CLP Speaker Series - The Transformation of Lawyer's Practice and the Role of In-House Counsel

Horacio Gutierrez
General Counsel Spotify

As Spotify’s top lawyer, Horacio is responsible for overseeing Spotify’s legal, compliance and regulatory affairs around the world, and serves as corporate secretary to its board of directors. Horacio came to Spotify having spent over 17 years at Microsoft Corporation, most recently as General Counsel and Corporate Vice President for Legal Affairs.

Horacio brings a rich multi-cultural perspective as well as extensive international professional experience, having lived and worked in the United States, Europe, and Latin America. While at Microsoft, Horacio worked in a variety of international roles, including four years leading the legal and corporate affairs team in Europe. He then spent eight years as the deputy general counsel responsible for innovation and intellectual property before becoming deputy general counsel for all of Microsoft’s products and services, including product research, engineering, strategy, and marketing groups. He became Microsoft’s General Counsel in 2015.

Throughout his career, Horacio has been involved in some of the most complex and cutting-edge legal issues in the tech industry. He has been deeply involved in a number of high-profile legal and regulatory matters, and as head of the intellectual property group concluded numerous intellectual property deals, including licensing agreements with companies around the world. He has played a leading role around the globe on innovation policy issues, including intellectual property policy and internet regulation.

Horacio has trained and practiced law in both civil law and common law jurisdictions. He holds a Master of Laws degree from Harvard Law School, which he attended as a Fulbright Scholar; a Juris Doctor degree summa cum laude from the University of Miami; a Bachelor of Laws degree from Universidad Católica Andrés Bello in Caracas, Venezuela; and a post-graduate diploma in corporate and commercial law from the same institution.

He speaks multiple languages and is licensed to practice law in the States of New York, Florida and Washington, as well as in Venezuela.