How important is choosing to work with external lawyers who align with your company’s values? Are you likely to reconsider what firms you work with based on this?

Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) is a key pillar of Microsoft’s culture. Therefore, it is of paramount important that all our suppliers, including external counsel, share our D&I principles. Diverse, multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural and multi-generational teams work best together because diverse views come together which provide a broader view of a topic as different voices and opinions are heard.

Why are in-house lawyers well-placed to drive change in their organisations?

In-house lawyers are well placed to drive change in their organisations because we are part of the team, we share their pains and concerns, and we know the rhythm of the business. Within the organisation, I believe that in-house lawyers have a role that goes beyond providing legal assistance, as we can act as advisors in many other areas, such as reading the social and political environment, assessing reputational and other non-legal risks, and sharing our humanistic expertise on different topics. Today, in any organisation, forming multidisciplinary teams is a must, and in a technology company, a legal background can bring new points of view to the table.