By Chief Justice Mark Martin (fmr), Founding Dean and Professor of Law
William H. (Bill) Neukom—renowned Microsoft attorney, visionary philanthropist, and esteemed extended faculty member of the Kenneth F. Kahn School of Law—passed away on July 14 at his home in Seattle. He leaves behind countless individuals who were fortunate to work with and learn from him, as well as a distinguished legacy that has touched technology, sports, and the rule of law.
A graduate of Dartmouth College and Stanford Law School (Class of 1967), Bill began his legal career clerking for the Washington State Superior Court before entering private practice. A professional relationship with the late Bill Gates, Sr. led to his role as outside counsel to Microsoft beginning in 1978. In 1985, he became Microsoft’s General Counsel, marking the beginning of a historic chapter. Over the next two decades, Bill would help steer Microsoft through some of the most defining legal challenges in tech history, including the landmark antitrust case of 1998 and the high-profile Apple v. Microsoft case. His thoughtful leadership and legal acumen were instrumental in shaping Microsoft’s trajectory during its rapid ascent in the tech world.
Following his time at Microsoft, Bill returned to Preston, Gates & Ellis and became chair of the firm in 2004. But his leadership extended well beyond his law practice.
Bill was a passionate baseball fan and brought that passion to life through his involvement with the San Francisco Giants. As an investor beginning in 1995 and later as the team’s managing general partner and CEO, he oversaw the organization’s first World Series championship in San Francisco in 2010. I recall the night his team won the World Series and was so happy for him. One thing for sure—his leadership of the Giants reflected the same discipline, passion, and strategic insight that defined his legal career.
After leaving Microsoft, Bill turned his attention increasingly toward philanthropy and public service. Through the Neukom Family Foundation, he supported a broad range of causes in health, human services, education, justice, and environmental stewardship. He also served as president of the American Bar Association, where his commitment to justice and the profession continued to shine.
In 2006, Bill founded one of his most lasting legacies: the World Justice Project (WJP), a global nonprofit committed to advancing the rule of law worldwide. I was deeply honored to accept Bill’s invitation to serve as a member of the Commission on the World Justice Project. In that role, I worked with two dedicated attorney colleagues—Bill Allen of Arkansas and Sherri Lydon of South Carolina (now a U.S. District Judge)—to organize meetings across more than 30 states, emphasizing the interdisciplinary importance of the rule of law in American society.
Two unforgettable highlights from my affiliation with the World Justice Project were my participation in the World Justice Forums in Vienna and Barcelona. In Vienna, I listened to an Egyptian lawyer—speaking shortly before the Arab Spring—express his deep admiration for the American legal system. In Barcelona, my wife Kym and I had the unexpected pleasure of dining with Bill Gates, Sr. That evening, he repeatedly referred to me as “the young justice”—a kind gesture that won me over immediately!
Bill’s work with the World Justice Project was recognized in 2011 when he received the ABA Judicial Division’s John Marshall Award, which honors extraordinary contributions to the administration of justice. I had the privilege of chairing the selection committee that year. We faced an unusual challenge: for the first time ever, we had selected two recipients—Justice Sandra Day O’Connor and Bill Neukom. LexisNexis had only agreed to fund one Dale Chihuly glass sculpture, which had become the gift we gave to recipients. But when LexisNexis learned the names of the honorees, our contact at the company immediately agreed to sponsor two. It was a small but telling example of the respect Bill (and, of course, Justice O’Connor) commanded across societal sectors.
In 2022, as we launched the Kenneth F. Kahn School of Law at High Point University, I invited Bill to serve as an extended faculty member. He generously accepted and later delivered remarks to first-year students in my Professional Pathways course. His talk was insightful and inspiring. I remember taking notes myself—realizing just how fortunate our students were to hear from a leader of such depth, substance, and experience.
Bill Neukom was many things: a masterful lawyer who defended Microsoft during its most pivotal era, a sports executive who led the Giants to victory, a bar leader, a nonprofit founder, and above all, a tireless advocate for justice and integrity. But what I will remember most is his enthusiastic and unwavering commitment to making the world a better place.
We have lost a visionary and I have lost a friend. But his legacy lives on—in the institutions he built, the causes he championed, and the people he inspired. For all of that, we give our deepest thanks and extend our condolences to his family.