Stanford Law School has appointed Irene Liu as the executive director of the Stanford Law School AI Initiative, co-chaired by Nathaniel Persily, the James B. McClatchy Professor of Law at Stanford Law School, and Professor of Law Julian Nyarko. The AI Initiative advances interdisciplinary research, teaching, and engagement with industry leaders and policymakers. It brings together faculty, students, centers, labs, and external collaborators to inform how AI is developed, governed, and used responsibly in law and public life.

Liu brings senior leadership experience across academia, government, and technology. She joins the Initiative at a moment of rapid technological change, helping to shape its research, teaching, and engagement agenda. In her various roles, Liu has long focused on the governance, business, and policy implications of technology, with an emphasis on responsible AI development and deployment.

“As the AI Initiative continues to grow, Irene’s experience building programs and advising leaders in technology and law will be critical,” said Persily. “She has the vision to help shape an agenda that is rigorous and relevant. This includes advancing AI research as well as positioning our students as thoughtful leaders in AI law and policy, with the tools to engage critically with emerging technologies in practice, research, and public service.”

“Irene brings a rare combination of legal, technical, and strategic experience to this role,” said Nyarko, who, in addition to serving as co-chair of the AI Initiative is also faculty director of the Legal Innovation through Frontier Technology Lab (liftlab), which develops and evaluates AI tools for legal services in collaboration with law firms and technology companies. “Her leadership will help expand Stanford Law’s research and training on AI while strengthening partnerships with the legal profession and technology sector.”

“Stanford Law stands at the intersection of technological innovation and legal scholarship, making it the natural epicenter for defining the future of AI,” Liu said. “The law school has a distinguished history of leadership in AI, and there is a tremendous momentum here that I’m excited to harness. I look forward to amplifying the groundbreaking research already in progress, expanding our role as a hub for public and private sector engagement, and equipping our students to lead in a world shaped by AI. I’m thrilled to be here and look forward to collaborating with this exceptional community to bring this vision to life.”

Prior to joining Stanford Law, Liu served as an AI advisor to the California Senate and as an advisor to UC Berkeley School of Law’s AI Institute, where she also taught on emerging topics in generative AI. Earlier in her career, she was a trial attorney in the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice and in the Bureau of Consumer Protection at the Federal Trade Commission.

Liu also has held a number of senior leadership roles at technology companies. She was the Chief Financial and Legal Officer of Hopin, where she oversaw legal, finance, policy, and trust and safety functions during a period of rapid global expansion. She also served as General Counsel and Senior Vice President at Checkr, where she led legal, compliance, policy, and customer education teams and advised on corporate governance, regulatory compliance, and company growth. She led global law enforcement compliance at BlackBerry and held other senior legal roles.

About the Stanford Law AI Initiative

About Stanford Law School

Stanford Law School is one of the world’s leading institutions for legal scholarship and education. Its alumni are among the most influential decision makers in law, politics, business, and high technology. Faculty members argue before the Supreme Court, testify before Congress, produce outstanding legal scholarship and empirical analysis, and contribute regularly to the nation’s press as legal and policy experts. Stanford Law School has established a model for legal education that provides rigorous interdisciplinary training, hands-on experience, global perspective and a focus on public service.