Anna R. Gressel is an associate and a member of the firm’s Data Strategy and Security Group and its FinTech and Technology practices. Her practice focuses on advising major businesses on a wide range of complex and high-impact matters related to artificial intelligence (“AI”) and other emerging technologies, with a particular emphasis on regulatory investigations, examinations, and civil litigation.

Ms. Gressel has a deep knowledge of emerging regulations, supervisory expectations, and industry best practices with respect to AI governance and compliance. She regularly advises global financial institutions, insurers, publicly traded companies, and technology companies on compliance, governance, risk, and liability issues relating to AI, privacy, and data governance. Ms. Gressel also represents companies with respect to cybersecurity incident preparedness and investigations concerning blockchain technologies.

Ms. Gressel is an active thought leader and speaker on emerging issues related to AI and data regulation, enforcement and litigation, including before agencies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. She is a member of the Artificial Intelligence Planning Sub-Committee for the 2022 Second Circuit Judicial Conference, as well as a member of the Law Committee of the IEEE Global Initiative on Ethics of Autonomous and Intelligent Systems. Ms. Gressel recently created and chaired a roundtable series in collaboration with the IEEE, which focused on delivering cutting-edge information on AI regulation and risk management for general counsels and other senior legal executives. She also participates in industry efforts to establish best practices in the areas of AI risk management and governance.

Ms. Gressel also has broad commercial litigation experience representing clients in federal and state courts, including in securities litigation and enforcement actions, commercial disputes, and shareholder derivative suits. She is admitted to appear before the Second, Third, and Seventh Circuits and the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.

Ms. Gressel currently serves as a Commissioner on the American Bar Association's Commission on Women in the Profession. She is also actively involved in the development of young lawyers, particularly women lawyers. She is a leader of the firm’s Women’s Resource Group and a member of its Diversity Committee. Ms. Gressel is also a former member of the board of directors of Ms. JD, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to the success of women in law school and the legal profession, and she currently serves on the Host Committee for Ms. JD’s flagship conference, LaddHer Up.

Ms. Gressel received her J.D. from Harvard Law School and her B.A. from Pomona College, where she was awarded the senior prize in neuroscience. Prior to law school, Ms. Gressel was the recipient of a Fulbright Research Fellowship to Morocco. She is a fellow of the American Bar Foundation.

Recent speaking engagements include:

• “Fireside Chat: The AI Regulatory Landscape,” The Athens Roundtable on Artificial Intelligence and the Rule of Law (December 2, 2022);
• “Is your HR ready for a bias audit? Expert Discussion,” Truera Webcast (November 17, 2022);
• “Data Governance and Privacy Laws,” Risk Management Association Annual Internal Audit Conference (November 15, 2022 and November 28, 2022);
• “Inside the SEC: Understanding the Agency’s Enforcement Philosophy,” National Association of Women Lawyers’ General Counsel Institute (November 10, 2022);
• “Ethical Use of AI and the Emerging Legal Landscape,” FiscalNote Executive Institute (September 22, 2022);
• “AI and Financial Markets: Expansion and Risks, A Best Practices Approach,” Debevoise & Plimpton and Demarest (September 20, 2022);
• “Impending AI Regulatory Changes in HR,” Beamery Webcast (August 17, 2022);
• “Data Governance and Privacy Presentation and Panel,” Risk Management Association Internal Audit Series (May 25, 2022);
• Webcast Series on “Artificial Intelligence and Discrimination in the Insurance Industry,” Debevoise & Plimpton LLP Webcast (October 8, 2021, February 11, 2022, May 20, 2022, and July 15, 2022);
• “AI Readiness: Practical Steps to Prepare for Artificial Intelligence Incidents,” Cybersecurity Docket Webcast (May 25, 2022);
• “AI Oversight Obligations for Directors,” Debevoise & Plimpton LLP Webcast (May 24, 2022);
• “Artificial Intelligence: Glimpse in the Future,” Sidebar with Judge Winslow Podcast (April 7, 2022);
• “CFPB Enforcement Trends,” Risk Management Association Regional Bank Roundtable (March 1, 2022);
• “Bilateral Dialogue on Regulating Facial Recognition Technology,” ABA ROLI and Japanese Federation of Bar Associations (February 23, 2022);
• “CFPB Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Small Business Lending,” Risk Management Association Business Banking Loan Center Managers Roundtable (January 20, 2022);
• “Who is Responsible for AI? Emerging Approaches to AI Civil Liability in the EU and US, and How Companies Should Prepare,” The Athens Roundtable Artificial Intelligence and the Rule of Law (December 6-7, 2021);
• “FinTech and Racial Equity in Global Perspective,” The World Bank, Law, Justice and Development Week 2021—Law, Racial Equity and Development (November 10, 2021);
• “Foreign Banks,” Debevoise & Plimpton LLP Webcast (October 21, 2021);
• “Comparative Approaches to AI Transparency: Lessons from Recent Regulatory Efforts,” FDA Workshop on Transparency of Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning-enabled Medical Devices (October 14, 2021);
• “The Future of Artificial Intelligence and Privacy Law,” Michigan Bar Association, IT Law Section (August 5, 2021);
• “Artificial Intelligence and Consumer Data: A Discussion with Kaitlin Asrow, Fintech Policy Advisor for the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco,” Debevoise & Plimpton LLP Webcast (March 3, 2021);
• “Artificial Intelligence and Government Contracting – Emerging Issues and Considerations,” American Bar Association Section of Public Contract Law (December 17, 2020); and
• “Supervising AI: The Role of Corporate Boards,” The Athens Roundtable on Artificial Intelligence and the Rule of Law (November 16, 2020).

Ms. Gressel is also a regular contributor to the firm’s Data Blog. Her recent publications include:

• “Colorado Draft AI Insurance Rules Are a Watershed for AI Governance Regulation,” NYU Compliance & Enforcement (February, 2023);
• “Does Your Company Need a ChatGPT Policy? Probably.,” NYU Compliance & Enforcement (February, 2023);
• “Debevoise Discusses Malicious Corporate Deepfakes,” Columbia Blue Sky Blog (February, 2023);
• “Legal Risks of Using AI Voice Analytics for Customer Service,” NYU Compliance & Enforcement (January, 2023);
• “Debevoise & Plimpton Discusses the Myth of Artificial Intelligence Errors,” Columbia Blue Sky Blog (December, 2022);
• “Regulators Should Treat AI Like Employees to Avoid Stifling Innovation,” NYU Compliance & Enforcement (November, 2022);
• “Debevoise & Plimpton Discusses the EU AI Liability Directive’s Impact on Artificial Intelligence Legal Risks,” Columbia Blue Sky Blog (November, 2022);
• “Debevoise & Plimpton Discusses White House’s Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights,” Columbia Blue Sky Blog (November, 2022);
• “Debevoise & Plimpton Discusses How to Protect AI Models and Data,” Columbia Blue Sky Blog (September, 2022);
• “The Digital Services Act (DSA) Transforms Regulation of Online Intermediaries,” NYU Compliance & Enforcement (July, 2022);
• “Complying with New York’s AI Employment Law and Similar Regulations,” NYU Compliance & Enforcement (July, 2022);
• “California Restricts Insurers’ Use of AI and Big Data,” NYU Compliance & Enforcement (July, 2022);
• “New Automated Decision-Making Laws: Four Tips for Compliance,” NYU Compliance & Enforcement (June, 2022);
• “AI Oversight Is Becoming a Board Issue,” Harvard Forum on Corporate Governance (April, 2022);
• “The Value of AI Incident Response Plans and Tabletop Exercises,” NYU Compliance & Enforcement (April, 2022);
• “Why Ethical AI Initiatives Need Help from Corporate Compliance,” NYU Compliance & Enforcement (April, 2022);
• “Model Destruction – The FTC’s Powerful New AI and Privacy Enforcement Tool,” NYU Compliance & Enforcement Blog (March, 2022);
• “Debevoise & Plimpton Discusses Federal Regulators’ Focus on AI and Consumer Protection in Finance,” Columbia Blue Sky Blog (November, 2021);
• “Face Forward: Strategies for Complying with Facial Recognition Laws (Part II of II),” NYU Compliance & Enforcement Blog (November, 2021);
• “Face Forward: Strategies for Complying with Facial Recognition Laws (Part I of II),” NYU Compliance & Enforcement Blog (October, 2021);
• “AI Legal Work Is Mirroring Cybersecurity Practice Path,” Bloomberg Law (September, 2020);
• “The Future of AI Regulation: 24 Ways That Companies Can Reduce Their Regulatory and Reputational AI Risks,” NYU Compliance & Enforcement Blog (May, 2021);
• “The Future of AI Regulation: The FTC’s New Guidance on Using AI Truthfully, Fairly, and Equitably,” NYU Compliance & Enforcement Blog (May, 2021);
• “The Future of AI Regulation: Draft Legislation from the European Commission Shows the Coming AI Legal Landscape,” NYU Compliance & Enforcement Blog (April, 2021);
• “Tips for Creating a Sensible Cybersecurity and AI Risk Framework for Critical Vendors,” NYU Compliance & Enforcement Blog (February, 2021);
• “Data Privacy and Cybersecurity: Crisis Avoidance and Management Strategies,” Latin Lawyer – The Guide to Corporate Crisis Management (February, 2021);
• “SEC Settlement with Hedge Fund Offers Corporate AI Lessons,” Law360 (January, 2021); and
• “Banks, Fintech Firms Eyeing CFPB Proposal on Consumer Access to Financial Records,” Bloomberg Law (December, 2020).