Mehdi Ansari

Mehdi Ansari is a partner at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP. He co-heads the Firm’s Intellectual Property and Technology Group and Artificial Intelligence Practice. His practice centers on transactions involving intellectual property, technology, mergers and acquisitions, licenses, settlements, joint ventures, complex commercial arrangements, digital infrastructure, and compute needs for business clients.

Mehdi earned his J.D. from UC Berkeley School of Law in 2008 and his B.S. from UC Berkeley in 2005. Before law school, he studied computer science, including neural networks and machine learning, giving him technical knowledge that supports work on software, patent, and technology transaction questions and related matters.

Mehdi has received several honors. Chambers USA ranked him Band 1 in 2025. Law360 named him MVP in Technology in 2024 and Rising Star in Sports & Betting in 2022. Other recognitions also include MergerLinks, IAM Patent 1000, The National Law Journal, The M&A Advisor, Global M&A Network, and IFLR.

Mehdi has advised Harmonic AI on model development and training, SumerSports on AI-driven products and services, Tesla on an AI hardware acquisition, and xAI on major corporate transactions. He also guides financial, sports, and insurance clients on generative AI policies, privacy risks, diligence, governance programs, oversight, and enterprise personnel use.

Mehdi’s transaction record includes technology, healthcare, life sciences, financial institutions, fintech, retail, consumer, sports, media, and entertainment matters. His work covers companies such as Intel, Amazon.com, Bayer, DraftKings, Discover, Major League Baseball, Volkswagen Group, UnitedHealth Group, Goldman Sachs, and other organizations listed in Sullivan & Cromwell’s published public experience profile.

Mehdi Ansari is a Lecturer in Law at Columbia Law School, where he teaches IP transactions, patent licensing, software licensing, and trademark licensing. He serves on JUST Capital’s board, New York City Bar groups, and Law360’s Intellectual Property editorial board, while contributing through professional legal publications, public speaking, and events.

Law Office Affiliations

• Partner, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
• Member, New York State Bar Association
• Member, The state bar of California

Licensed State

• New York
• California

Education

• UC Berkeley School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• UC Berkeley
  Bachelor of Science (BS)

Awards & Badges