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Desktop Image: Sheriff, Katherine
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Katherine Sheriff

She/Her

Associate

T 202.973.4253 Washington, D.C.
I turn ambition into action by bridging the gap between international regulations and innovative industries.
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Katherine Sheriff's practice focuses on opportunities and challenges in dynamic emerging technology sectors, especially autonomous, connected, and electric passenger and industrial transportation systems, artificial intelligence, and ESG. A recognized thought leader, Katherine regularly presents at national and international conferences addressing the intersection of emerging AI regulatory and liability regimes, in the United States and abroad, in the burgeoning autonomous vehicle industry. She also has testified at the state legislative level on product liability issues.

Within DWT, Katherine leads the firm's mobility and transportation industry group, a multidisciplinary team whose capabilities cover all aspects of the legal and policy needs of companies involved with autonomous, connected, electric, and shared transportation technologies. From negotiating and implementing complex deals to engaging with regulators and supply chain stakeholders, Katherine and the mobility and transportation team help innovators in this sector develop and deploy the next generation of mobility technologies.

Katherine has extensive experience with product liability issues relevant to AI systems and autonomous vehicles, including under the EU Product Liability Directive, the EU AI Act, and U.S. state laws. She advises clients on global regulatory developments and their impacts on providers of technology products and services. Katherine also helps clients obtain regulatory approvals and authorizations for commercial transportation fleets under federal and state law, including the rules of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and state rules for licensing commercial drivers, as well as autonomous vehicle authorizations for testing, deployment, and commercial passenger service.

Katherine began her career as a litigator focused on product liability and insurance litigation and regulatory compliance. Today she puts her passion for emerging technologies and mitigating risk to work for her clients to help bring scientific and technical innovations in the AI and mobility space to market.

In addition to her work for industry clients, Katherine maintains an active pro bono practice, with an emphasis on human rights and accessibility.

Practice Highlights

Interoperable technology for electric vehicle charging

Helped draft agreement between global vehicle manufacturer and electric charging provider to ensure technological compatibility between vehicles and charging stations.

Government investigations and inquiries

Developed legal and factual analysis and handled all contacts with regulators to achieve confidential resolution with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regarding client compliance with commercial driver training and associated reporting obligations; proactively resolved parallel, multi-state compliance issues.

Comments on California Clean Miles Standard

Prepared comments for a transportation network platform on rules proposed by the California Public Utilities Commission to implement its "Clean Miles Standard."

Mobility and transportation deals across the sector

Represented multiple companies in transactions across the mobility and transportation sector, including established automotive manufacturers and technology companies, logistics, shipping and trucking companies, Fortune 100 companies, software developers, hardware suppliers, and technology startup companies, in partnership deals requiring close collaboration to develop innovative solutions and bring new products to market.

Commercializing innovative solutions

Advised multinational mobility and transportation companies across every stage of the product life cycle to develop, launch, and commercialize complex solutions involving shipping and logistics management, AI, cloud platforms, and other innovative products and services.

Autonomous vehicle testing, deployment, and commercial service

Represented autonomous vehicle providers in the application process for approvals to test, deploy, and provide commercial service using autonomous vehicles.

Operating authority for transportation platform and food delivery fleets

Secured federal and state operating authority for transportation platform with food delivery service, including counsel and recommendations related to registering with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the regulatory implications of various carrier classifications.

Comments on EU AI Act

Prepared comments for a U.S. technology industry association in connection with the EU AI Act, including analysis of the Product Liability Directive and then-pending revisions, as well as the proposed AI Liability Directive.
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Admitted to Practice

  • District of Columbia, 2020
  • Georgia, 2017
  • U.S. District Court, District of Columbia, 2020
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Georgia, 2018
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit, 2025

Education

  • J.D., Emory University School of Law, 2016
    • Online Editor, Emory Law Journal
    • Legal Scholar, Autonomous Technology Legal Research Project
    • Fellow, State Bar of Georgia Young Lawyers Division
  • B.A., Political Science, University of Georgia, 2005, with highest honors

Memberships & Affiliations

    • Co-chair, Connected and Automated Vehicles Committee, Federal Communications Bar Association, 2021-2024
    • American Bar Association
    • District of Columbia Bar Association
    • State Bar of Georgia
    • NYC Bar Transportation Law Committee, 2023-present
    • IEEE Computational Intelligence in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (CIBCB) Program Review Committee, 2021-2022
    • Vice President of Membership, D.C. Chapter, Transportation Research Forum, 2019
    • iCivics Committee, State Bar of Georgia, 2018
    • Leadership Academy, Young Lawyers Division, State Bar of Georgia, 2018
    • Yoga Alliance, 500-hour Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT500), 2018-present

Professional Recognition

    • Selected Lecturer, SAE Industrial Lecture Program – SAE International, 2024
    • Keynote Speaker, Plenary Session, Industrial and Off-Highway Vehicle Technology Expo Conference, 2024
    • Named "One to Watch" by Best Lawyers in Technology Law, 2023-2025
    • Named "One to Watch" by Best Lawyers in Transportation Law, 2023-2025
    • Selected for Leadership Academy, Young Lawyers Division, State Bar of Georgia, 2018
    • Named to "Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll" by the D.C. Court of Appeals and the D.C. Superior Court, 2024 (High Honors)

Background

    • Knowledge Lawyer, Hogan Lovells, Washington, D.C., 2019-2020
    • Managing Member, Emergent Technology Consultants, LLC, Alexandria, 2019
    • Associate, Waldon Adelman Castilla Heistand & Prout, Atlanta, 2017-2018
    • Associate, 2016-2017; Law Clerk, 2015-2016 – Warshauer Law Group, Atlanta
    • Extern, Hon. Harris Hines, Presiding Justice, Supreme Court of Georgia, Atlanta, 2015
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08.29.24
Presentations
Panelist and Contributing Moderator, "Where standards and regulations meet - how can they best interact? / Safety considerations and best practices for advancing ADAS and AV technologies," ADAS & Autonomous Vehicle Technology Expo Conference, San José, Calif.
08.28.24
Presentations
Presenter, "Fireside Chat with Dr. Edward Straub, Executive Director, SAE-ITC, USA: What is the Automated Vehicle Safety Consortium (AVSC) and how is it influencing standards?" ADAS & Autonomous Vehicle Technology Expo Conference, San José, Calif.
08.28.24
Presentations
Session Chair and Moderator, "Regulations, standards, metrics and collaboration – building blocks for safe ADAS and AD technologies," ADAS & Autonomous Vehicle Technology Expo Conference, San José, Calif.
08.21.24
Presentations
Keynote Presenter, "Potential Liability of Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs) under the EU AI Act and Revised Product Liability Directive: Assessing Your Product Development Calculus," Industrial & Off-Highway Vehicle Technology Expo Conference, Chicago
Publications
08.15.24
News
2025 Edition of Best Lawyers Recognizes More Than 180 Davis Wright Tremaine Attorneys for Excellence Read More
06.04.24
Presentations
Event Chair and Moderator, "Opportunities and Challenges: Industry Perspectives on Connected and Automated Vehicle Data," Connected and Automated Vehicles Committee Webinar, Federal Communications Bar Association
self-driving car interior
05.30.24
Insights
Department of Transportation Request for Information Signals Growing Interest in AI in the Transportation Sector Read More
05.15.24
Presentations
Presenter, "Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) / Vehicle-to-Home (V2H)," Client Webinar
04.25.24
Insights
Wireless
FCC Investigating Role of Connected Car Services in Protection of Domestic Violence Survivors Read More
Federal Energy Regulation Commission closes investigation into Dynegy market manipulation claims
03.11.24
Insights
Rethinking Resilience: ESG, DEI, and the Future of Supply Chains Read More
European Union flags fluttering.
02.12.24
Insights
EU Unanimously Approves Comprehensive Artificial Intelligence Act Read More
California state flag
01.11.24
Insights
California
Can the CPUC Fast Charge California's Transportation Electrification Goals? It Plans to Try Read More
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