Associate Director, Center for Law and Innovation, Certa Foundation, Rwanda
Michael Butera is a Harvard Law School LL.M. student specializing in Technology Law and Policy. He serves as the Associate Director of the Center for Law and Innovation, where he leads research within the Tech Law and Innovation Lab—an emerging technologies research space at the Center, known for its multidisciplinary approach. Throughout his career, Michael has made significant contributions to the field of law through his work as a legal researcher at various renowned institutions. Notably, he has served at the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights in Germany, the Center for Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law, and the Strathmore Extractive Industries Center in Kenya. His involvement in diverse projects, ranging from Data Protection and Artificial Intelligence to Business and Human Rights (BHR) and Climate Justice, demonstrates his commitment to advancing crucial legal aspects.
Michael is an alumnus of Strathmore Law School, where he received both the Strathmore University Merit Scholarship and the Critical Legal Training Scholarship from the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights. Additionally, he has actively participated in independent research projects, including the Strathmore Extractive Industries Center’s African Petroleum Legislation Atlas pilot project in partnership with the African Legal Support Facility hosted by the African Development Bank. His recent publication on Rwanda's AI National Policy Brief with CLI further exemplifies his dedication to promoting innovative research. Beyond his legal pursuits, Michael finds joy in reading African literature and staunchly supports African decolonizing initiatives. He nurtures an avid interest in African Legal History, Third World Approach to International Law and Economics, and International Climate Change Law.
Michael fluently speaks English, Kinyarwanda, and K
