Fred Wilf is the founder and managing partner of Wilftek. He has been helping his clients succeed for over 30 years.
Fred was fascinated by the technology zeitgeist while in college, and worked briefly as a programmer to pay for law school. Fred understood early on that as it became less expensive and more powerful, information technology would be an ever-growing component of each person’s life, and eventually technology would empower virtually all businesses.
After graduating law school, Fred began his law career as a technology lawyer, at a time when very few attorneys practiced technology law, and even fewer practiced technology law outside of Silicon Valley. Fred was grateful to be mentored by pioneering technology attorneys, and in the three decades since then, Fred has been paying it forward by mentoring and training attorneys to practice technology law. Fred continues to mentor attorneys, entrepreneurs and other business people at the intersection of technology, intellectual property and business.
In addition to information technology, Fred works with other technologies across multiple industries, including healthcare, chemicals, electronics, and business services. His work covers the entire lifecycle of a technology, from initial idea, through development, bringing it to market, commercialization, and then sale or sunset (often in favor of a newer technology). From strategy to implementation, Fred partners with his clients to achieve the results they seek.
Wilftek is a boutique law firm, but Fred has also worked with a large regional firm (Saul Ewing) and an international law firm (Morgan, Lewis & Bockius). Fred has also briefly worked in-house with a chemical company and with a telecommunications company.
In addition to his transactional work, Fred serves as an arbitrator of disputes involving business, technology and intellectual property issues, mostly through the American Arbitration Association and the International Centre for Dispute Resolution. Serving as an arbitrator provides an additional dimension to his transactional work, as it helps him and his clients build better business and legal relationships at the outset.
For publisher Thomson Reuters West, Fred edited and contributed to a four-volume treatise entitled Computer Software, which was originally written by L.J. Kutten. Fred has volunteered with the American Bar Association, the Philadelphia Bar Association, and Pennsylvania Bar Institute. In addition to early continuing legal education (CLE) seminars on telecommunications and the law, Fred organized and ran CLE and other seminars on Internet law issues for over 20 years. More recently, Fred has spoken on blockchain and NFTs. He also works with charities and non-profits, and provides services pro bono publico.
Fred is a member of the Pennsylvania and New Jersey Bars, as well as the Bars of several federal courts.
Frederic M. Wilf
Founder and Managing Partner
Presentations
Fred Wilf has given presentations to lawyers, judges, and the community, on a variety of topics including intellectual property, technology, technology transactions, and AI.
Articles
See Wilftek's Blog page
American Arbitration Association / International Centre for Dispute Resolution
Arbitrator
International Association of Accessibility Professionals
Member
Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated awarded in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies at www.martindale.com.
Best Lawyers® recognition for Information Technology Law (2011-Present)
Milton Schwartz Award “for outstanding legal contributions to the computer consulting industry and to the Association” (2001).
Volunteer of the Year (2007). One of two volunteers honored that year.
Presentations
2025 presentation to Executive Leaders of Advisory Boards: "The Legal Implications of AI: What Every Board Needs to Know"
Fred shared pointers with ELAB on how to take advantages of AI's opportunities while mitigating its risks. He discussed how AI is impacting IP law and changing due diligence, M&A practice, and the valuation of business assets. He shared contracting best practices, as well as trends in laws and litigation.
July 11, 2025
2025 presentation to Executive Leaders of Advisory Boards: "The Legal Implications of AI: What Every Board Needs to Know"
Fred shared pointers with ELAB on how to take advantages of AI's opportunities while mitigating its risks. He discussed how AI is impacting IP law and changing due diligence, M&A practice, and the valuation of business assets. He shared contracting best practices, as well as trends in laws and litigation.
July 11, 2025
2025 presentation to Executive Leaders of Advisory Boards: "The Legal Implications of AI: What Every Board Needs to Know"
Fred shared pointers with ELAB on how to take advantages of AI's opportunities while mitigating its risks. He discussed how AI is impacting IP law and changing due diligence, M&A practice, and the valuation of business assets. He shared contracting best practices, as well as trends in laws and litigation.
July 11, 2025
2025 presentation to Executive Leaders of Advisory Boards: "The Legal Implications of AI: What Every Board Needs to Know"
Fred shared pointers with ELAB on how to take advantages of AI's opportunities while mitigating its risks. He discussed how AI is impacting IP law and changing due diligence, M&A practice, and the valuation of business assets. He shared contracting best practices, as well as trends in laws and litigation.
July 11, 2025
Presentations
Fred Wilf has given presentations to lawyers, judges, and the community, on a variety of topics including intellectual property, technology, technology transactions, and AI.
Articles
See Wilftek's Blog page
American Arbitration Association / International Centre for Dispute Resolution
Arbitrator
International Association of Accessibility Professionals
Member
-
Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated awarded in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies at www.martindale.com.
-
Best Lawyers® recognition for Information Technology Law (2011-Present)
-
Volunteer of the Year honored by Philadelphia Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (2007). One of two volunteers honored that year.
-
Milton Schwartz Award by the Independent Computer Consultants Association (ICCA) “for outstanding legal contributions to the computer consulting industry and to the Association” (2001).
-
Presentations
2025 presentation to Executive Leaders of Advisory Boards: "The Legal Implications of AI: What Every Board Needs to Know"
Fred shared pointers with ELAB on how to take advantages of AI's opportunities while mitigating its risks. He discussed how AI is impacting IP law and changing due diligence, M&A practice, and the valuation of business assets. He shared contracting best practices, as well as trends in laws and litigation.
July 11, 2025
2025 PBI Technology Institute presentation: "Help! My AI Ate My IP! - Creating and Protecting Intellectual Property When Using AI Tools"
In this presentation, Fred Wilf and Josh Waterston reviewed the impact of advances in AI and recent guidance from the Copyright Office and USPTO, and discussed practical approaches to creating and protecting intellectual property when using artificial intelligence tools.
March 7, 2025
2024 PBI Technology Institute presentation: "Who Owns That?: Guiding Intellectual Property Clients Through the A.I. Labyrinth"
In this presentation, Fred Wilf, Josh Waterston, and Lewis Sorokin discussed intellectual property issues posed by AI, including recent litigation, proposals for legislation and regulation, current efforts by individuals and the tech industry to mitigate IP risks, and best practices for both clients and lawyers in an era of uncertainty. Attendees gained the insights necessary to effectively counsel clients on the issues facing this groundbreaking new technology.
April 25, 2024
Video: From DABUS to Ghostwriter977: Legal Issues With GenAI in Arts and Music
Video of Fred Wilf and Lewis Sorokin's panel presentation with Dr. Rebecca Mercuri at the Trenton Computer Festival 2024, discussing the AI and IP legal landscape, including questions of fair use, and discussing stem splitting in music, as well as Thaler, Zarya of the Dawn, and more.
April 3, 2024
From DABUS to Ghostwriter977: Legal Issues With GenAI in Arts and Music
Fred Wilf and Lewis Sorokin spoke on a panel moderated by Dr. Rebecca Mercuri at the Trenton Computer Festival 2024, discussing the AI legal landscape from Thaler to Zarya of the Dawn and beyond.
March 16, 2024
Video: Intersection of Intellectual Property and AI
Fred Wilf and Josh Waterston's September 2023 presentation at the Drexel Law School's Privacy, Security and Compliance Program, on the intersection of Intellectual Property and AI.
September 28, 2023
2023 PBI Technology Institute presentation on Intellectual Property Protection for Generative AI Creations
A presentation by Fred Wilf and Josh Waterston on the intersection of Intellectual Property and AI. They discussed existing copyright authorship requirements and reviewed how these may be applied to works derived from AI.
March 28, 2023
Video: Intellectual Property Protection for Generative AI Creations - 2023 Trenton Computer Festival
Recording of Fred Wilf's presentation and Q&A at the world's oldest and longest-running technology fair, regarding the intersection of Intellectual Property and AI. Fred discussed existing copyright authorship requirements, and reviewed how these may be applied to works derived from AI.
March 17, 2023
Privacy Law Update - 2022 Trenton Computer Festival
Fred Wilf and Josh Waterston shared a Privacy Law update at the world's oldest and longest-running technology fair. They discussed new and existing state privacy laws, the impact of the European Union's GDPR on privacy laws across the world, how California's CPRA changes the existing CCPA, and new and proposed Federal laws. They also shared best practices to comply with current and pending privacy laws.
March 18, 2022
Video: Why And When Would You File For A Copyright
March 23, 2021
Video: Why And When You Would Create A Company
March 23, 2021
Video: Why And When Would You File For A Patent?
In this brief video, Fred Wilf explained how patent law differs from copyright and trademark law, and how inventors can protect their creations, as long as they are novel, useful, and non-obvious. He outlined the critical one year on sale/public disclosure deadline, the necessity for enabling disclosure and best mode, and the difference between provisional and full (utility) applications. He also reviewed strategic uses of patents: sword/shield, licensing, and cross licensing, in the context of a cost benefit analysis.
March 23, 2021
Video: Who Owns Work Created By A Freelancer?
In this brief video, Fred Wilf explained how freelancers could navigate and leverage various areas of intellectual property law to protect their work. He described the distinct ownership rules for copyrights, patents, trademarks, and trade secrets, and how protections could be affected by employment relationships, specific circumstances, or written agreements. Key topics included “work made for hire” (copyright), shop rights (patent), how use affects trademark rights, and safeguarding confidential information as trade secrets.
March 23, 2021
Video: Why And When Would You File For A Trademark?
In this brief video, Fred Wilf gave an overview of Federal trademark law. He explained how trademarks protect a business, and the difference between Federal trademark applications and common-law trademark rights. He also shared the difference between “actual use” and intent to use” applications, and provided a cost-benefit framework for businesses to use when deciding how to proceed.
March 23, 2021
Privacy Law Update - 2021 Trenton Computer Festival
Fred Wilf spoke at the world's oldest and longest-running technology fair. He discussed how U.S. privacy law has changed, how the European Union's GDPR, California's CCPA, and Federal laws, are each impacting the privacy law landscape, and he shared best practices to comply with privacy laws.
March 19, 2021
Video: Privacy and Security in 2020
Fred Wilf and Chris Shull presented this May 13, 2020 Beacon webinar. They provided an overview of data privacy and security requirements, from Fair Information Practice Principles, to current laws and frameworks, to risk factors and steps that businesses and individuals can take to protect privacy and improve security. Chris Shull is the founder and president of Engaged Impact (https://engagedimpact.com/)
May 13, 2020
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Video: Webinar On Intellectual Property (Part 2)
May 13, 2020
Video: Privacy and Security in 2020
Fred Wilf and Chris Shull presented this May 13, 2020 Beacon webinar. They provided an overview of data privacy and security requirements, from Fair Information Practice Principles, to current laws and frameworks, to risk factors and steps that businesses and individuals can take to protect privacy and improve security. Chris Shull is the founder and president of Engaged Impact (https://engagedimpact.com/)
May 13, 2020
Video: Webinar On Intellectual Property (Part 1)
April 30, 2020
Video: Fred Wilf's interview on Tech Talks about the "Legal Side of Tech"
PhillyTech founder Michael Bertoni's March 7, 2020 Tech Talks interview with Fred Wilf about Wilftek and issues raised by the intersection of law and emerging technologies, including the impact of the blockchain on privacy law, and how the Americans with Disabilities Act impacts website accessibility requirements.
March 7, 2020
Video: Cloud Computing: Overview of Legal Issues, Risks and Claims
Fred Wilf and Shawn Huston (founder of LSP Data Solutions) presented this June 9, 2015 webinar on cloud computing and e-Discovery. They discussed topics including: Layers of cloud services, How clients use the cloud, Jurisdiction and legal issues, Cloud services for lawyers, and Evidence.
You can learn more about Shawn Huston and LSP Data Solutions at https://lspforensics.com/index.php/everything-else/our-ratings?view=article&id=25:meet-shawn-huston-the-visionary-founder-of-lsp-data
June 10, 2015