PEDRO VALE GONÇALVES
AI, digital regulation and public-policy strategy in Europe.
I advise organisations that need a clear, credible and long-term position on AI and digital regulation in the European Union – from implementation of the AI Act and GDPR to engagement with the European Commission and other EU institutions.
Clarity and leverage in front of regulators and EU institutions.
Who I advise on AI, digital regulation and public policy
The mandates I take on in this space involve organisations for whom AI and digital regulation are strategically relevant – not only a compliance box to tick.
Corporates and AI-driven businesses
Groups and business units that need to bring AI and data-intensive products, services and internal tools in line with EU regulation – without losing strategic freedom or delaying innovation.
- AI-enabled products and platforms operating across several EU Member States.
- Internal use of generative AI and data analytics embedded in decision-making.
- Group-wide governance structures incorporating AI, data and technology risk.
Founders, scale-ups and investors
High-growth companies and investment teams that need to understand how AI and digital regulation affect valuation, risk and deal-making.
- AI and data-driven start-ups preparing for funding rounds or international expansion.
- Portfolio reviews focusing on exposure to AI Act, GDPR, DSA and related EU rules.
- Transaction support in deals where AI and data regulation are central to the thesis.
Industry alliances, research projects and public-interest bodies
Organisations and coalitions that require a structured presence in Brussels and a credible voice in the European AI and digital-regulation debate.
- Representation and engagement with the European Commission and EU institutions.
- Work with centres of excellence and initiatives such as responsible-AI programmes.
- Strategic positioning on AI, data and digital legislation for industry groups and associations.
Key frameworks and issues I work with
My work in AI and digital regulation is anchored in concrete legal instruments and real policy processes – not abstract debates.
Core EU frameworks
- AI Act – including high-risk systems, generative AI and codes of conduct.
- GDPR – data protection, international transfers and AI-driven processing.
- Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Markets Act (DMA).
- Data Act and data-sharing frameworks.
- Sector regulation in health, life sciences, financial services and digital platforms.
Issues clients typically bring to me
- Mapping AI and digital-regulation risk across products, services and jurisdictions.
- Designing governance models that satisfy regulators, investors and boards.
- Building internal accountability for AI and data-driven decision-making.
- Preparing for supervision, investigations and regulatory dialogue with EU authorities.
- Aligning public-policy messaging with legal and business strategy.
Examples of AI, regulation and public-policy mandates
A non-exhaustive sample of the situations where I am typically asked to intervene.
- Designing and rolling out an AI-governance framework across several EU jurisdictions for an AI-driven business group.
- Advising an AI scale-up on how to align product roadmap and internal governance with the AI Act while preparing for international expansion.
- Supporting an investment team in assessing portfolio exposure to AI, data and digital-regulation risk, and translating that into board-level decisions.
- Representing an industry alliance in its engagement with the European Commission on AI, data and platform regulation, including input to consultations and soft-law instruments.
- Advising on the regulatory and public-policy strategy of research and innovation projects working with advanced AI and data-intensive technologies.
When AI and regulation move faster than your organisation
If AI, data and digital regulation are now central to your product, your portfolio or your public positioning in Europe, you need a strategy that goes beyond compliance checklists. My role is to turn EU regulatory complexity into clear options, decisions and next steps.
I typically respond within one business day.