Lee J. Tiedrich, JD, possesses a passion for and genuine interest in her work—the roots of her success. She works to ensure that society recognizes and embraces the potential and promise of artificial intelligence technologies, leveraging advances in the space to promote social welfare, global security, and economic prosperity. As the co-lead of the Artificial Intelligence and Climate Committee and co-chair of the Intellectual Property Committee with the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence, Ms. Tiedrich serves as an OECD expert and provides invaluable assistance in addressing legal and policy considerations related to the utilization of artificial intelligence.
Dealing with issues including data responsibility and regulatory compliance, Ms. Tiedrich consults with government agencies across the globe to offer insights on how to align legal frameworks with scientific advancements. Using her deep knowledge of her field, she facilitates the translation of principles into practical implementation, specializing in handling niche and intricate issues, including responsible data scraping. Ms. Tiedrich manages open-source considerations in the artificial intelligence ecosystem with the goal of mitigating cybersecurity risk, assisting companies in navigating data licenses, and ensuring data-sharing arrangements. She also serves as a negotiator, securing deals and structuring investments to address complex supply chain challenges.
Alongside her primary role with the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence, Ms. Tiedrich serves as a distinguished faculty fellow in law and responsible technology at Duke University, where she is also an executive in residence and artificial intelligence health. Further, she is a sought-after speaker and expert in her field, consistently participating in speaking engagements across diverse platforms and spreading her research findings to audiences worldwide. Her audiences include many high-ranking professionals and industry leaders, including government leaders, regulators, and academics. Always striving to help create mutually beneficial outcomes for everyone involved, Ms. Tiedrich recognizes that artificial intelligence technology is already transforming the way organizations work in both the private and public sectors. She notes that the educational sector has experienced significant transformation due to the implementation and use of large language models such as ChatGPT. For her unparalleled expertise and confidence at the forefront of this technological revolution, Ms. Tiedrich was listed among Duke University’s Women Innovators in 2022 and was named in The 10 Most Visionary Women in AI Creating Global Impact by CIO Business World in 2024. As an early adopter and proponent of artificial intelligence, she authored “10 Best Practices For Due Diligence in AI Transactions” with Law360 in 2018.
With more than three decades of professional experience, Ms. Tiedrich has participated in multiple technological revolutions throughout her career. She began her professional journey at Covington & Burling LLP, where she contributed to the development of cellular technology and the early Internet. Her role involved navigating the risk that technological advancements inevitably bring and ensuring the safe introduction of new technologies to the market. Ms. Tiedrich has specific expertise in both law and engineering, and a large part of her success has involved bridging the two disciplines through her work. Standing out as a trailblazer for women in the historically male-dominated sector of technology, she takes pride in being married and raising two children while maintaining a demanding career. Her dedication to diversity and inclusivity has also been a long-standing part of her impact. She served on the leadership council for the Women’s Impact Network at Duke University and was a member of the Dean’s Council for Penn Law Women at her alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania. Ms. Tiedrich founded the Women’s Forum at Covington & Burling LLP and served on the board of the Center for WorkLife Law at the University of California, Hastings.
To stay active and informed in her field, Ms. Tiedrich sits on the board of directors of the Montreal International Center of Expertise in Artificial Intelligence, known as CEIMIA. She also serves on the editorial board of the Journal for AI Regulation. Holding a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from Duke University and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Pennsylvania’s Carey Law School, she was admitted to practice law by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Moving forward, Ms. Tiedrich plans to pursue specialized consulting endeavors focused on paving the way for the development of responsible technology approaches for various organizations. Her strong personal brand, reflecting her considerable and hard-earned expertise, is poised to stand independently.