Akin has added Neil DuChez as a corporate partner in New York, bringing dedicated U.S.-based technology transactions capabilities to the firm’s corporate practice as artificial intelligence, data, software, and other technology considerations become increasingly important in mergers, investments, and commercial transactions.
DuChez rejoins Akin after most recently serving as Vice President and Senior Legal Director in Goldman Sachs’ Technology Legal group.
At Goldman Sachs, DuChez led negotiations and execution involving complex global technology, product, partnership, and services agreements.
He also advised the financial institution’s business divisions on technology, artificial intelligence, data, and intellectual property matters.
His practice at Akin will focus on complex technology and commercial transactions.
These include strategic partnerships, joint development agreements, outsourcing arrangements, software-as-a-service agreements, software licenses, cloud services, AI and data analytics products, data and content licensing, payment technologies, and other business-critical technology products and services.
DuChez will also advise clients on the technology, intellectual property, data, and transition services components of acquisitions, divestitures, and other strategic transactions.
Those areas are becoming increasingly relevant as technology assets and data rights play larger roles in determining transaction value and risk.
Companies acquiring or investing in businesses may need to evaluate ownership of intellectual property, software licensing obligations, access to datasets, cybersecurity risks, third-party technology dependencies, AI usage, and the ability to transfer or continue technology services after a deal closes.
Akin’s expansion in technology transactions is intended to integrate those issues more closely with the firm’s broader M&A, financing, investment, and corporate advisory work.
The firm said technology considerations have shifted from being a separate specialty workstream to becoming central components of major corporate transactions.
DuChez’s experience working inside Goldman Sachs also gives him a client-side perspective on negotiating large-scale commercial technology agreements and managing legal issues involving complex financial and technology organizations.
His return continues Akin’s broader investment in technology, data, cybersecurity, and privacy capabilities.
The firm recently added Evan Wolff as co-head of its Cybersecurity, Privacy & Data Protection practice and Natasha Ahmed as a technology transactions partner.
Together, those hires broaden Akin’s ability to advise companies and investment firms on issues spanning cybersecurity, privacy, AI, technology licensing, corporate transactions, and commercial agreements.
Akin’s corporate practice includes more than 300 transactional lawyers operating across major financial centers on three continents.
The practice advises private equity firms, private credit investors, infrastructure funds, sovereign wealth funds, public and private companies, boards, and family offices.
Its work spans mergers and acquisitions, special situations, equity and debt investments, financing transactions, capital markets, energy and infrastructure projects, and corporate governance.
The firm has more than 1,100 lawyers across offices in the United States, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
DuChez’s return gives the corporate team additional specialization at a time when technology agreements increasingly affect deal structure, valuation, due diligence, post-closing integration, and long-term operating risk.
The appointment also reflects the broader convergence between conventional corporate law and technology law as AI and data become embedded across industries rather than confined to technology companies.
KEY QUOTES:
“Technology, data and AI issues now sit at the center of our clients’ most important transactions, from M&A and strategic investments to commercial partnerships, outsourcing arrangements and other complex business initiatives. Clients need counsel who can seamlessly integrate technology, intellectual property, data and commercial considerations into broader transactional advice, and Neil’s experience strengthens our ability to meet that demand.”
Abid Qureshi, Co-Chair Of Akin
“Technology considerations are no longer a separate workstream in major transactions. They are often among the most important factors driving risk, value and execution. Neil’s experience advising on technology-enabled transactions, strategic partnerships and complex commercial arrangements enhances an important capability to our platform.”
Zachary Wittenberg, Corporate Practice Co-Head At Akin
“I’m thrilled to return to Akin. Few firms combine Akin’s transactional depth, industry knowledge and collaborative culture. Those qualities drew me back to the firm and position Akin to help clients navigate the technology, data and intellectual property issues that are central to many of their most important transactions.”
Neil DuChez, Corporate Partner At Akin
