Hossein Nowbar

Hossein Nowbar is a prominent Iranian legal and corporate leader, currently serving as the Corporate Vice President and Chief Legal Officer (CLO) at Microsoft. With a rich background in law and technology, Nowbar has been instrumental in guiding Microsoft’s legal strategies during a transformative era marked by rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI). His work bridges the intersection of legal expertise, corporate governance, and technology adoption, reflecting a forward-thinking approach to leveraging AI in complex organizational settings.

“Copilot and agents can alleviate a tremendous amount of legal backlog in many settings. Though our work focuses on the enterprise, we have also developed an agent that we project will help drive an almost 9x increase in the impact of one of our pro bono services.”

Contributions to AI

Hossein Nowbar has played a key role in integrating AI into legal operations at Microsoft, focusing on streamlining processes and enhancing decision-making. Under his leadership, Microsoft’s legal team, part of the Corporate, External, and Legal Affairs (CELA) group, has embraced AI tools such as Microsoft Copilot to handle tasks like regulatory analysis, compliance, and document management. His initiatives prioritize not only technological innovation but also ethical considerations in AI deployment, emphasizing transparency, privacy, and data security. By creating a centralized AI infrastructure, Nowbar has ensured efficient data management while encouraging experimentation with AI technologies to improve efficiency and scalability.

Philosophy and Vision

Nowbar’s vision for AI goes beyond technological capabilities; he emphasizes the cultural and human elements of AI adoption. Recognizing that technology alone cannot drive transformation, he has championed training programs and change management strategies to upskill legal teams and foster a culture of innovation. His belief in the democratization of AI underscores his commitment to making advanced tools accessible and meaningful for employees, empowering them to focus on impactful, high-value work. He advocates for AI as a means to augment human expertise, rather than replace it, aligning with Microsoft’s broader mission to responsibly integrate AI into society.

Influence and Public Presence

As a public intellectual and leader in the legal tech space, Hossein Nowbar has shared his insights through interviews, conferences, and collaborative initiatives. His efforts to integrate AI into legal frameworks at Microsoft serve as a model for other organizations navigating similar transformations. By highlighting the importance of data-driven decision-making and ethical AI practices, Nowbar has contributed to shaping discussions on AI’s role in corporate governance and legal operations. His work continues to inspire advancements in AI while addressing the challenges of adopting transformative technologies responsibly.