Hi, I'm Cat. I'm a Copyright & AI lawyer, researcher, nonprofit leader, and writer.

Latest reflections

Training the Commons: Copyright, Large Language Models, and the Road to Reciprocity

by Catarina Conran

27 Apr 2025 · Policy & AI

My mission

I believe that humanity’s greatest achievements come from freely sharing art, knowledge, and science. As a Cuban‑American lawyer trained in copyright law and AI tools, my mission is to help ensure that emerging technologies expand —rather than shrink— the digital Commons.

Biography

Hi, I’m Catarina M. Conran, currently serving as Copyright & AI Legal Counsel for a stealth tabletop‑gaming company. I earned a J.D./M.A. dual degree from the University of Virginia—becoming the first graduate of its Law & Environmental Science program—and graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania. My scholarship on cultural‑heritage and environmental law has appeared in a leading journal, and I’ve presented award‑winning research at the Ivy League Undergraduate Research Symposium.I’ve edited two top law journals, advised clients on complex litigation, and spent time learning and writing about how AI intersects with copyright law. Whether drafting legal documents, writing blog posts or legal scholarship, or presenting before large groups, I strive to translate complicated legal issues into clear guidance for creators.

Key areas of interest

  • Copyright & AI Strategy – Advising on licensing, copyright, and fair‑use.

  • Legal Research & Writing – Publishing and presenting on cutting‑edge questions at the intersection of intellectual property law and technology.

  • Community Building – Designing workshops and round‑tables that connect lawyers, creators, and scholars (in the fields of both copyright and emerging technology) to unlock creative opportunities.

  • Education & Advocacy – Translating complex legal developments into accessible guidance for creatives, GLAMs, research institutions, and governmental bodies.

My experience

  • Copyright & AI Legal Counsel, Stealth Game Company – AI image creation and licensing, trademark and copyright law research and counseling

  • Legal Counsel and Corporate Secretary, GCMA Foundation, 501(c)(3) — Provide legal advice and guidance on the foundation's charitable giving efforts

  • Law Associate, Keller & Heckman LLP – Highest new‑associate performance score in firm history

  • Executive Editor, Virginia Environmental Law Journal; Editorial Board Member, Virginia Law Review – Editorial supervision of cutting-edge legal scholarship

  • Communications Lead, AMATEA LLC – Authored 14 blog posts on cultural heritage and the UN SDGs

Legal publications

Monumental Change? Rethinking the Role of the Courts in the Antiquities Act → Catarina Conran, 2022, Virginia Environmental Law Journal

Levees Against the Rising Tide
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Catarina Conran, 2023, University of Virginia