Wu, former lieutenant governor candidate, to join attorney general's office as special adviser

A Columbia Law school professor who ran for New York lieutenant governor last year is joining Attorney General Eric Schneiderman's office as a special adviser focusing on technology and Internet policy.

Tim Wu is credited with coining the term "net neutrality" and his work focuses on free speech, Internet regulations and antitrust law. He will take a leave of absence from Columbia while working for Schneiderman, whose office announced the appointment Monday.

On Tuesday, Schneiderman said Wu will serve as his senior enforcement counsel and special adviser. "Tim's forward-thinking ideas on technology will bring an important perspective to our work," he said.

In comments prepared for a business and technology group, Schneiderman said New York is adding tech jobs faster than Silicon Valley. The sector is spawning new companies and new ways of doing business, with challenges for the law and regulation, he said.

"My goal is an evolving state framework for what I call 'responsible disruption,'" Schneiderman said. Its principles are nurturing competition and fair markets, accounting for the hidden costs of doing business in new ways, protecting consumers and supporting workers as new business models evolve, he said.

Wu ran for lieutenant governor in 2014, losing to Kathy Hochul in the Democratic primary. During the campaign, Wu and his running mate, Fordham University law professor Zephyr Teachout, emerged as sharp critics of Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Wu said his decision to join Schneiderman's team was prompted by his interest in standing up for consumers and the public.