Law · technology · artificial intelligence

Joseph J. Schwerha IV

Privacy, AI & Information Governance Law Expert · Author · Global Speaker

Lead, Law & Policy · PennWest Center for Artificial Intelligence & Emerging Technologies

An internationally recognized scholar and speaker working at the intersection of law and technology for more than three decades—helping technology startups scale responsibly, earn investor trust, and navigate AI law, policy, and ethics.

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Joseph J. Schwerha IV

PennWest University
California, Pennsylvania

Academic & professional portfolioScroll to explore ↓

Overview

Legal depth.
Operational fluency.

I bring a rare combination of regulatory foresight, prosecutorial perspective, academic leadership, and business experience to technology startups and scale-ups.

Privacy leadershipRisk & compliance frameworksAI ethics & policy guidanceLegal & growth strategy

Two sides of the same coin

Academic & policy authority

Ideas tested where rules are made.

More than three decades of teaching, publishing, and speaking across universities and international forums—helping shape approaches to cybercrime, privacy, digital evidence, and AI governance.

Business & operating experience

Advice tested where decisions are made.

Private-practice, consulting, and business-leadership experience inform practical counsel for companies that need to grow, manage risk, satisfy regulators, and earn investor confidence.

01 / Research

Questions worth
examining closely.

A continuing body of work on technology’s legal, ethical, and institutional consequences—with AI governance at its center.

01

Artificial intelligence policy & ethics

Responsible governance for technologies that are rapidly changing institutions and public life.

02

Data privacy & cybersecurity law

Accountability, safeguards, and legal risk in a data-intensive world.

03

Digital evidence & electronic discovery

The practical and procedural challenges of evidence created, stored, and shared digitally.

04

Cybercrime & international cooperation

Cross-border investigation, prosecution, and the international frameworks that govern them.

AI leadership

Turning legal experience into practical AI governance.

01

AI governance & accountability

Examining how organizations can define responsibility, controls, and oversight as AI systems become more autonomous.

02

AI regulation & privacy

Helping leaders make sense of emerging AI rules, privacy obligations, digital evidence, and the legal risks of AI-assisted work.

03

AI in higher education

Contributing to conversations on responsible AI adoption, policy, ethics, and student success in higher education.

Complete record

Publications

A complete list from the curriculum vitae, with selected work highlighted above.

  1. Schwerha, J. International Cooperation in the Interception of Telecommunications, USA Law Supplemental Report, Max Planck Institute for Foreign and International Criminal Law (2021).
  2. Schwerha, J., Mitchell, S., and Bagby, J. Potential Changes to eDiscovery Rules in Federal Court: A Discussion of the Process, Substantive Changes and Their Applicability and Impact on Virginia Practice, Proceedings 2015 Conference on Digital Forensics Security and Law (June 2015).
  3. Schwerha, J. Potential Changes in the Operation of U.S. Search Warrants to Obtain Extraterritorial Data: A Discussion of the Pending Changes to Rule 41 and of Microsoft v. Ireland, Octopus Conference 2015 Cooperation Against Cybercrime (June 2015).
  4. Bagby, J. and Schwerha, J. The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure: Politics in the 2013–2014 Revision, ADFSL Conference on Digital Forensics, Security and Law (2014).
  5. Bagby, J. and Schwerha, J. Resolution of Federal ESI Civil Discovery Rule Revisions: A Unique Pedagogical Tool of Policy Analysis, Proceedings 2014 Academy for the Legal Studies in Business, Seattle, Washington (August 2014).
  6. Bagby, J., Granda, B., Benoit, E., Logan, A., Snell, R., and Schwerha, J. The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure: Politics in the 2013–2014 Revision, Proceedings for the 2014 International Conference for the Association of Digital Forensics, Security and Law, Richmond, Virginia (May 2014).
  7. Angels or Spies: Does the U.S. Continue to Comply with Article 15 of the Budapest Convention in its Collection of Foreign Intelligence Information, 2013 Conference on the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime (2013–2014).
  8. Bagby, J. and Schwerha, J. International Aspects of Migrating Digital Forensics in the Cloud, 10 Digital Evidence and Electronic Signature Law Review (2013).
  9. Bagby, J. and Schwerha, J. Migrating Digital Forensics and Electronic Discovery into the Cloud: An Injustice Risk Analysis, No. ALSB2013_103; Academy of Legal Studies in Business, Boston, Massachusetts (August 2013).
  10. How Records Management Standardization Influences Information Governance: Managing Risks at the Confluence of Electronic Discovery and Modern Communication, 2012 Academy for the Legal Studies in Business, Kansas City, Missouri (August 2012).
  11. Encyclopedia entry for “Probable Cause,” The Encyclopedia of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Wiley-Blackwell.
  12. Bagby, J. and Schwerha, J. How Records Management Standardization Influences Information Governance: Managing Risks at the Confluence of Electronic Discovery and Modern Communication, No. ALSB2012_0146; Academy of Legal Studies in Business, Kansas City, Missouri (August 2012).
  13. Schwerha, J., Esler, M., and Bagby, J. Electronic Evidence, Chapter on United States Law, Lexis Nexis, internationally distributed full-length treatise (2012).
  14. Kaspersen, H. and Schwerha, J. Article 15 Conditions and Safeguards under the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime, Project on Cybercrime, Economic Crime Programme, Council of Europe (November 2011).
  15. Law Enforcement Challenges in Transborder Acquisition of Electronic Evidence from Cloud Computing Providers, Project on Cybercrime, Economic Crime Programme, Council of Europe (2010).
  16. Schwerha, J. and Esler, M. Electronic Evidence, Chapter on United States Law, Lexis Nexis, internationally distributed full-length treatise (2010).
  17. Use of P2 Commander in Electronic Discovery, white paper for Paraben Corporation (2009).
  18. Schwerha, J., Smith, Holley, and Luehr. Handbook of Digital Forensics & Investigation: Forensic Tools and Technology, Chapter on Electronic Discovery, 2nd Edition (2009).
  19. Schwerha, J., Franklin, Kale, Maheu, Peterson, Sutton, and Wurzler. Cyber Liability and Insurance: Managing the Risks of Intangible Assets, The National Underwriter Company (2009).
  20. Schwerha, J. and Inch, S. Remote Forensics May Bring the Next Sea Change in E-discovery: Are All Networked Computers Now Readily Accessible Under the Revised Federal Rules of Civil Procedure?, Journal of Digital Forensics Security and Law, Vol. 3(3) (December 2008).
  21. United Nations Cybersecurity Programme: ITU Toolkit for Cybercrime Legislation, developed through the American Bar Association’s Privacy & Computer Crime Committee, Section of Science & Technology Law (November 2008).
  22. Why computer forensic professionals shouldn’t be required to have private investigator licenses, Journal of Digital Investigation, Vol. 5, Issues 1–2 (2008).
  23. Brenner, S. and Schwerha, J. Cybercrime Havens, The Computer & Internet Lawyer, Vol. 25, No. 9, p. 19 (September 2008).
  24. Caught in the middle: whether to seek help when the organization is the subject of information technology attack, International Conference on Digital Evidence, Digital Evidence & Electronic Signature Law Review, Vol. 5, London, England (2008).
  25. Cybercrime havens: challenges and solutions, Business Law Today, American Bar Association, Vol. 17, No. 2 (November/December 2007).
  26. Legislative Efforts to Protect Minors Online: A Limited Review of This Year’s Bills in the Context of Current Law, Cybercrime & Security, Oceana, New York (September 2007).
  27. Digital Evidence in the Courtroom: A Guide for Law Enforcement and Prosecutors, U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice (January 2007).
  28. The right to pseudo-anonymous speech in the online context: Should internet users have the right to criticize corporations online without having their identities revealed to anyone who can file a lawsuit?, Proceedings of The XVII International Conference, Academy of Business & Administrative Sciences, Troyes, France (June 2007).
  29. Voir Dire in High Tech Cases: Don’t Forget the Tech, Digital Evidence and E-Discovery, Pike & Fisher, BNA, Inc. (October 2006).
  30. Privacy and Security, Pennsylvania Bar Institute Course Book, article on Consumer Privacy (February 2006).
  31. Cybercrime: Legal Standards Governing the Collection of Digital Evidence, Information Systems Frontiers 6:2, 133–151, Kluwer Academic Publishers (June 2004).
  32. Brenner, S. and Schwerha, J. Introduction – Cybercrime: A Note on International Issues, Information Systems Frontiers 6:2, 133–151, Kluwer Academic Publishers (June 2004).
  33. Unlawful Duplication Law Has Broad Provisions, Broader Consequences, Cybercrime Law Report, Vol. 3, No. 16, Pike & Fisher (August 11, 2003).
  34. Computer Crime, Information Warfare, and Economic Espionage, Carolina Academic Press, chapter on international cybercrime prosecution (Fall 2002).
  35. Electronic Discovery, Pennsylvania Bar Institute Course Book, sections on Evidentiary Issues and Privacy and Governmental Issues (March 2003).
  36. Brenner, S. and Schwerha, J. Transnational Evidence Gathering and Local Prosecution of International Cybercrime, John Marshall Law Journal of Computer and Information Law (Winter 2003).
  37. Brenner, S. and Schwerha, J. Transnational Evidence Gathering and Local Prosecution of International Cybercrime, Course Materials, National Cybercrime Conference, Criminal Justice Committee, American Bar Association, Chicago, Illinois (May 2002).
  38. Warranties Against Infringement in the Sale of Goods: A Comparison of Section 2-312(3) of the Uniform Commercial Code and Article 42 of the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods, Michigan Journal of International Law, Vol. 16, No. 2, pp. 4441–484 (Winter 1995).
  39. The Buyer’s Warranty: When the Buyer of Goods Must Hold the Seller Harmless, 46 Pennsylvania Bar Association Quarterly 38 (January 1995).
  40. Preclusive Effect of Unemployment Proceedings, Counterpoint (Fall 1996).
  41. The Third Circuit Clarifies Burden of Proof in Employment Discrimination Claims, Pittsburgh Law Journal, Vol. 122, No. 2443, p. 1 (December 26, 1996).

Complete record

Selected presentations

Conference talks, workshops, and public engagements from the curriculum vitae.

  1. Current State of Global Regulation of AI – Concentrating on the United States, PennWest–California (2025)
  2. From Cybercrime to Generative AI: Preparing Students for the Next Era, Great Lakes ALSB Conference (October 2025)
  3. Navigating the Future: AI – Law, Policy, and Ethics in a Transformative Era, Shippensburg AI Conference (2025)
  4. Moderator, Two Panels on Intersection of Law & Technology, Academy of Legal Studies in Business National Conference (2024)
  5. Privacy is Not a Real Word, Conference on Digital Forensics, Security and Law (2019)
  6. Overview of the CLOUD Act, Conference on Digital Forensics Security and Law (2018)
  7. Evidence in the cloud: criminal justice access to data, Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime Conference (2015)
  8. Criminal Justice Versus National Security, Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime Conference (2014)
  9. Angels or Spies, Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime Conference (2013–2014)
  10. Migrating Digital Forensics and Electronic Discovery to the Cloud, Academy of Legal Studies in Business (2013)
  11. Challenges in Modern Technology to Law Enforcement in the EU, University of Malta and U.S. Embassy Valletta (2013)
  12. Cybercrime, Digital Forensics, Electronic Discovery and Digital Evidence under U.S. Law, University of Malta and U.S. Embassy Valletta (2013)
  13. Cyberforensics, Electronic Discovery and Digital Evidence under U.S. Law, University of Malta and U.S. Embassy Valletta (2013)
  14. Member and Panelist, Expert Meeting on International Cybercrime Experts, University of Freiburg (2012)
  15. U.S. Perspective on Article 15 Conditions and Safeguards, Council of Europe Octopus Conference (2011)
  16. Panelist, Developing and Implementing an International Travel Component in a Law Course (2011)
  17. Defining the Definition: Legal Obligations Relating to Evidence Contained on Mobile Devices? (2011)
  18. Challenges and Opportunities in the Investigation and Prosecution of Cyber-Crime Today (2011)
  19. Profiling Cyber-Criminals, NATO Advanced Training Seminar: Cyber Terrorism (2010)
  20. Cyber-Terrorism, NATO Advanced Training Seminar: Cyber Terrorism (2010)
  21. The Nagging Issues with Cloud Computing: A Discussion of a Few Drawbacks (2010)
  22. Panelist, International Issues and Initiatives in Cybersecurity, GOVSEC Conference (2010)
  23. Caught in the middle, International Conference on Digital Evidence, London (2008)
  24. Regional Cyber 1101R: Cyber Investigative Techniques & Resources, FBI (2008)
  25. The XVII International Conference: Do we have a limited right to anonymity on the Internet? (2007)
  26. Cybercrimes, National Constitution Center International Teleconference (2007)
  27. International Cybercrime Prosecution from the Perspective of State and Local Law Enforcement, ADFSL Conference (2007)
  28. Era of Technological Change in the Justice System, Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (2007)
  29. Cybercrime, Privacy and Ethics: Domestic and International Implications, American Bar Association (2006–2007)
  30. Points and Pitfalls for Judges in International Cybercrime Prosecution, U.S. Department of Commerce, Cairo (2006)
  31. Electronic Discovery of Handhelds: A case study of HP and Privacy, International Association of Privacy Professionals (2006)

02 / Experience

Teaching, research,
and an AI-forward practice.

2005—present

Professor of Business Law & Technology

PennWest University

Teaches undergraduate and graduate business law; developed coursework in cybercrime, privacy, and cybersecurity law.

2003

Adjunct Professor

Carnegie Mellon University · Heinz College

Taught graduate students about the policy and legal implications of cybercrime and privacy.

2014—2017

Executive Director

Entrepreneurial Leadership Center

Led an incubator-oriented center supporting student entrepreneurs and regional innovation.

03 / Education & service

A foundation in law, policy, and public purpose.

Education

  • J.D., University of Pittsburgh School of Law
  • M.S., Public Policy & Management, Carnegie Mellon University
  • B.S., Applied History & Economics, Carnegie Mellon University

Recognition & service

  • Lead, Law & Policy Community of Practice, PennWest Center on AI & Emerging Technologies
  • Affiliated Fellow, Yale Law School Internet Society Project
  • Past Certified as Information Privacy Professional

Connect

Let’s continue the
conversation.

Academic inquiries

schwerha@pennwest.edu ↗

Business inquiries

joe@nutrifections.com ↗
Phone available upon requestConnect on LinkedIn ↗