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Fengming Liu, Chief Legal Officer of Microsoft’s Greater China Region, shares the challenges facing his in-house team and reveals how the software giant will use the downturn to hire and develop legal talent.
Asian-Counsel: How did your career lead you to your current role as Chief Legal Officer of Microsoft’s Greater China Region? AC: What is the current composition of the Microsoft in-house team? |
 AC: Is there such a thing as a ‘typical day’ for an in-house practitioner at Microsoft? FL: Usually we start the day by checking and responding to important emails. We also attend various conference calls and meetings with internal and external clients, which is an important way for us to understand business issues and client needs in order to provide sound legal advice. For staff working on government relations and policies, visiting and communicating with government officials and policy makers takes place on a daily basis. There will certainly always be unexpected or urgent requests coming in that require us to shift gears and respond, and consequently not a single day passes by without excitement. AC: What qualities does Microsoft look for in candidates for in-house roles? FL: Integrity is a must. On top of that, we look for smart and hard-working professionals who have sound judgment, relevant experience and strong learning capabilities. The company and industry we work for is dynamic and fast-moving – continuous self-learning is the only way to keep pace with it. AC: What would a new legal recruit to Microsoft find most surprising in terms of his role and function in the company? AC: How often does Microsoft brief out and seek the advice of external counsel? |
AC: What will be the main challenges for Microsoft in the coming year, and how will the in-house team play a central role in addressing these issues? FL: Like other companies, Microsoft is also experiencing impacts of the economic downturn. But the company is in a strong position to rise to the challenge and the role of our department will only become more vital during this special time. We will enhance efficiency by setting priorities, consolidating resources and focusing on value-added services from commercial, government relations and IP protection perspectives. We will also anticipate and be prepared to address issues such as legal and regulatory compliance in this new context. Very importantly, we will also seize this opportunity to hire, retain and develop talents for our long-term growth. AC: What types of innovations does the in-house team see as important for Microsoft in the coming year? FL: Important innovations will help people and the business improve productivity and enhance efficiency. Despite the economic downturn, companies with vision continue to invest heavily in R&D and we will continue to see exciting innovations coming out of those investments. If I have to name one innovation, it would be Windows 7 – our next generation operating system is due to be launched in October and is definitely important for Microsoft and exciting for our customers.AC |
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