L'immagine degli avvocati: risponde William Neukom, President of the American Bar Association

Complete video at: http://fora.tv/fora/showthread.php?t=...

William Neukom, current President of the American Bar Association, takes issue with the predominantly negative image the American public holds of lawyers and the U.S. legal system.

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William Neukom discusses "Advancing the Rule of Law in the U.S. and Abroad."

In August, Neukom takes over the helm of one of the world's largest professional organizations and one of the most influential groups in law, politics and society. He faces growing concerns that democratic rule of law is being threatened in an increasingly stormy world climate. Hear Neukom identify the battlegrounds and present the American Bar Association's key goals. - The Commonwealth Club of California

William H. Neukom, a partner in the Seattle office of K and L Gates, is president of the American Bar Association. His one-year term began in August 2007 at the adjournment of the association's Annual Meeting in San Francisco.

Neukom was Microsoft Corp.'s chief lawyer for nearly a quarter-century. As executive vice president of Law and Corporate Affairs, Neukom managed Microsoft's legal, government affairs and philanthropic activities for 17 years. Previously, he was the firm's lead counsel while working as a partner at Preston, Gates and Ellis. Neukom rejoined Preston Gates in 2002.

As Microsoft's lead counsel, Neukom led the company's efforts to establish, distribute and protect intellectual property rights around the world. He was instrumental in securing the landmark legal victory in Apple Computer v. Microsoft Corporation, a copyright case which spanned 1988 -- 1995. Neukom also led Microsoft's defense of antitrust claims brought by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, U.S. Department of Justice and the European Union, which culminated in consent decrees in 1994 and 2001.

Before joining Microsoft, Neukom was a partner of Preston Gates and Ellis LLP, where he had a general practice with emphasis on litigation, commercial law and nonprofit organizations.