Wim Nauwelaerts, Heather Kuhn, Kate Whitesell
Session Time: Wed, Nov 4, 2026: 02:30 PM – 03:30 PM
The next generation of AI counsel will not be defined by the ability to say “no” to risky ideas, but by the ability to help the business understand how to move forward responsibly. This session will offer a practical playbook for legal, privacy, cybersecurity, and governance professionals who want to become trusted advisors in AI adoption. The discussion will cover how to advise on AI use cases in a way that is legally grounded, commercially realistic, and operationally actionable. Panelists will explore how to develop risk-tiering models, governance playbooks, approval workflows, procurement checklists, employee-use rules, contracting positions, DPIA or impact assessment triggers, incident response protocols, and executive reporting. The session will also examine how counsel can build credibility with business and technology teams by offering clear options, explaining trade-offs, and avoiding overly theoretical advice. The core message is that effective AI counsel should not merely identify risk; they should help design the conditions under which AI can be deployed, scaled, and trusted.
Wim Nauwelaerts, Partner, Alston & Bird
Heather Kuhn, Legal Counsel Director – Data Protection, Arrow Electronics
Kate Whitesell, Privacy Counsel, Fortive Corporation
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