring events related to technology and cybersecurity.

The new Institute for Technology Law and Policy will bolster Georgetown Law’s curricular offerings, which include more than 50 courses such as Coding for Lawyers, classes on cybersecurity and intellectual property, and a privacy law and technology practicum that pairs Georgetown Law students with engineering students from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Georgetown’s Iron Tech Lawyer Competition trains students to use technology as a tool to help users navigate the justice system or apply for legal aid. 

“Training lawyers who are proficient in technology law and policy has become a top priority of Georgetown Law,” Treanor said.

“Our students come to D.C. to get a front-row seat witnessing the highest levels of policymaking,” Givens said. “I look forward to sharing that experience with students in the fast-evolving world of technology policy.” 

In her role with the Senate Judiciary Committee, Givens advised Senator Leahy and developed legislative strategy on matters including patent reform, federal trade secrets legislation, net neutrality, First Amendment issues surrounding online speech, access to medicines, and oversight of mergers and antitrust policy. She previously served as a litigator at Cravath, Swaine & Moore in New York City. 

The Institute can be found online at: www.law.georgetown.edu/go/tech-institute.

For more information, please contact mediarelations@law.georgetown.edu.