Flaster Greenberg is excited to welcome Shareholder Peter T. Wakiyama as a member of the firm’s Intellectual Property Department and as leader of our Artificial Intelligence, Privacy, and Cybersecurity Practice Group.
Wakiyama, a renowned intellectual property attorney, is at the forefront of his practice area with nearly 30 years of experience advising clients in all areas of intellectual property, technology transactions, privacy, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI). He regularly counsels clients on a wide range of AI topics, including the development, adoption, and use of AI tools, emerging AI intellectual property and licensing issues, and transactions that involve AI intellectual property and data assets used to train AI models.
Wakiyama’s extensive tech background bolsters his practice and enhances his ability to provide a holistic and practical legal perspective to his clients’ needs. He has experience as a hands-on technologist in the federal government contracting and private sectors, and working with emerging technologies, entrepreneurs, inventors, and other technology industry professionals. He regularly advises clients on a broad range of intellectual property and technology legal matters including trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and patents.
Wakiyama’s experience spans across all major sectors for domestic and international clients, including software, devices, e-commerce, IT services, retail, financial services/fintech, telecommunications, entertainment, health care/digital health, real estate, manufacturing, food and beverage, education, hospitality, and social media.
Concurrent with the addition of Wakiyama, Flaster Greenberg is excited to announce the expansion of its Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and Data Privacy Practice Group. The Group’s goal is to help clients navigate the complex legal and regulatory landscape surrounding emerging technologies. Comprising a multidisciplinary team of attorneys with deep expertise in emerging technologies, data protection, and intellectual property, the group will advise businesses on risk management, regulatory compliance, and responsible AI deployment.
Wakiyama, who will work in the firm’s Conshohocken and Philadelphia offices, is a recognized authority on intellectual property, especially artificial intelligence, technology, and data privacy and security.
“I can say confidently that there’s no one better suited to lead our AI, Cybersecurity, and Data Privacy Practice Group and strengthen our already formidable IP Department,” said Jordan LaVine, Co-Managing Shareholder of Flaster Greenberg. “I’ve had the privilege of knowing Peter both professionally and personally for nearly 20 years. He is the legal authority on a wide range of AI-related matters. In addition, he’s committed to client service and has deep legal expertise, strategic insight, and unwavering integrity. These attributes make him an invaluable addition to our team as we expand our capabilities in these rapidly evolving areas.”
When asked why he joined Flaster Greenberg, Wakiyama said, “After spending a few decades with large law firms, I was looking for a change in the form of a mid-sized firm that embodies entrepreneurial, streamlined and value-driven business legal services with a national and international clientele, a robust IP practice, and a forward-thinking vision of how it will evolve to embrace and help its clients embrace new technologies and a changing legal landscape. I was also looking for a firm where I could be impactful immediately and, over the long term, make significant contributions to strategic objectives and growth areas. It was also important to me to find a firm with a close-knit team of attorneys and well-coordinated and integrated business, operations and administrative teams. Flaster Greenberg met all of these requirements and more. I will also add that my positive personal and professional relationships with a few current and former attorneys at the firm, including co-managing shareholder Jordan LaVine, were important factors.”
Wakiyama is a frequent author and sought-after lecturer and trainer who provides programming for clients as well as major universities. Admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, Wakiyama received his J.D. from Temple University Beasley School of Law and his B.A. from La Salle University. Wakiyama is also an active member of the iTech Law Association and the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Pennsylvania.
Prior to Flaster Greenberg, Wakiyama spent more than a decade at WolfBlock (one of the largest law firms in Philadelphia before its dissolution) and more than 15 years combined as a partner at Pepper Hamilton, Troutman Pepper, and most recently at Troutman Pepper Locke, one of the largest law firms in the U.S.
About Flaster Greenberg
Flaster Greenberg, a midsize business law firm with offices throughout the Mid-Atlantic and in Florida, has been providing legal services to publicly traded corporations, privately held and family owned businesses, entrepreneurs, and individuals for more than 50 years. Flaster Greenberg serves a broad range of clients in dozens of industries and practice areas including artificial intelligence, aviation law, bankruptcy, business & corporate, cannabis, commercial litigation, environmental, family law, healthcare, insurance recovery, intellectual property, labor and employment, privacy and cybersecurity, real estate, taxation, transportation, and trusts and estates.
