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Scott A. McKinney
Partner
Technology Transactions
Washington, D.C.

D202-973-8872

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  • Broad Experience with Emerging Technologies

    Scott advises companies in a diverse range of emerging industries, including AI, robotics, autonomous vehicles, machine learning, e-gaming, digital payments, digital health, smart contracts, NFTs, the metaverse, Internet of Things, and other new technologies.

  • Artificial Intelligence

    Scott is one of the founding members and leaders of the firm’s cross-disciplinary AI group and has extensive experience counseling clients regarding the use, development, and deployment of artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies.

  • Represents Elite Tech Companies

    Scott has counseled leading technology innovators like Google, Anthropic, Twitter, Circle, and Reddit on complex transactional matters, including joint development, strategic alliance, joint venture, SaaS, and open source licensing and other commercial arrangements, and on corporate transactions such as mergers and acquisitions, IPOs, and financings.

  • Counselor to Start-Ups

    Scott acts as a day-to-day advisor to start-ups across all stages of their development, from inception through exit.

Scott McKinney is a partner in the Washington, D.C., office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, where he is a member of the firm's technology transactions practice. He represents companies of all sizes in complex commercial and technology transactions, and advises technology companies and their investors at all stages of company development, from pioneering start-ups to leading global enterprises. 

Scott focuses his practice on frontier technologies, and is a founder and leader of the firm’s cross-practice artificial intelligence and machine learning advisory group. In addition to AI, Scott advises technology innovators in other emerging fields such as blockchain, fintech and DeFi, automated vehicles, robotics, and smart contracts, and he is a nationally recognized speaker on those topics. He is also a subject matter specialist in the area of open source software licensing, advising a variety of companies on open source software compliance and usage. 

Scott is a professor at Georgetown Law and teaches a class that he developed on artificial intelligence, technology transactions, intellectual property, and negotiations. He is also a professor at Columbia Law School, where he teaches a class he created on new and emerging technologies, including AI, autonomous vehicles, NFTs, the metaverse, blockchain, and smart contracts. In addition to working with new and emerging technologies, he frequently advises clients on commercial transactions and intellectual property issues of all types, including in the sports, communications, gaming, media, pharmaceutical, fashion, publishing, music, and education industries. 

Experience

Scott McKinney is a partner in the Washington, D.C., office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, where he is a member of the firm's technology transactions practice. He represents companies of all sizes in complex commercial and technology transactions, and advises technology companies and their investors at all stages of company development, from pioneering start-ups to leading global enterprises. 

Scott focuses his practice on frontier technologies, and is a founder and leader of the firm’s cross-practice artificial intelligence and machine learning advisory group. In addition to AI, Scott advises technology innovators in other emerging fields such as blockchain, fintech and DeFi, automated vehicles, robotics, and smart contracts, and he is a nationally recognized speaker on those topics. He is also a subject matter specialist in the area of open source software licensing, advising a variety of companies on open source software compliance and usage. 

Scott is a professor at Georgetown Law and teaches a class that he developed on artificial intelligence, technology transactions, intellectual property, and negotiations. He is also a professor at Columbia Law School, where he teaches a class he created on new and emerging technologies, including AI, autonomous vehicles, NFTs, the metaverse, blockchain, and smart contracts. In addition to working with new and emerging technologies, he frequently advises clients on commercial transactions and intellectual property issues of all types, including in the sports, communications, gaming, media, pharmaceutical, fashion, publishing, music, and education industries. 

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Wilson Sonsini Practices, Attorneys Recognized in 2026 Chambers USA Guide
The 2026 Chambers USA guide has recognized Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati as a leading law firm in 44 geography-specific practice categories and named 87 Wilson Sonsini attorneys among the best in their fields. This year, the firm received four new practice area rankings, including in the nationwide National Security and Capital Markets: Convertible Debt categories, and three improved practice area rankings.
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Client Highlights
Wilson Sonsini Advises XENOM on $15 Million Seed Round and Commercial Agreement with Rogue Fitness
On February 27, 2026, XENOM announced it has officially launched with a $15 million seed financing to create stadium-scale global events. The round was led by WndrCo and Rogue Fitness. Additionally, Rogue Fitness will serve as XENOM’s official equipment supplier. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati advised XENOM on the transactions.
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AI-volution | Expect the Unexpected! Issues Wealthtechs Confront in Using AI
Join Wilson Sonsini's Fintech and Artificial Intelligence Groups for a timely webinar exploring unexpected legal and regulatory questions wealthtech companies may face when using AI. The webinar will address issues for registered investment advisers, broker-dealers, and technology companies that partner with them. Questions to be discussed include how using AI can trigger registration requirements as an investment adviser or a broker-dealer, even when used largely for analytics; when engineers who create AI-based programs for wealthtech companies may be subject to regulation based on their coding activities; when AI-based trading may cause market manipulation concerns; what regulators expect to see from AI-related policies and procedures; and others.
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2025 L Suite AI Conference
Wilson Sonsini is a proud sponsor of The L Suite (TechGC)’s 2025 AI Conference, a two-day event empowering GCs and CLOs with candid discussions and expert insights to tackle the most critical legal challenges of AI. Through collaborative problem-solving and the exchange of actionable insights, this exclusive event equips attendees to navigate urgent issues and shape the future of AI within their organizations.
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