Akiba Stern

Akiba Stern is one of the nation's foremost lawyers handling technology, outsourcing and AI transactions. With more than four decades of experience, Akiba works with leading enterprises on complex technology transactions, outsourcing arrangements and AI-enabled initiatives.

Much of Akiba’s work sits at the intersection of law, technology and commercial strategy. He helps clients structure, negotiate and manage technology-enabled relationships across the full lifecycle of a deal — from strategy and supplier selection through contracting, implementation, and governance, and, when needed, restructuring and dispute resolution.

Clients often call Akiba at critical moments: when they are launching a major sourcing initiative, modernizing a critical technology environment, navigating a difficult supplier relationship, or trying to integrate or separate technology and vendor arrangements in connection with an acquisition, divestiture or other strategic transaction. He is particularly valued for helping clients make deals that are not only well negotiated, but workable in practice over time.

Artificial intelligence is a central and growing part of Akiba’s practice. He advises clients on how AI fits within broader sourcing and enterprise technology strategies, including AI-enabled services, generative AI contracting, governance frameworks for AI deployment, data and intellectual property rights, model training issues, and the allocation of legal and commercial risk. His focus is practical and business-driven as he helps clients deploy AI in ways that are scalable, contractually sound and aligned with how their organizations actually operate and evolve over time.

Akiba Stern maintains his longstanding position at the forefront of the New York outsourcing market. His diverse client roster features leading financial institutions, retailers, hospitality companies and educational bodies. His expertise encapsulates ITO as well as SaaS and BPaaS service models. Chambers USA

Akiba’s outsourcing experience spans a wide range of business processes, including IT outsourcing, application development and maintenance, finance and accounting, HR operations, knowledge process outsourcing, logistics and facilities management. He also regularly advises on supplier audits, troubled technology implementations, commercial workouts, and transition services arrangements.

Akiba is consistently recognized by leading legal directories for his judgment, client focus and ability to execute on complex technology matters. Legal 500 United States describes him as “one of the true masters of technology law… pragmatic and sensible… always capable of bringing complex deals to fruition so that both parties feel they have received an equitable deal.” Chambers USA similarly highlights that he is “very good with clients” and “thorough, a problem solver” who “gets stuff done and knows how to make the client look good,” noting as well that he is an “impressive strategist” who is “tough but fair.”