Christian Tamotsu Fjeld, Senior Vice President at ML Strategies in Washington, DC, advises clients on a broad array of federal policy issues. He draws on two decades of Capitol Hill experience to support clients in building relationships, shaping policy, and engaging effectively with the federal government.
Christian’s experience working with Congress and his insights help clients anticipate federal developments and advance their priorities with clarity and confidence.
Prior to joining ML Strategies, Christian held senior roles on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, including as Senior Counsel and Subcommittee Staff Director. In so doing, he served under the Ranking Member, Senator Maria Cantwell (D – WA), as well as former Chairman John D. Rockefeller IV (D-WV) and former Ranking Member Bill Nelson (D-FL). Christian worked with key oversight agencies such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), and the Department of Commerce. He also previously served in advisory roles with the House Energy & Commerce Committee and in the offices of former Representative Bobby L. Rush (D-IL) and to former US Representative Bill Luther (D-MN).
Christian, alongside other members of the ML Strategies team, contributes to a recurring thought leadership series, AI: The Washington Report, which offers insights and analysis on federal policy developments, legislative trends, and regulatory actions related to artificial intelligence.
Education
- George Washington School of Law (JD)
- Oberlin College (BA)
Recognition & Awards
JD Supra Readers’ Choice Award, Top Author – Artificial Intelligence, 2025
Recent Insights
Viewpoints
News & Press
Vice President of ML Strategies Christian Fjeld provided insights for a feature article published by The National Law Review examining the privacy implications of Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen’s testimony before a Congressional Subcommittee regarding harms perpetuated by the tech giant.
Vice President of ML Strategies Christian Fjeld was quoted in an article published by Bloomberg Law on how the Internet of Things Cybersecurity Improvement Act of 2020 may impact the industry due to the government’s purchasing power.
In Thomson Reuters’ Westlaw, Vice President of ML Strategies Christian Fjeld was quoted on the Internet of Things (IoT) Cybersecurity Improvement Act of 2020, which establishes security standards for IoT devices owned or controlled by the federal government and was recently signed into law by President Trump, and its potential “spillover effects” into the private sector.
Events
Christian Fjeld will be speaking at "FTC Commissioner Noah Phillips on the Outlook for Privacy and Digital Ads" hosted by the NAI.
Christian Fjeld is a speaker on a Mintz-sponsored ACC San Diego webinar titled "The Future of In-house Legal Teams & Regulatory Environment." The program will consider the vision for what's on the horizon in Washington, as the new administration and Democratic lead Congress set their agenda on key regulatory and policy issues.
Join Mintz and ML Strategies for a webinar that explores the issues surrounding federal privacy legislation. Cynthia Larose and Christian Fjeld will moderate this webinar with Jared Bomberg, Senior Counsel to US Senator Maria Cantwell, US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and David LeDuc, Vice President of Public Policy, Network Advertising Initiative.
Viewpoints
FTC Blog Outlines Factors for Companies to Consider About AI — AI: The Washington Report
January 10, 2025| Article
Read about the FTC’s outlined factors for AI development and deployment in the latest edition of AI: The Washington Report, a joint undertaking of Mintz and ML Strategies covering potential federal legislative, executive, and regulatory activities related to AI.
Report on AI Copyright Issues Delayed, Trump Builds AI Team, and Other December AI Updates — AI: The Washington Report
January 3, 2025| Article
Read about AI-related developments from late December, including a delay in a report on AI copyright issues, the new defense law’s AI provisions, and the next Trump administration’s AI team.
Congress Passes Defense Bill with AI Provisions — AI: The Washington Report
December 19, 2024| Article
Read about the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes a number of AI provisions in the latest edition of AI: The Washington Report, a joint undertaking of Mintz and ML Strategies covering potential federal legislative, executive, and regulatory activities related to AI.
Trump Taps David Sacks as AI and Crypto Czar — AI: The Washington Report
December 12, 2024| Article
Read about David Sacks’ appointment to “White House AI & Crypto Czar” by incoming President Donald Trump in the latest edition of AI: The Washington Report, a joint undertaking of Mintz and ML Strategies covering potential federal legislative, executive, and regulatory activities related to AI.
Senators Hold Hearing on AI Fraud and Scams, Vow to Pass AI Bills in Coming Weeks — AI: The Washington Report
November 22, 2024| Article
Read about the Senate Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security hearing on “Protecting Consumers from Artificial Intelligence Enabled Fraud and Scams” in the latest edition of AI: The Washington Report, a joint undertaking of Mintz and ML Strategies covering potential federal legislative, executive, and regulatory activities related to AI.
AI Under a Second Trump Administration — AI: The Washington Report
November 14, 2024| Article
Read about the AI priorities and policies that Trump is likely to pursue during his second term as president in the latest edition of AI: The Washington Report, a joint undertaking of Mintz and ML Strategies covering potential federal legislative, executive, and regulatory activities related to AI.
2024 Post-Election Analysis
November 8, 2024| Article
Read ML Strategies’ in-depth analysis of how the results of the November 2024 elections are likely to shape policy in many areas, including energy & sustainability, US-Canada cross-border issues, taxation, health care, international trade, infrastructure, consumer product safety, and financial services, and what to expect in the upcoming lame duck session of Congress.
Federal Agencies Take Action on AI One Year After AI Executive Order — AI: The Washington Report
November 7, 2024| Article
Read about the one-year anniversary of the Biden administration’s Executive Order on AI (AI EO) in the latest edition of AI: The Washington Report, a joint undertaking of Mintz and ML Strategies covering potential federal legislative, executive, and regulatory activities related to AI.
OMB Issues Additional Guidance to Federal Agencies on their Acquisition of AI — AI: The Washington Report
October 24, 2024| Article
Read about the new memorandum from the Office of Management and Budget on Advancing the Responsible Acquisition of Artificial Intelligence in Government in the latest edition of AI: The Washington Report, a joint undertaking of Mintz and ML Strategies covering potential federal legislative, executive, and regulatory activities related to AI.
Led by DOJ, Federal Agencies Convene to Coordinate Safeguarding Civil Rights from AI-Related Harms — AI: The Washington Report
October 16, 2024| Article
Read about the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Civil Rights Division convening of the heads of federal agency civil rights offices to discuss and promote coordination around preventing harms that may stem from AI, including unlawful discrimination in the latest edition of AI: The Washington Report, a joint undertaking of Mintz and ML Strategies covering potential federal legislative, executive, and regulatory activities related to AI.
News & Press
Privacy Implications of the Facebook Whistleblower Testimony
October 19, 2021 | The National Law Review
Vice President of ML Strategies Christian Fjeld provided insights for a feature article published by The National Law Review examining the privacy implications of Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen’s testimony before a Congressional Subcommittee regarding harms perpetuated by the tech giant.
Cyber Standards for Connected Devices Leverage Federal Purchases
January 5, 2021 | Bloomberg Law
Vice President of ML Strategies Christian Fjeld was quoted in an article published by Bloomberg Law on how the Internet of Things Cybersecurity Improvement Act of 2020 may impact the industry due to the government’s purchasing power.
Internet of Things Law Uses Procurement Process to Boost Cybersecurity
December 8, 2020 | Westlaw
In Thomson Reuters’ Westlaw, Vice President of ML Strategies Christian Fjeld was quoted on the Internet of Things (IoT) Cybersecurity Improvement Act of 2020, which establishes security standards for IoT devices owned or controlled by the federal government and was recently signed into law by President Trump, and its potential “spillover effects” into the private sector.
How The Election Could Reshape The Telecom Industry
November 2, 2020 | Law360
In an article published by Law360, Vice President of ML Strategies Christian Fjeld was quoted on how the 2020 election could reshape the communications industry, specifically with regards to leadership on relevant congressional committees and the possibility of reform of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.
Myriad Section 230 Bills Show Agreement Still Out Of Reach
October 19, 2020 | Law360
In an article published by Law360, Vice President of ML Strategies Christian Fjeld was quoted on lawmaker efforts to amend Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.
Special Report: The Mask Middlemen - How Pop-Up Brokers Seek Big Paydays in a Frenzied Market
April 1, 2020 | Reuters
Vice President of ML Strategies Christian Fjeld was quoted in an article published by Reuters discussing the increase of price gouging due to COVID-19 and its legality.
Reading the Tea Leaves in NHSTA’s First Approval of Fully Autonomous Vehicles
February 13, 2020 | Legaltech News
Vice President of ML Strategies Christian Fjeld was quoted in an article published by Legaltech News on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s approval of robotics company Nuro’s request for three exemptions to deploy its fully autonomous car fleet in the United States.
The Impact of AI: Bay Area Experts Discuss the Meaning of Artificial Intelligence and How it Will Affect the Economy and Society
January 24, 2020 | San Francisco Business Times
On December 9, 2019, Vice President of ML Strategies Christian T. Fjeld participated in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Business Table of Experts discussion hosted by the San Francisco Business Times. During the forum, panelists addressed how businesses can leverage AI to drive innovation, the impact AI will have on the economy and on society, and the meaning of artificial intelligence itself.
Former Senate Staffer Reveals How Congress Can Pass an Autonomous Vehicle Bill
November 19, 2019 | Legaltech News
In this Q&A published by Legaltech News, Vice President of ML Strategies Christian Fjeld—former lead Democratic Senate staffer tasked with shepherding the American Vision for Safer Transportation through Advancement of Revolutionary Technologies Act (AV START Act) through the Senate—discussed why Congress failed to pass the AV START Act, how autonomous vehicles’ complexity isn’t lawmakers’ largest hurdle, and why the data privacy debate may factor into the next autonomous vehicle bill.
Events
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Dec
8
2021
Speaker
May
25
2021
Moderator
Apr
6
2021
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Nov
5
2020
Moderator
Jul
9
2020
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Jun
19
2019