New York – March 17, 2026 – Greenspoon Marder is pleased to announce that partner James Wolff has co-authored a pioneering artificial intelligence governance framework recently passed by the Berkeley City Council. Known as “The Berkeley Rule,” the legislation establishes a first-of-its-kind ethical deployment and oversight protocol for AI within municipal government.
As cities across the country grapple with the rapid integration of generative AI, The Berkeley Rule provides 10 essential guidelines to ensure technology serves the public interest. The framework focuses on modernizing city services, ensuring transparency, and safeguarding democratic participation, while streamlining operations to address critical issues such as affordable housing and infrastructure safety.
“AI is reshaping how governments operate, and it’s essential that these tools reflect our shared values,” said Mr. Wolff. “The Berkeley Rule helps ensure AI enhances civic services responsibly and reduces administrative burdens while preserving ethics, transparency, and human oversight.”
The legislation was developed in collaboration with Berkeley vice-mayor Ben Bartlett and has already garnered significant interest from major technology companies and academic institutions.
Mr. Wolff focuses his practice on handling complex corporate and technology-driven transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, venture and growth financings, securities, corporate governance, and commercial contracting. Drawing on his background as a founder, he brings a unique entrepreneurial perspective to counseling clients operating in high-innovation sectors such as artificial intelligence, fintech, medtech, aerospace, and emerging technologies. Over the course of his career, he has co-founded and contributed to numerous startup companies in emerging technology sectors, giving him firsthand insight into the legal and strategic challenges faced at every stage of growth.
Greenspoon Marder’s Innovation & Technology Practice advises entrepreneurs, founders, investors, and high‑growth companies on building, funding, and protecting the technologies shaping tomorrow’s economy. With deep experience across major innovation hubs, the team provides full lifecycle counsel from formation and venture financings to complex M&A, regulatory strategy, and technology‑driven commercial agreements.