About
Tony Lai is a lawyer and technology entrepreneur who serves as a Fellow at Public AI. His work spans legal informatics, computational law, and blockchain governance, with experience advising companies, government agencies, law firms, and nonprofits on data governance, digital identity, and smart contracts. Lai co-founded Legal.io to expand legal access through technology, founded the Blockchain Group at Stanford's CodeX Center for Legal Informatics, and previously practiced law across Europe, Asia, and Africa; he holds degrees from Oxford University and a Master of Laws from Stanford in Law, Science and Technology.
Experience
- Public AIFellowcurrent2024 — presentGlobal
- Mothertree LabsCo-Founder and Co-Stewardcurrent2023 — present
- CodeX Stanford Blockchain GroupCo-Chaircurrent2017 — present
- Edmund Hillary Fellowship (EHF)Edmund Hillary Fellowcurrent2020 — present
- Legal.ioBoard Membercurrent2018 — present
- Legal.ioCo-Founder & CEO2015 — 2018San Francisco Bay Area
- StartX.Member of the Board of Directorscurrent2011 — presentPalo Alto
- CodeX, The Stanford Center for Legal InformaticsFellowcurrent2010 — presentStanford
- DSIL GlobalCreative Consultant2019 — 2025Global
- University of Hawai'i at Manoa - William S. Richardson School of LawVisiting Professor, Legal Engineering for the Biosphere2021Hawaii, United States
- Foresight Institute2020 Foresight Fellow in Legal Engineering for the Biosphere2020 — 2021
- National University of SingaporeSenior Research Fellow, Centre for Technology, Robotics, AI, and the Law2019 — 2020Singapore
- LawGivesCo-Founder, CEO2012 — 2015Stanford, CA
- Stanford Law SchoolResearch Fellow // Teaching Assistant2012Stanford, California
- Stanford UniversityTeaching Fellow - Ideas for a Better Internet2011 — 2012Stanford
- Herbert Smith FreehillsAssociate2008 — 2010
- Herbert Smith FreehillsTrainee Solicitor2006 — 2008
Skills & more
Licensing52Privacy Law34Data Privacy4Corporations2Outsourcing5Intellectual Property99Patents25Corporate Law21Legal Research22Copyright Law22Venture Capital17Corporate Governance8
+12 more
MediationEarly-stage StartupsCross-border M&AArbitrationEntrepreneurshipCyberlawLegal AdviceLegal WritingDesign ThinkingAlternative Dispute ResolutionStrategyStart-upsLanguages Cantonese · English · French · German · Mandarin
- Admitted to the Supreme Court of England & Wales — Solicitors Regulation Authority of England & Wales
From Tony's professional profile.
Colleagues at StartX
Amanda Dawson
Director, People Operations at StartX
Ankita Tiwari
Programs Manager at StartX
Anne Caillat
Vice President, Programs & Community at StartX
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Cameron Teitelman
Founder, CEO & Head of Admissions at StartX
Joseph Huang
CEO at StartX
Joseph Perla
Investor at StartX
Laura Kenney
Program Manager at StartX
Sreejith (Sreej) Mohan
Partner Program Manager at StartX
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Tony Lai?
- Tony Lai is a lawyer and technology entrepreneur who serves as a Fellow at Public AI. His work spans legal informatics, computational law, and blockchain governance, with experience advising companies, government agencies, law firms, and nonprofits on data governance, digital identity, and smart contracts. Lai co-founded Legal.io to expand legal access through technology, founded the Blockchain Group at Stanford's CodeX Center for Legal Informatics, and previously practiced law across Europe, Asia, and Africa; he holds degrees from Oxford University and a Master of Laws from Stanford in Law, Science and Technology.
- Where does Tony Lai work?
- Tony Lai is Board of Directors at StartX.
- Where did Tony Lai go to school?
- Tony Lai studied at Stanford University (LL.M, Law); BPP Law School (GDL/LPC, Law); University of Oxford (BA, MA (Oxon)).
Same school
Also attended Stanford University2,000
Peter ThielCo-founder & Partner at Founders FundReid HoffmanCo-founder of LinkedIn; Partner at GreylockKeith RaboisManaging Director at Khosla VenturesGarry TanPresident & CEO of Y CombinatorAlfred LinPartner at Sequoia CapitalAnn Miura-KoCo-founding Partner at Floodgate
+ 1,994 more
Also attended BPP Law School79
Joseph StolermanInvestor at Index VenturesChen Yang SiaGeneral Counsel at Golden Gate VenturesGiles Johnstone-ScottInvestor at MedicxiKieran RafterPrincipal at Marlin Equity PartnersChen YangAdvisor at Golden Gate VenturesKeji MustaphaChief Marketing Officer at Partech Ventures
+ 73 more
Also attended University of Oxford1,229
Reid HoffmanCo-founder of LinkedIn; Partner at GreylockMichael MoritzFormer Partner at Sequoia Capital; Senior Adviser at Sequoia HeritageBrad GerstnerFounder & CEO of Altimeter CapitalGabriel PereyraCo-founder & President of HarveyDominic JacquessonInvestor at Index VenturesErin Price-WrightInvestor at Index Ventures
+ 1,223 more
Also attended Oakham School3
Shared employers
Also worked at Edmund Hillary Fellowship (EHF)29
Jeffrey PaineFounding Partner at Golden Gate VenturesUri LopatinInvestor at Khosla VenturesRyan McIntyreFounding partner of FoundryAmitt MahajanManaging Partner at Presence CapitalGeoff LewisFounder & Managing Partner at BedrockTory PattersonCo-founder and Managing Partner at Owl Ventures
+ 23 more
Also worked at University of Hawai'i at Manoa - William S. Richardson School of Law2
Also worked at Stanford University788
Ann Miura-KoCo-founding Partner at FloodgateBalaji SrinivasanAngel investor and founder of The Network SchoolMartin CasadoGeneral Partner at Andreessen HorowitzMike KriegerCo-founder of Instagram; Chief Product Officer at AnthropicAndy FangCo-founder & CTO of DoorDashRyan SheaCo-founder of Blockstack (Stacks)
+ 782 more
Also worked at Herbert Smith Freehills33
Joseph StolermanInvestor at Index VenturesNick-Anthony BufordManaging Director & General Counsel at ClearSkyKieran MudryyPartner at 4BIO CapitalKate HorinHead of Legal, Invisible Technologies at New Earth VenturesNathan RockliffChief Strategy Officer at APXJonny CliffordPartner and General Manager, London at Entrepreneur First
+ 27 more