Don Shelkey is the global leader of the firm’s technology transactions, outsourcing, and commercial contracts (TOC) practice. Don represents clients across a wide array of complex and strategic transactions involving intellectual property, technology, and other commercial matters. Don regularly negotiates deals that focus on artificial intelligence (AI), data rights, assets, software as a service (SaaS), cloud computing, data acquisition and services, enterprise resource planning (ERP), blockchain, software licensing and development, social media, sponsorships, and strategic joint ventures and business collaborations. He advises on AI-related issues, including AI policy creation, contract negotiation, issue spotting, representations and warranties–related issues, and AI-related diligence support.
Don applies his skillset across a variety of industries, with a particular focus on emerging technologies, ecommerce, sports, esports, electronics entertainment, retail, consumer goods, and digital health sectors.
Don is also a frequent speaker and thought leader on legal issues surrounding emerging technologies. His most recent speaking engagements were focused on blockchain technologies, including the rise and collapse of the NFT bubble, and legal issues involved with AI.
Recommended, Industry Focus: Sport, The Legal 500 US (2024)
Ranked, Technology, Massachusetts, Chambers USA (2022–2024)
Member, Practice Group of the Year, Intellectual Property, Law360 (2019)
Leading Lawyer, Media, technology and telecoms: Technology transactions, The Legal 500 US (2024)
Next Generation Partner, Media, technology and telecoms: Technology transactions, The Legal 500 US (2018–2023)
Recommended, Media, technology and telecoms: Outsourcing, The Legal 500 US (2020, 2023, 2024)
Recommended, M&A/corporate and commercial: Commercial, The Legal 500 US (2018)
Next Generation Lawyer, Media, technology and telecoms - Outsourcing, The Legal 500 US (2017)