Bruce Jackson

Bruce Jackson is an Associate General Counsel for Microsoft where he currently supports the Global Sales, Marketing & Operations (GSMO), U.S. Regulated Industries, Financial Services, Health and Life Sciences and Public Sector, Group. In this role, he leads the engagement of a $13 billion business and manages a team of (15) Fifteen. Bruce is a passionate proponent for Diversity and Inclusion. Mr. Jackson has spoken about the general necessity, corporate responsibility and economic advantages of Diversity and Inclusion.

Jackson is also the author of "Never Far from Home: My Journey from Brooklyn to Hip Hop, Microsoft, and the Law." Microsoft’s associate general counsel shares this story that is “as nuanced as it is hopeful” (Hakeem Jeffries, House Minority Leader) about his rise from childhood poverty in pre-gentrified New York City to a stellar career at the top of the technology and music industries in this stirring true story of grit and perseverance.

Jackson began his career at Microsoft in 2000 as corporate counsel for the Digital Media Division. Determined to play a pioneering role in digital media, Jackson accepted Microsoft’s offer to work for the top technology company while supporting and learning from a regulatory and technical development standpoint. He was one of the first attorneys coming out of the music industry where music was being distributed in a physical format to work with a company that supported a different form of distribution that no one envisioned.

He brought a broad and unique skill set to the division as an established Entertainment attorney. Equipped with a B.B.A. in Public Accounting from Hofstra University, a JD and LL.M. in Taxation from Georgetown University Law Center; Bruce Jackson founded the law firm of Jackson, Brown, Powell and St. George. The firm concentrated its areas of practice in highly specialized Entertainment law.

Bruce has been a member of Microsoft’s Law and Corporate Affairs (LCA) diversity committee since 2001. He has been recognized for helping to shape Microsoft’s legal department’s diversity efforts, including organizing and executing the first LCA Women and Minority Law student IP Summit in New York.

Bruce’s personal commitment to diversity, inclusion, community and youth is demonstrated through his numerous civic activities. He is a current board member of the National Association for Women and Minority Owned Law Firms and the African American Chamber of Commerce for Westchester and Rockland County

Bruce Jackson is a 2011 recipient of both Microsoft’s Diversity Award and for his ongoing commitment, accomplishments and sustained high level of contributions across a broad range of organizations and activities.