Overview
Alison Schwartz is a nationally recognized lawyer with extensive experience advising clients on complex technology transactions and outsourcing arrangements. She represents both customers and service providers throughout the full deal lifecycle—from RFP strategy and supplier selection to contract negotiation, risk management and renewals.
Ranked by Chambers and Partners and Legal 500 United States, Alison is known for her commercial mindset and pragmatic approach in structuring and negotiating deals that advance her clients’ business goals while effectively managing risks. Clients have described her as “clever and strategic,” “a calm, articulate negotiator” and “able to drive all parties to consensus through her excellent negotiation skills.”
Alison’s practice spans a broad range of services and industries, including supply chain and logistics, IT infrastructure and operations, application development and maintenance, finance and accounting, insurance claims processing, benefits administration, robotics and automation, and customer service centers. She is frequently sought after to lead negotiations and provide strategic counsel on a wide variety of technology-enabled commercial transactions and issues, including those involving software development and licensing, open source software, cloud and “as-a-service” solutions, data licensing, joint ventures, strategic alliances and enterprise-wide digital transformation initiatives.
Alison is meticulous and thorough. She thinks holistically about how the contract pieces fit together, and how that ties to targeted deal outcomes. Chambers USA (client commentary)
Alison’s practice also includes a strong focus on artificial intelligence (AI). She regularly advises clients on drafting and negotiating AI-related provisions and developing practical, business-oriented strategies to manage the legal and operational risks associated with AI adoption. With 15 years of experience as a patent lawyer, Alison brings a nuanced understanding of the complex IP issues that often arise in AI and other advanced technology transactions.
Outside the office, Alison enjoys hiking, traveling, cooking and spending time with her family.
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Patent False Marking: How To Spot and Avoid Physical and Virtual Landmines in Marketing and Advertising Your Products
Education
- University of Chicago Law School, J.D., Order of the Coif
- University of Illinois College of Electrical and Computer Engineering, B.S., Electrical Engineering; Highest Honors
Bar Admissions
- Illinois
- United States Patent and Trademark Office
Recognition
- Named a “Leading Lawyer” in The Legal 500 US in Outsourcing, published by Legalease Limited and John Pritchard (2023-2025)
- Named in The Legal 500 US in Technology Transactions, published by Legalease Limited and John Pritchard (2024)
- Named in Chambers USA, America's Leading Lawyers for Business, in Illinois Technology & Outsourcing (2021-2025) and Nationwide Outsourcing (2023-2025)
- Named in Chambers Global, The World's Leading Lawyers for Business, in United States of America Outsourcing (2024 and 2025)
- Named "Best Lawyer" in IT Outsourcing Law, by The Best Lawyers in America (2020)
- Named a "Next Generation Partner" in The Legal 500 US in Outsourcing, published by Legalease Limited and John Pritchard (2018-2022)
- Recipient, Community Service Award, ACLU of Southern California (2021)