Microsoft's lead lawyer to rejoin law firm
Reuters | at | by Mike
William Neukom, Microsoft Corp.'s lead lawyer who led the software giant's defense against federal antitrust charges, on Wednesday said he will rejoin his former law firm as a partner. Neukom, 60, had announced his departure from Microsoft in November, shortly after the company reached a tentative settlement with the government in the landmark antitrust trial. Neukom first worked with Microsoft around 1979 while a partner with Shidler, McBroom, Gates & Lucas. Microsoft co-founder and Chairman Bill Gates' father led the law firm at the time and introduced Neukom to his son's fledgling software company, which went on to become the world's largest. Neukom, known for his bow ties, formally joined Microsoft as Vice President and General Counsel in 1985 and created its legal department, a group that grew to 600 employees from an initial team of five.