New courses in biotechnology and corporate strategy deepen the world’s first LL.M. program focused on AI law and regulation
Berkeley, CA – October 31, 2025 – One year after launching the world’s first LL.M. Certificate in AI Law and Regulation, the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law is expanding the program’s curriculum and highlighting the growing impact of its graduates across industries and continents.
“Berkeley Law has always stood for excellence, community, and public mission,” said Dean Erwin Chemerinsky. “Our AI Law and Regulation program reflects those values. It’s been immensely popular, and we’re proud to see how students from around the world are finding such value in it as we expand our offerings.”
New courses in biotechnology, business, and entrepreneurship reflect how artificial intelligence is transforming every major sector. The additions deepen the program’s focus on the real-world governance challenges that come with rapid innovation.
“Artificial intelligence is reshaping nearly every area of human activity, from the courtroom to the marketplace,” said Professor Colleen V. Chien, who teaches The Law and Governance of Artificial Intelligence and is a faculty co-director at the Berkeley Center for Law & Technology (BCLT). “At Berkeley Law, we’re preparing lawyers to engage with these changes thoughtfully and rigorously — understanding both the promise of innovation and the need to safeguard rights, equity, and accountability in how these systems are designed and governed.”
“Today’s lawyers need to integrate technology into their practice, not just understand it in theory,” said Professor Chris Jay Hoofnagle, who teaches Cybersecurity in Context: Technology, Policy, and Law, and also serves as a BCLT faculty co-director. “Learning to think like a lawyer in the age of AI means using machine learning, computer vision, and other digital tools ethically and effectively to investigate, analyze, and advocate. It’s about building the fluency and confidence to navigate a profession that’s being transformed by technology.”
New Courses Explore AI’s Expanding Frontiers
Biotechnology Law — Taught by Matt Show and Amanda Casale
This course probes the evolving intersection of artificial intelligence and biotechnology law, focusing on the legal, regulatory, and ethical challenges posed by AI-driven innovation in the life sciences. Topics include the complexities of patenting AI-assisted inventions, compliance with data privacy laws such as HIPAA and GDPR, and algorithmic accountability in medical diagnostics and drug development. Students also examine broader societal concerns, including algorithmic bias and the ethical boundaries of AI-enabled genetic engineering.
Corporate Strategy in the Age of AI and Geopolitics — Taught by Angeli Patel
This course examines how artificial intelligence is reshaping corporate strategy in an era of geopolitical rivalry, market hype, and regulatory uncertainty. It focuses on how CEOs, chief legal officers, and boards respond to AI’s disruptive potential while navigating innovation, competition, and legal risk. Drawing from corporate governance, antitrust, and M&A, students analyze real-time developments in the AI race — from export bans and high-stakes partnerships to boardroom crises. Guest speakers from leading AI companies and policy experts add insight into how law, business strategy, and geopolitics intersect in practice.
From Classroom to Global Practice
Since the certificate’s August 2024 debut, participants have come from more than 40 countries, and a growing number of U.S. J.D.s have joined to broaden their expertise. Graduates are now advising tech firms, governments, and NGOs on responsible AI policy.
“I often tell young lawyers to never stop learning, so I took my own advice,” said Graham H. Ryan, partner at Jones Walker LLP and part of the inaugural class of Berkeley Law’s LL.M. (Master of Laws) in AI Law & Regulation. “Being part of the first cohort has been a deep dive into how AI is transforming business, law, and society. The experience has already strengthened how I approach complex problems at the intersection of law and technology.”
“Growth is usually found on the other side of the unknown,” said Otilia Phiri, Microsoft’s head of legal affairs for Egypt, Nigeria & Morocco, currently based in Kenya. “Being taught by powerhouse faculty who are working at the cutting edge of these issues was nothing short of amazing. And being part of a global cohort of lawyers and technologists has been such a gift! I’ve learned as much from my classmates as from the coursework itself.”
“Studying on campus and connecting with classmates from around the world was an incredible experience,” said Janina Winz, associate partner at Kapellmann und Partner Rechtsanwalte in Dusseldorf, via email. “We dove into some of the most pressing legal issues around AI, from regulation and privacy to intellectual property, cybersecurity, and liability. The focus was not only on innovation but also on how to responsibly address the legal, ethical, and societal risks these technologies create. It was challenging, energizing, and deeply rewarding. Go Bears! 🐻💛💙”
About the Program
The AI Law and Regulation Certificate, part of Berkeley Law’s LL.M. executive track, can be completed online with a summer in residence or over two summers in Berkeley. Courses cover privacy, intellectual property, algorithmic bias, and regulatory frameworks such as the EU AI Act.
UC Berkeley Law continues to lead in defining how the legal profession responds to artificial intelligence — ensuring that innovation serves the public good.
The application is open now: Application & Admission – UC Berkeley Law
Learn more: LL.M. Executive Track AI Law and Regulation Certificate
Media Contact:
Tove Sharp
Director of Media Relations
Berkeley Law
tovesharp@berkeley.edu