Diana James
Attorney
Diana James is an Attorney at Marashlian & Donahue, PLLC, and focuses on advising technology, telecom, and digital media companies on business and intellectual property law and regulatory compliance. With experience in the startup ecosystems and passion for emerging technologies, she guides clients throughout the full company lifecycle and assists them in making informed choices and mitigating their legal exposure.
Biography
Diana James is an Attorney with Marashlian & Donahue, PLLC. She advises technology, telecom, and digital media companies on how to navigate complex business, regulatory compliance, and intellectual property (IP) law matters.
Ms. James guides clients throughout their journey from formation, developing a trademark strategy, negotiating commercial transactions, navigating regulatory compliance (including telemarketing and privacy law) to mergers and acquisitions.
Before joining The CommLaw Group, Ms. James gained experience working for a boutique corporate/IP law firm serving startups emerging from a leading research university’s business incubator.
Ms. James holds a law degree from the University of Illinois College of Law. She has a keen interest in the emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI). She regularly speaks on the the legal implications of AI, and her publications have gained international traction in the technology and legal communities.
Publications
- “Fair Use or Infringement: Does Machine Learning Have to Respect Copyright?” (Lexology, December 29, 2022)
- “AI Trained on Copyrighted Works: When Is It Fair Use?” (Lexology, January 2023, and The Fashion Law, February 2023)
- “Who Is Liable for AI Generators’ Infringing Output?” (The Fashion Law, February 2023)
- “AI Will Not Replace Your Lawyer but May Reduce Your Legal Costs: Here’s How” (LinkedIn, June 2023).
- Using AI in Customer Service and Telemarketing: Top-7 Legal Tips (CommLaw Group, 2024)
- Pre-Funding Legal “Cleanup”: How to Set Up Your Startup Company for Success in Securing a VC Funding Round (CommLaw Group, 2024)
- “Privacy Primer for vCon Developers” (co-authored with Thomas McCarthy-Howe), Internet Engineering Task Force Internet-Draft, 2024.
Education
- Master of Laws (focus on intellectual property law) University of Illinois College of Law, 2020, high honors
- Master of Laws (European Union Law): Moscow State Institute of International Relations (University) European Studies Institute, 2019, the highest distinction
- Bachelor of Laws: Moscow State Institute of International Relations (University) School of International Law, 2017, the highest distinction
Admissions
Ms. James is admitted to the practice of law in the States of Washington and Texas. She is a member of the American Bar Association (ABA) and the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP). She is a Certified International Privacy Professional (CIPP/US).
Speaking Engagements
- “From Plagiarism and Deepfakes to Fake News and Defamation: Who is liable for infringing generative AI output?” CLE webinar, 2023
- “Startup Pre-Funding Cleanup – What to do Before Your First Funding Round” Fall 2023 VON: Evolution
- “Navigating the Legal Intricacies of AI Use in Customer Service and Telemarketing,” Fireside chat at Spring 2024 VON: Evolution
- “Using AI in Customer Service and Telemarketing: Top-7 Legal Tips” AI/COMM, Exploring the Effects of AI on the Communications and Cable Industry, 2024
- “Privacy by Design: Building Solutions for CPNI Compliance” Webinar, 2024
- “Enhancing privacy compliance and security with vCons,” Fall 2024 VON: Evolution Conference
- “Privacy Primer for vCon Developers,” Internet Engineering Task Force 121 Meeting, 2024
Additional Experience
- Assist cloud hosting providers in drafting and negotiating cloud-based services agreements
- Represent a blockchain software development company in negotiating a joint venture agreement with a computer game developer
- Guide an AI-powered technology company in building its international intellectual property portfolio
- Assist in the representation of a high-performance air filter company in Series A equity sale, including SAFEs, and related securities filings
- Facilitate a Series B funding round in an innovative biotechnology company
- Assist a wholesale produce supplier in structuring and negotiating the sales of its business lines to strategic buyers
- Facilitate the scaling of a multi-state franchise
- Assist 50+ voice service providers with robocall mitigation compliance and strategy and filing comprehensive robocall mitigation plans with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
- Develop privacy notices and advise clients on privacy law compliance
- Advise companies implementing AI in their operations on the applicable law and mitigating their legal exposure
