The Global Leaders is pleased to announce Bill Harmon as a featured speaker for our June 7th networking reception. As associate general counsel for the Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit, Bill Harmon leads a worldwide team of lawyers, investigators, technical analysts and other specialists working to make the Internet safer for everyone. Through game-changing legal solutions, enforcement, partnerships, cooperation and technology innovation, the Digital Crimes Unit works to defend against digital crime and abuse, protect children from technology-facilitated crimes, advance safety and integrity in the online advertising marketplace and ensure security and safety in cloud computing and emerging technologies. The team works in cooperation with product, security, law enforcement, government, industry and advocacy stakeholders around the world to develop and implement groundbreaking legal and technological solutions to protect children online and to help stop ID theft, malicious code, botnets, spam, spyware, click fraud and other forms of online fraud.
Before leading the Digital Crimes Unit, Harmon was the general manager for Microsoft’s Global Standards Engagement Team, working to drive worldwide standards activity for all of Microsoft’s business divisions, including Windows Client, Windows Server and Microsoft Business Division. In that role, Harmon managed Microsoft’s Global Standards group, helping the company develop a strong presence in international standards bodies. He also served as Associate General Counsel for Microsoft’s Intellectual Property and Licensing Team, advising the company on patent issues related to licensing, portfolio development and litigation.
Prior to joining Microsoft in 2003, Harmon worked as a private practice attorney in San Francisco for eight years and spent five years in engineering and marketing in National Semiconductor's Local Area Network Division.
Harmon graduated from Santa Clara University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, a Master’s degree in Business Administration, and a Juris Doctor degree in law. In addition his role at Microsoft, Harmon is an adjunct law professor at Seattle University.