Microsoft Corp. hired Julie Brill, a former commissioner for the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, to lead the company's privacy and regulatory affairs group.

Brill, who will be deputy general counsel and report directly to Microsoft president and chief legal officer Brad Smith, joins the company after roughly a year with Hogan Lovells, where she served as co-director of the firm's privacy and cybersecurity practice.

As chief regulatory lobbyist for the company, she'll lead the company's efforts to shape government policy on privacy, cybersecurity and telecommunications.

“I've been deeply impressed by Microsoft's commitment to privacy, their willingness to stand up for customers and their focus on offering constructive solutions to new challenges,” Brill said in a statement.

“I've always tried to do the same throughout my career in government. I'm thrilled to have this opportunity to contribute in a new and particularly meaningful way.”

As FTC commissioner, Brill championed data privacy education and transparency, to the point of revealing some of her own missteps. In March 2016, in an interview with The Washington Post, Brill admitted to falling victim to an email account breach in which hackers posed as a policy contact of hers and sent an email asking for personal information on a web page meant to mimic a Google drive attachment.

Under Brill's direction, the FTC targeted companies for alleged failings in protecting consumer privacy. In 2011, the FTC accepted a settlement from Twitter Inc. for charges that the San Francisco-based company had, through a failing of proper data security measures, allowed access to nonpublic user information and private tweets. Sometimes the FTC's proactive stance drew pushback from accused companies, like in 2014, when medical testing company LabMD Inc. countersued the FTC for previous allegations that the company did not have proper data security measures installed.

Brill became FTC commissioner in 2010 after being nominated by President Barack Obama and earning unanimous confirmation from the U.S. Senate. Before, Brill worked in public service for more than two decades. She was previously senior deputy attorney general and chief of consumer protection and antitrust for North Carolina, and before that, she was assistant attorney general for consumer protection and antitrust for Vermont.

Brill left the FTC at the end of March 2016 to join Hogan Lovells.

In a statement, Microsoft's Smith commended Brill and her ability to ensure privacy protection for customers using cloud computing.

“Julie's deep expertise in privacy, keen intellect, and strong international relationships will enable our customers to use the Microsoft Cloud knowing that we will help meet their global technology regulatory needs,” Smith said.

Copyright The National Law Journal. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Microsoft Corp. hired Julie Brill, a former commissioner for the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, to lead the company's privacy and regulatory affairs group.

Brill, who will be deputy general counsel and report directly to Microsoft president and chief legal officer Brad Smith, joins the company after roughly a year with Hogan Lovells, where she served as co-director of the firm's privacy and cybersecurity practice.

As chief regulatory lobbyist for the company, she'll lead the company's efforts to shape government policy on privacy, cybersecurity and telecommunications.

“I've been deeply impressed by Microsoft's commitment to privacy, their willingness to stand up for customers and their focus on offering constructive solutions to new challenges,” Brill said in a statement.

“I've always tried to do the same throughout my career in government. I'm thrilled to have this opportunity to contribute in a new and particularly meaningful way.”

As FTC commissioner, Brill championed data privacy education and transparency, to the point of revealing some of her own missteps. In March 2016, in an interview with The Washington Post, Brill admitted to falling victim to an email account breach in which hackers posed as a policy contact of hers and sent an email asking for personal information on a web page meant to mimic a Google drive attachment.

Under Brill's direction, the FTC targeted companies for alleged failings in protecting consumer privacy. In 2011, the FTC accepted a settlement from Twitter Inc. for charges that the San Francisco-based company had, through a failing of proper data security measures, allowed access to nonpublic user information and private tweets. Sometimes the FTC's proactive stance drew pushback from accused companies, like in 2014, when medical testing company LabMD Inc. countersued the FTC for previous allegations that the company did not have proper data security measures installed.

Brill became FTC commissioner in 2010 after being nominated by President Barack Obama and earning unanimous confirmation from the U.S. Senate. Before, Brill worked in public service for more than two decades. She was previously senior deputy attorney general and chief of consumer protection and antitrust for North Carolina, and before that, she was assistant attorney general for consumer protection and antitrust for Vermont.

Brill left the FTC at the end of March 2016 to join Hogan Lovells.

In a statement, Microsoft's Smith commended Brill and her ability to ensure privacy protection for customers using cloud computing.

“Julie's deep expertise in privacy, keen intellect, and strong international relationships will enable our customers to use the Microsoft Cloud knowing that we will help meet their global technology regulatory needs,” Smith said.

Copyright The National Law Journal. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.