Andrea Simándi, in her role as the Legal Director of Microsoft Hungary, focuses on various regulatory and commercial issues related to Cloud Computing, with a special emphasis on Data Protection, Privacy, Security and Sectorial Regulations. Prior to joining Microsoft, Simándi was Head of Bird & Bird Hungary and led the IPCT team at Linklaters, also working in their London ITC group. She has studied in Budapest and the Hague, and has an LL.M from the University of New York in International Business Transactions and EU Law and a JD from the Law Faculty of ELTE.
Tell us about your role at Microsoft?
My role as the Legal & Corporate Affairs Director of Microsoft Hungary is very diverse and compound. I am overlooking practically all business areas from enterprise to consumer, but my main focus at the moment is certainly data privacy and cloud.
Did you work with Microsoft as outside counsel prior to joining the company?
No, but I was working for almost 14 years in the IT sector. My role was completely new when I joined, Microsoft had no local LCA before 2012.
You focus on various regulatory and commercial issues related to Cloud Computing, with a special emphasis on Data Protection, Privacy, Security and Sectorial Regulations. What takes up most of your time?
Certainly cloud related issues, including contract negotiations, fine-tuning our privacy offering and an important part is definitely evangelizing cloud. Technology is usually a few steps ahead of the law, which is quite true in the case of cloud. Although cloud is all over the media, there is really little tangible information on the legal solutions and how different those are from classical outsourcing agreements.
Prior to going in-house you were with a couple of big name firms, including Bird & Bird and Linklaters. What attracted you to Microsoft and a GC role?
I spent almost six years at Linklaters, which is a great law firm, and I learned and experienced a lot starting as a junior lawyer, working in their London office and then becoming the head of their Hungarian IPTC group. Bird & Bird’s CEO, David Kerr honored me with asking me to build up and lead their Hungarian operations, which was also a unique experience. From there, I knew my way would lead to a GC role as I wanted to be closer to the business again. Microsoft has been a market leader in IT for almost two decades, which itself was of course very appealing for someone with IT/IP specialization. In addition, Microsoft Hungary has won many Best Employer awards in the past years, and it is a very exciting, dynamic place to work.
The IT industry is still considered as a Men’s World. How do you manage the challenges as a woman professional?
There are still more men than women working in the IT industry, although the culture is becoming more and more diverse. However, diversity in the LCA community of Microsoft is not an issue. On the other hand, as a mother of three, I truly appreciate the flexibility and remote working opportunities Microsoft offers.
Microsoft is a global giant and a household name that is usually associated with Seattle. In Europe, Microsoft has had its share of antitrust tussles with the EU. What are the different challenges the company faces in Europe?
Microsoft will always be very conscious about antitrust compliance. However, as we have entered several new markets in our transformation to a devices and services company, we are no longer the “incumbent”, but the challenger in many markets. Current challenges include more perception issues around U.S. companies in Europe, following NSA spying claims, although Microsoft did not participate in any alleged programs. I know first hand that we are extremely strict on the compliance checks we perform before deciding whether we comply with any law enforcement request. And even if we have a legal obligation to provide certain data, we have several measures in place to protect customer interests.
You are the legal director in Hungary. How closely do you work with your counterparts in the EU and larger EU issues?
We very much believe at Microsoft that work is not where you are, but what you do. I work closely with my EMEA counterparts, and we also have several cross-groups where you engage with a wide variety of geographies.
You studied in the United States. Did you ever consider pursuing a career there?
I spent quite some time in the States when I was small, and I find it easy to work in an international climate. I spent six months in the Netherlands studying and another six months in London working, and although I thoroughly enjoyed both, I always felt homesick at the end. But I am still eligible to pass the New York Bar Exam, so never say never.
Has technology always been an interest of yours or did that happen by accident?
I always had a huge interest for technology and used to think that for a lawyer, I may have been a little bit of a geek. Until I met real geeks as Microsoft. I always wanted to understand the technical details of my work, may it be the licensing of corn inbred lines or dark fibre IRUs.
Have you ever met Bill Gates?
Not yet, but I met Steve Ballmer and will soon meet our new CEO, Satya Nadella at our upcoming LCA Summit in Redmond when all 1000+ Microsoft LCA gather.
