Max Sills is the General Counsel at Midjourney, a leading company in the generative AI space, and the Owner of Open Advising, where he offers specialized legal counsel to startups and scale-ups in emerging tech sectors like AI and crypto. With deep expertise at the intersection of technology, intellectual property, and open-source law, Max is known for his strategic leadership in high-growth, innovation-driven environments.
In his dual roles, Max provides guidance on strategic risk management, open-source licensing, commercial negotiations, and intellectual property strategy—helping companies navigate complex legal landscapes while accelerating innovation.
Max’s legal career began at globally respected institutions, including the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the United Nations, and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), where he focused on regulatory frameworks, financial innovation, and global IP governance. These formative experiences paved the way for his impactful tenure at Google, where he served as Attorney Manager and played a critical role in shaping Google’s open-source legal strategy, managing major commercial partnerships, and leading acquisition diligence.
Uniquely blending legal and technical expertise, Max also served at Leap Motion as both a Software Engineer and Attorney, co-managing the patent portfolio and contributing to product architecture. This rare combination positioned him as a standout leader in emerging technologies.
As General Manager of the Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA) and Counsel at Block, Max became a leading advocate for open patents in the blockchain ecosystem, championing transparency and collaboration. He continues to support open technologies through his role as a Board Member at LedgerDomain and served as an Advisor to Midjourney before officially stepping into his current executive legal role.
Max holds a J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School and a B.A. in Mathematics and Cognitive Science from Case Western Reserve University. He is admitted to the California Bar and began his academic journey at Culver Military Academy, where he developed the strategic mindset that continues to shape his legal leadership today.