The American Bar Association (the ABA) has begun the first revision of its Model Procurement Code in 25 years, a sweeping effort aimed at modernizing the legal framework governing how state and local governments purchase technology and services.
Chris Bowen, Esq., corporate counsel for public sector customers at Google LLC, is serving as co-chair of the ABA’s Information Technology Committee, which is overseeing the update. The initiative is a joint undertaking of the ABA and the Partnership for Public Good, with the aim of addressing how current technology should be reflected in the legal standards governing public purchasing. The effort comes as governments increasingly rely on artificial intelligence, cloud computing and data-driven systems that were not contemplated when the code was last updated.
“This committee is focusing on how technology and recent developments should be addressed in the Model Procurement Code as it goes through its first revision in 25 years,” Mr. Bowen said.
Questions Concerning AI and IP Ownership
The update is underway as public agencies face complex legal inquiries into artificial intelligence and cloud-based services. “The industry trend right now is grappling with IP ownership questions that come with the new AI technologies,” Mr. Bowen said, including who owns the models, the weights for the models and the resulting trained models.
However, those aren’t the only concerns. Complicated issues also arise when organizations build upon third-party platforms. “When you use a third-party model to train your own model, who owns the new model that is created?” Mr. Bowen said.
Data sovereignty is another area under scrutiny. Public entities seek assurances about where data is stored and whether cloud infrastructure can operate in controlled environments. “There is increasing discussion over data sovereignty, not just where the data resides on a generally available cloud, but also whether that cloud can be made available offline so that people can actually host it in their own data center,” Mr. Bowen said.
Committee members are examining how procurement rules should account for these realities, balancing these considerations with transparency, competition and fiscal responsibility. Mr. Bowen has experience negotiating contracts for leading-edge technologies with governments and academic institutions across the United States. “This experience has enabled me to see where the customer's concerns are, as well as to make sure that the needs of the clients are met,” he says.
Legal Clarity for Emerging Technologies
Mr. Bowen joined Google in 2022 and serves as corporate counsel for public sector customers. In that role, he negotiates outbound contracts with state, local and federal civilian agencies. His work also involves assisting internal contracts and compliance teams. These efforts include evaluating evolving contract terms and contributing to broader legal strategies that support commercial transactions.
Before joining Google, Mr. Bowen held legal positions at Spire Global Inc., IBM, ArentFox and the U.S. Department of Justice. His background includes complex litigation and procurement matters. Additionally, he counseled organizations maneuvering regulatory frameworks for technology adoption.
The Model Procurement Code revision represents a milestone for the legal community. Public procurement statutes often lag behind technological innovation, creating uncertainty for agencies and vendors. Mr. Bowen and his fellow committee members aim to provide clarity on how artificial intelligence, cloud infrastructure and data governance impact essential government services.
The updated code is also expected to influence how public entities across the country structure technology acquisitions in the years ahead. By integrating current considerations and established legal standards, the committee hopes to strengthen accountability.
About Christopher A. Bowen Esq.
Christopher A. Bowen Esq. is corporate counsel for public sector customers at Google LLC, where he negotiates contracts involving advanced technology with government and academic institutions. He currently serves as co-chair of the ABA committee revising the Model Procurement Code for the Information Technology Committee.
Media Contact
Christopher A. Bowen Esq.
cabowen25@yahoo.com