Acute Strategy is led by Melody Drummond Hansen, a distinguished voice in emerging tech strategy, law, and policy, in both the public and private sectors.

After decades advising the biggest names in the technology and transportation industries on IP strategy, data, partnerships, and disputes,  Melody recently served as a Presidential appointee in the US Department of Transportation as Chief Counsel of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. As part of the Agency’s “C-Suite,” she worked with other Agency leaders to pursue FMCSA’s safety mission to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities involving large trucks and buses. Melody led a team of 60 lawyers, and worked with the Agency on nationwide safety enforcement, research, education, and grant programs, operating with a $1 billion budget, covering more than 500,000 commercial trucking companies and four million commercial driver’s license holders. She represented the agency at industry events and in key meetings with stakeholders from the private sector, trucking groups, carriers, drivers,  safety organizations, the White House, DOJ, members of Congress, and state law enforcement.

Before serving in the U.S. DOT, Melody launched and led two transportation industry groups: the Automotive/Mobility group at BakerHostetler, and the Automated and Connected Vehicles group at O’Melveny. She guided established market leaders and emerging companies on IP strategy and licensing, technology disputes, data privacy and security, transactions, partnerships, product risks, and compliance. Melody also kept clients up-to-date on industry advancements, legal developments, evolving regulations, and industry standards, while helping them engage with policymakers and  navigate regulatory hurdles. Her particular focus was on emerging technologies including automated and connected vehicles, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence. She is experienced in hardware, software, IoT, fleet management, electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles, avionics, and telecommunications.

Melody is Chair of the Transportation Research Board’s Standing Committee on Developments and Advancements in Transportation Technology Law. She has been named a Technology Law Trailblazer, California Trailblazer, and Top Artificial Intelligence Lawyer.