MacKinzie M. Neal

MacKinzie Neal advises on matters involving technology transactions, intellectual property protection and ownership, and privacy and cybersecurity. She frequently works on general commercial agreements in the technology sector with a focus in fintech transactions spaces. Ms. Neal also has significant experience advising on matters relating to artificial intelligence (AI), digital assets and blockchain technology.

Ms. Neal has co-authored numerous articles regarding AI, blockchain technology and intellectual property, including “Musicians Using AI Have a Long Road Ahead With Royalties,” which was among Law360’s Top Guest Articles of 2023 for AI in IP law. Ms. Neal also has spoken at conferences and presented CLE courses regarding legal issues around AI and blockchain technology.

Ms. Neal also has an active pro bono practice, advising nonprofit organizations on a variety of matters related to intellectual property and technology.

Her representations include:

• Altice International S.à r.l. in the $1 billion sale of Teads S.A. to Outbrain Inc.
• Centene Corporation in numerous transactions
• Diem Association in a variety of technology, privacy and corporate matters in connection with the development of cryptocurrency based on the Diem Blockchain
• Downtown Music Holdings LLC in its $775 million acquisition by Virgin Music Group
• Hillenbrand in its acquisition of the Schenck Process Food and Performance Materials business, a portfolio company of Blackstone, for $730 million
• Intel Corporation in (i) the IPO of its self-driving car unit, Mobileye, (ii) its now-terminated $5.4 billion acquisition of Tower Semiconductor and (iii) $11 billion joint venture with Apollo involving Intel’s Fab 34 semiconductor manufacturing facility in Leixlip, Ireland
• Nokia Corporation in its $2.3 billion acquisition of Infinera Corporation
• Protocol Labs, a developer of Web3 protocols, in various technology and compliance matters
• Scopely, Inc. in its (i) $3.5 billion acquisition of the games business of Niantic, Inc. (ii) $4.9 billion acquisition by Savvy Games Group and (iii) $1 billion acquisition of GSN Games, Inc. from Sony Pictures Entertainment
• Shopify in the sale of its logistics and robotics business to Flexport, Inc.
• Spotify in various acquisitions, including its acquisitions of Sonantic, an AI voice platform, and Podz, a podcast discovery platform that leverages machine learning technology
• Stanley Black & Decker in the $760 million sale of its attachments and handheld hydraulic tools business to Epiroc AB
• Stoner Cats 2, LLC in connection with a non-fungible token (NFT) project
• TRM Labs, Inc., a blockchain intelligence startup, in connection with corporate and privacy matters in its contracts with customers
• Web3Cloud in its $1.25 billion merger with Social Leverage Acquisition Corp.
• Walmart in various technology matters, including its licensing and procurement deal with Symbiotic Inc., Knapp AG and Fox Robotics Inc.