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    Home /  Lawyers /  Nader A. Mousavi

    Nader A. Mousavi

    Partner

    Nader A. Mousavi Headshot Photo Portrait backdrop

    Palo Alto

    +1-650-461-5600

    New York

    +1-212-558-4000

    |

    mousavin@sullcrom.com

    Email vCard

    Recognized as a 2024 “Dealmaker of the Year” by The American Lawyer, the 2023 “Attorney of the Year” by The Recorder and as a Band 1 practitioner by Chambers USA, Nader is widely considered one of the top technology deal lawyers in the world and one of the leading advisors in the field of artificial intelligence.

    For more than 25 years, Nader has served as a strategic advisor to clients at the forefront of major breakthroughs in technology and human health. Recently, Nader led the representation of OpenAI in its groundbreaking partnership with Microsoft, as well as OpenAI’s strategic partnerships with Apple, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure and CoreWeave. He has advised clients on major AI compute transactions with Amazon/AWS, Google/GCP, Microsoft/Azure and Oracle/OCI, and advises clients across a wide range of industries on the adoption, implementation and governance of AI. He advised the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on the formation of the Broad Institute, and UCLA on the formation of the California Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy (CIII).

    As Co-Head of Sullivan & Cromwell’s Intellectual Property and Technology Group and the Firm’s Artificial Intelligence Practice, Nader brings extensive experience guiding industry leaders, innovators and investors on transformative transactions driven by technology and intellectual property, including collaborations, joint ventures, acquisitions, divestitures, licenses, strategic supply and settlements.

    He has been a Lecturer in Law at Stanford Law School since 2016, where he teaches a popular course on the Business and Law of Technology and Patent Licensing. Nader serves on the Advisory Council of the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI (HAI), the world’s leading institute for the advancement of AI research, education, policy and practice. He also serves on the Board of Visitors for Stanford Law School, and is a recipient of the Governors’ Award for outstanding service to Stanford University. Earlier in his career, he served as the general counsel of a fast-growth company through its acquisition. During his undergraduate studies at UCLA, Nader studied abroad at the University of Bologna for a full academic year. 

    Selected Client Quotes

    “He has tremendous attention to detail, great judgment and is very creative.” (Chambers USA, 2024)

    “He is a brilliant mind who is understated and able to make his points without ruffling the feathers.” (Chambers USA, 2023)

    “Nader Mousavi is extremely intelligent and very pragmatic. Nothing gets by him.” (Chambers USA, 2023)

    “Nader Mousavi stands out as a creative problem solver who never falters under pressure. He is hands on, honest, transparent, and able to assess risks and opportunities in their entirety to get client-driven deals done.” (IAM Patent 1000, 2023)

    “Nader takes ownership of the toughest problems and challenges; he quickly perceives core issues and deal roadblocks and drives toward solutions that are advantageous and proportionate.” (Chambers USA, 2022)

    “Nader Mousavi is the complete package … he is technically fluent, substantively knowledgeable, strategically creative, commercially focused and calm under pressure. He is in his element handling enormous deals that alter industry landscapes – something he does daily.” (IAM Global Leaders, 2020)

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    Spotlight

    Nader Mousavi Named to IAM Patent 1000

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    awards_483-x-180_gold2

    Six S&C Partners Named to Lawdragon’s ‘500 Leading Global Cyber Lawyers’ List for 2025

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    Nader Mousavi Lectures for Stanford Law AI Governance Online Program

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    S&C Advises Symbotic in Acquisition of Walmart’s Advanced Systems and Robotics Business

    Read More

    S&C Advises Foxconn Interconnect Technology Limited in the Establishment of Smart Mobility SJSC, a New US$100 Million Joint Venture in Saudi Arabia

    Read More
    • Experience
    • Rankings and Recognitions
    • News
    • Publications, Videos and Podcasts
    • Credentials
    • Related Practices
    Experience

    Experience

    Nader has deep and diverse experience across industries, including in:

    Technology. Nader has advised on high-stakes technology transactions for a wide range of clients, including ASML, AT&T, BlackBerry, Broadcom, Character.AI, CPPIB, CuspAI, Dolby, Fiserv, Intel, Lumus, OpenAI, Silver Lake Partners, Symbotic, Waymo and World Labs (founded by Dr. Fei-Fei Li), among many others. He has advised clients on strategic transactions opposite most major technology companies including Amazon/AWS, AMD, Apple, Google/GCP, Meta, Micron, Microsoft/Azure, Nvidia, Oracle, Samsung and TSMC. He advised Broadcom on its agreement to supply Apple with an estimated $15 billion of wireless components, ASML in its global settlements with Nikon, and Intel in its divestiture of its 5G modem business to Apple. Nader also has extensive experience in patent licensing, including in the context of cross-licenses and settlements. 

    Life Sciences. Nader has advised biotech companies in significant collaborations with pharmaceutical partners (including Myovant’s collaboration with Pfizer, Biohaven’s collaboration with Pfizer, and Verily’s joint venture with Santen Pharmaceutical); leading academic institutions (including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the formation of the Broad Institute, and UCLA in the establishment of the California Institute for Immunology); sellers (including Biohaven in its $11.6 billion sale to Pfizer, Idenix in its $3.8 billion sale to Merck, Kite in its $11.9 billion sale to Gilead, Pharmasset in its $11 billion sale to Gilead, and Stemcentrx in its $9.8 billion sale to AbbVie); and acquirers (including Amgen in its acquisitions of Horizon and Onyx, as well as in its $13.4 billion acquisition of Otezla™).

    Consumer. Nader has advised leading consumer and luxury brands on strategic transactions, including AB InBev (in its acquisition of Grupo Modelo and divestiture of U.S. rights to Corona and other brands), Colgin Cellars (in its strategic investment from LVMH), Major League Baseball (in its creation of a streaming joint venture with Disney), and Shafer Vineyards (in its sale to Starfield Properties). Nader also represented McCartney Productions, in an agreement with Hewlett Packard to create a private cloud for the music library of Sir Paul McCartney.

    Financial Services. Nader has advised many of the leading financial institutions on strategic transactions and AI adoption and governance, including Ally, American Express, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Chase and Wells Fargo. He also serves as lead AI counsel to the Bank Policy Institute, the leading policy organization for major banks.

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    Rankings and Recognitions

    Rankings and Recognitions

    • The American Lawyer – named Dealmaker of the Year (2024)
    • Chambers USA – ranked Band 1 in Technology Transactions: California (2012–2022)
    • Chambers USA – ranked in Technology: Nationwide (2012–2022)
    • The Recorder’s California Legal Awards – named Attorney of the Year (2023)
    • Intellectual Asset Management – named to the Patent 1000 (2012–2023)
    • Intellectual Asset Management – named to the Strategy 300 (2012–2021, 2023)

    • Managing Intellectual Property – named a “Patent Star” (2014–2021)
    • Managing Intellectual Property – named a “Transactions Star” (2014–2021)
    • Intellectual Asset Management – named a “Global Leader” (2020)
    • Euromoney’s Benchmark Litigation – Banking, Finance and Transactional Law Expert Guide (2018)
    • Law360 – Named an “MVP” (2018, 2023)
    • IFLR1000 – recognized as a notable practitioner in M&A (2018–2021)
    • Best Lawyers – recognized in Information Technology Law (2018)
    • Best Lawyers – recognized in Privacy and Data Security Law (2018)
    • Southern California Super Lawyers – recognized in Technology Transactions and Intellectual Property (2017–2021)
    • National Law Journal – named an “Intellectual Property Trailblazer” (2017, 2023)
    • Legal 500 U.S. – recognized for Intellectual Property (2014)
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    News

    News

    • Nader Mousavi Lectures for Stanford Law AI Governance Online Program

      February 25, 2025
    • S&C Advises Symbotic in Acquisition of Walmart’s Advanced Systems and Robotics Business

      January 23, 2025
    • S&C Advises Upbound in $460 Million Acquisition of Brigit

      December 16, 2024
    • S&C Advises Foxconn Interconnect Technology Limited in the Establishment of Smart Mobility SJSC, a New US$100 Million Joint Venture in Saudi Arabia

      October 29, 2024
    • S&C Advises AXA in Exclusive Negotiation to Sell AXA Investment Managers to BNP Paribas for €5.4 Billion

      August 1, 2024
    • S&C Advises American Express in its Acquisition of Tock

      July 12, 2024
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    Publications, Videos and Podcasts

    Publications, Videos and Podcasts

    • Key Considerations for Boards in AI Governance

      Podcasts August 28, 2024
    • Garrard Beeney and Nader Mousavi Discuss S&C’s IP Practice with IAM

      Articles December 22, 2022
    • S&C Lawyers Author IAM Article on NFTs

      Articles March 1, 2022
    • The California Consumer Privacy Act

      Podcasts January 7, 2020
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    Credentials

    Credentials

    Education

    • Stanford Law School, J.D., 1997
    • University of California, Los Angeles, B.A., 1993

    Bar Admissions

    • New York
    • Massachusetts
    • California

    Languages

    • Italian
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    Related Practices

    Related Practices

    • General Practice
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Cybersecurity
    • Digital Assets
    • Energy Transition
    • Fintech
    • Healthcare & Life Sciences
    • Intellectual Property & Technology Transactions
    • Media & Telecommunications
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Privacy
    • Technology
    • Trade Secrets
    • Venture Capital & Emerging Growth Companies
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