WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 13, 2019) — Microsoft will partner with Howard University School of Law to host the Microsoft AI For Education: Howard Tech Law Summit Friday, February 15 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Howard University’s West Campus located at 2900 Van Ness St NW in Washington, D.C. The summit will feature leading technology lawyers who will bring their knowledge and expertise to topics like Artificial Intelligence, Work Tools of the Future, Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, Cybersecurity, Smart Cities, eSports, and more.

“Howard University School of Law is honored to partner with Microsoft on this important technology summit,” said Danielle Holley-Walker, dean of the Howard University School of Law. “Howard Law, Microsoft and its law firm partners believe that technology is a gateway to the future for minority communities and we seek to bring more lawyers of color into the technology world.”

In addition to a variety of presentations, product demos, and panels, the event will feature a keynote address by Neal Suggs, vice president and deputy general counsel for Microsoft Corporation. Suggs has served as Microsoft’s lead commercial attorney since 2010 and led diversity efforts for the legal department at Microsoft from 2007-2012. Howard Law School alumnus, Charlie Bingham, helped to facilitate the technology company’s decision to host the summit at Howard Law. For him, hosting the summit at Howard was a no brainer.

“As a HUSL alum, I know that many people in corporate America don’t realize Howard law is the Mecca for diverse attorneys,” says Bingham who currently serves as Microsoft’s CELA Legal Ninja SLG/EDU. “Microsoft has several initiatives to make the legal profession more diverse and inclusive. When my team was approached about building a better relationship with Howard, we immediately got to work thinking big.”

In addition to hosting the summit with Howard, Microsoft is donating thousands of dollars in products to enhance several clinics at the law school. Microsoft has donated 15 Surface devices, a contribution estimated at over $30K, to establish a Microsoft Surface Device Lab for the Clinical Law Center that will be accessible to student clinic workers. Each clinic, including the clinics for child welfare, criminal justice, fair housing, human and civil rights, IP and trademark, and investor justice and education, will receive a device for the clinic at-large and individual clinic directors. Several scholarships and awards ranging from $800 to $2,500 will be given to students pursuing careers in intellectual property and information technology law.

Participants can register for the Microsoft AI For Education: Howard Tech Law Summit for free and view the full event agenda by visiting the event registration page. You can also experience the event online using the live stream by visiting https://techlawsummit.com/. Other sponsors of the event include Perkins Coie, Orrick, Arent Fox and Greenberg Traurig.  

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About Howard University

Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 13 schools and colleges. Students pursue studies in more than 120 areas leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University operates with a commitment to Excellence in Truth and Service and has produced four Rhodes Scholars, 11 Truman Scholars, two Marshall Scholars, one Schwarzman Scholar, over 70 Fulbright Scholars and 22 Pickering Fellows. Howard also produces more on-campus African-American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States. For more information on Howard University, visit www.howard.edu.

Media Contact: Misha Cornelius, misha.cornelius@howard.edu