Mary Snapp is corporate vice president and deputy general counsel of the Products and Services Division in Microsoft's Law and Corporate Affairs department. As the head of LCA's Products and Services Division, she leads the work of over 200 attorneys and legal professionals who provide front-line legal support to all of Microsoft's business and products teams, including Interactive Entertainment, Online Services, Microsoft Business (Office), Windows Phone, Windows & Windows Live, Server & Tools, Skype and Regulatory Affairs. The legal work and activities that Mary oversees encompass a wide variety of matters, including complex commercial transactions, intellectual property licensing, development/design of products and services, compliance issues, and regulatory matters.
A 23-year veteran of Microsoft, Mary joined the company in 1988 as Microsoft's first female attorney. Prior to joining, she was an attorney with the Seattle law firm now known as K&L Gates. Mary graduated from the University of Michigan School of Law, where she served as articles editor for their Journal of International Law. She also holds a master's degree in Business Administration from Wayne State University and was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Kansas.
Mary is the current chair of the board of directors of Minority Corporate Counsel Association. She has served as executive sponsor of Legal and Corporate Affairs' diversity and inclusion efforts since 2002, overseeing the development of the department's diversity strategy and leadership team. Under Mary's leadership, the department developed a structured diversity team that has grown to 50 employee volunteers driving initiatives in support of Microsoft's diversity and inclusion strategy.
Mary serves on the University of Michigan Law School Advisory Council. Mary is a frequent presenter on issues of diversity, privacy, and intellectual property licensing. She has been active as a community volunteer and on the boards of directors in a number of human services and arts non-profit organizations over many years in the Puget Sound region. She currently serves on the board of directors for the YWCA of Seattle, King and Snohomish County and is a recent past chair of the board of trustees of ArtsFund.