Avi . Gesser

Debevoise and Plimpton, LLP

Avi Gesser, Esq., is Co-Chair of Debevoise & Plimpton’s Data Strategy & Security Group and leads the firm’s Artificial Intelligence practice. His practice focuses on advising major companies on a wide range of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and privacy matters. Mr. Gesser currently serves as AI counsel for approximately 150 clients, including many of the world’s leading asset managers and broker-dealers, several major insurers, global consulting firms, and other market leaders. He regularly advises boards and senior executives on AI governance, oversight, and risk mitigation. Under his leadership, Debevoise has become recognized as one of the market’s leading AI legal teams. Chambers USA ranks him Band 1 for Artificial Intelligence and notes that he and the firm are “unmatched in their knowledge of AI, both technically and as a matter of risk evaluation and governance.” Chambers also reported that “[the Group’s] approach is practical and actionable… There is no matter too complex or too sophisticated for this team.” Mr. Gesser is the creator of the firm’s pioneering Suite of Tools for Assessing AI Risk (“STAAR”), a subscription-based framework that helps clients evaluate and manage the evolving legal and regulatory risks associated with the development and deployment of AI. STAAR brings together a comprehensive collection of practical tools—including a vetted use-case library, policy templates, and regulatory trackers—and has been profiled by Law.com (“Debevoise & Plimpton Is Building a New Model for Delivering AI Adoption Advice”) and Law360 (“Debevoise Builds Tool to Help In-House Attys Assess AI Risk”). In October 2025, STAAR was shortlisted for the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers North America Awards in the “Innovation in New Legal Products” category.

 

(05/26)