Practice areas: Technology Transactions, Intellectual Property
Licensed in New York since: 2004
Education: Yale Law School
LK Law Firm
115 Myrtle AveFloor 7
Brooklyn, NY 11201 Phone: 347-527-1074 Email: Lena Kempe Visit website
Lena Kempe is an AI, IP, and Privacy attorney. As the founder of LK Law Firm—one of only two New York firms ranked in Chambers Spotlight 2026 New York for Privacy and recognized as a “go-to law firm for major companies”—Lena combines large-firm sophistication with the agility and personal attention of a boutique practice. Recognized as a Super Lawyer, she regularly advises multi-million-dollar and global companies on high-stakes technology transactions and complex legal matters involving AI, intellectual property, and data privacy.
Lena has over 20 years of experience spanning an Am Law 100 firm (Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton) and senior in-house counsel roles at a Fortune 500 company (Pitney Bowes) and a multibillion-dollar global corporation (Wolters Kluwer). She has also served as General Counsel for both a global e-commerce company (ModusLink) and a healthcare technology company (Buoy Health), advising executives and boards on complex legal and business strategies.
A graduate of Yale Law School, Lena has published extensively on AI, IP, and data privacy, including in the American Bar Association’s peer-reviewed Business Law Today and Bloomberg Law. She has also spoken widely on AI and privacy, including serving as a panelist on the American Bar Association’s AI panel, and teaching CLE programs for the ABA, Thomson Reuters, and the New York State and County Bar Associations.
Beyond her publications and speaking engagements, Lena maintains an AI-focused blog that offers practical insights and expert commentary on the evolving legal landscape surrounding AI and data privacy.
First Admitted: 2004, New York
Professional Webpage: https://www.lklawfirm.net/attorney-profile
Bar / Professional Activity
- American Bar Association AI & Robotic Committee Member; American Bar Association E-privacy Committee Member , 2025
- Asian American Bar Association of New York, 2025
- National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, 2025
- American Bar Association E-Privacy Committee Membe, 2025
Videos
- I guided the audience through protecting AI inventions beyond patents, maximizing their value through effective licensing, and addressing AI governance and data privacy challenges to ensure compliance and prevent potential government investigations, fines, and class action lawsuits., Webinar: From Development to Deployment – Patenting and Commercializing Artificial Intelligence Inventions, 2024
- The seminar, co-presented with Dorothy Du, Global Head of Legal at Motorola, covered: Actionable strategies for comprehensive AI governance Insights into cross-border compliance and managing geopolitical tensions Best practices for fostering transparency and ethical AI use, The AI Revolution: Are You Prepared to Govern It?, 2024
White Papers
- Employers with employees in California—no matter where the company is located—have disclosures to make about noncompete clauses based on a new California law., California’s Noncompete Law Has Immediate Effects for Business, 2024
- The FTC’s Inquiry Into Chatbots Signals Broader AI Crackdown, The FTC’s Inquiry Into Chatbots Signals Broader AI Crackdown, 2025
- Trump’s Order Can’t Stop Courts from Shaping AI Accountability, Trump’s Order Can’t Stop Courts from Shaping AI Accountability, 2026
- The European Union’s Artificial Intelligence Act and Colorado’s Artificial Intelligence Act mark the first-ever comprehensive AI laws in the EU and US. With actionable insights, companies developing or depolying AI systems in the US and EU markets can confidently navigate these high-risk AI requirements. Comparison of these laws can also provide a reference for legislators as they shape and respond to the AI legal landscape., Colorado and EU AI Laws Raise Several Risks for Tech Businesses, 2024
- In this Bloomberg Law piece, I take a different perspective on the 23andMe and data privacy discussion.It focuses on actionable compliance strategies for companies utilizing genetic data across sectors—such as pharmaceutical companies, direct-to-consumer genetic testing firms, healthcare providers, insurers, and AI developers. In the piece, I also propose that the Trump administration establish a consistent, nationwide regulatory framework to protect national interests., 23andMe Bankruptcy Puts Spotlight on Genetic Privacy Compliance, 2025
- The article discusses the urgent need for regulatory frameworks in the U.S. to manage AI safety risks, particularly after California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed a proposed AI safety bill. It highlights the potential dangers of unregulated AI, including malicious uses, AI race and organizational risks. The piece analyzes the EU AI Act, suggesting that the U.S. should adopt a balanced, flexible regulatory approach that promotes innovation while ensuring public safety. The article also discusses the compliance strategies for companies when they are faced with regulatory uncertainty., AI Needs Regulatory Guardrails in the US to Ensure Safe Use, 2024
- It discusses legal strategies to comply with the CCPA., What does the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) Mean for Your Business?, 2020
- Discover how new state data privacy laws, rising enforcement actions, and AI’s impact are reshaping the regulatory landscape in 2025. Learn strategies to navigate compliance, mitigate risks, and build trust in an increasingly privacy-conscious world., More State Data Laws Signal Companies to Act on AI and Privacy, 2025
- I explore SEC and FTC's stances on AI washing and provide comprehensive and practical steps for a company to follow to ensure compliance with SEC and FTC rules., How to avoid regulatory risk for “AI washing", 2024
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- Discussed AI-related data privacy, bias issues, and legal strategies., Panel Member, Spring CLE program hosted by the New York State Bar Association, New York State Bar Association, 2024
- The seminar, co-presented with Dorothy Du, Global Head of Legal at Motorola, covered: Actionable strategies for comprehensive AI governance Insights into cross-border compliance and managing geopolitical tensions Best practices for fostering transparency and ethical AI use, Co-speaker, The AI Revolution: Are You Prepared to Govern It?, Pioneer Series in the AI Industry, 2024
- Imagine shopping for Christmas gifts online without knowing that AI is tracking your facial expressions and eye movements in real time and guiding you towards more expensive items by prioritizing the display of similar high-priced items. Now picture a job candidate whose quiet demeanor is misinterpreted by an AI recruiter, resulting in the denial of his dream job. Emotional AI, a subset of an AI that “measures, understands, simulates, and reacts to human emotions,” is rapidly spreading. Used by at least 25 percent of Fortune 500 companies as of 2019, with the market size projected to reach $13.8 billion by 2032, this technology is turning our emotions into data points. This article examines the data privacy, manipulation, and bias risks of Emotional AI, analyzes relevant United States (“US”) and European Union (“EU”) legal frameworks, and proposes compliance strategies for companies., Author, The Price of Emotion: Privacy, Manipulation, and Bias in Emotional AI, American Bar Association, 2024
- The course reviewed: Current business applications of AI and machine learning across industries Key legal considerations, including data privacy, algorithmic bias, intellectual property, and liability Best practices for advising clients on legally compliant AI implementation and oversight Strategies for evaluating AI vendor arrangements and mitigating associated risks, Sole Speaker, Advising Business Clients on Their Use of AI, National Business Bureau, 2024
- I guided the audience through protecting AI inventions beyond patents, maximizing their value through effective licensing, and addressing AI governance and data privacy challenges to ensure compliance and prevent potential government investigations, fines, and class action lawsuits., Co-speaker, Protect Your AI Clients’ Innovations with a Comprehensive Legal Strategy, Thomson Reuters, 2024
- I guided the audience through protecting AI inventions beyond patents, maximizing their value through effective licensing, and addressing AI governance and data privacy challenges to ensure compliance and prevent potential government investigations, fines, and class action lawsuits., Co-speaker, From Development to Deployment – Patenting and Commercializing Artificial Intelligence Inventions, 2024
- With the rise in artificial intelligence class action lawsuits and government enforcement cases, staying updated on the legal issues surrounding AI is crucial to avoiding pitfalls. This program explores U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) enforcement cases, class action lawsuits, and the latest statutes applicable to AI. Attendees will learn actionable strategies to avoid AI washing claims, IP infringement and loss, and violations of data privacy laws., Sole Speaker, AI Gone Wrong: Avoiding Legal Landmines in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, LawLine, 2024
- This incisive legal course provided audience with an essential understanding of the necessity of AI audits and effective legal strategies to mitigate risks associated with AI implementation. It analyzed hypothetical scenarios and learn from the latest case law. , Sole Speaker, AI Risk Mitigation and Legal Strategies, National Business Institute, 2024
- The session explored: Why conducting an AI audit is essential to avoid AI washing claims Strategies for protecting intellectual property and preventing infringement Legal approaches to ensure compliance with data privacy laws and navigate emerging AI challenges, Sole Speaker, CLE webinar: AI Risk Mitigation and Legal Strategies, New York County Bar Association, 2024
- Imagine receiving a layoff notice because an AI evaluation tool predicted a higher risk of future underperformance due to your age. Or picture repeatedly having job applications rejected, only to find out the cause was an AI tool screening out candidates with a disability. These are just a few examples of real-world AI bias in the realm of hiring and employment, a growing issue that has already resulted in several notable lawsuits. How can companies effectively take advantage of AI in their employment practices while minimizing legal risks? This article discusses employment laws applicable to AI discrimination and provides practical strategies for companies to prevent potential government investigations, lawsuits, fines, class actions, or reputational damage., Author, Navigating the AI Employment Bias Maze: Legal Compliance Guidelines and Strategies, American Bar Association's peer-reviewed Business Law Today, 2024
Honors
- “A go-to firm for major companies” — Chambers and Partners (Privacy & Data Security, Spotlight 2026; one of only two NYC boutique firms ranked), Chambers Spotlight Ranking, https://chambers.com/law-firm/lk-law-firm-usa-spotlight-120:23778955, 2026
Industry Groups
- AdTech
- E-Commerce
- Financial Services
- Fintech
- Healthcare
- IT
- Publishing
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2025 - 2026