{{Short description|American baseball executive (1941–2025)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2025}} {{Infobox person | name = William H. Neukom | image = Bill Neukom 2010 CROP.jpg | caption = Neukom (right) with wife Sally in 2010 | birth_date = {{birth date|1941|11|7}} | birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2025|7|14|1941|11|7}} | death_place = Seattle, Washington, U.S. | occupation = Lawyer<br/>Baseball executive | parents = | spouse = {{marriage|Diane McMakin|1966|1977|end=div}}<br>Sally Beard Barnes | children = 5 | education = Dartmouth College (BA)<br>Stanford Law School (LLB) }}
'''William Horlick Neukom''' (November 7, 1941 – July 14, 2025) was an American lawyer and baseball executive. He was managing general partner of the San Francisco Giants baseball team ownership group from May 2008 to December 31, 2011. He was the managing partner when the Giants won the World Series in 2010, their first World Series win since the team had moved to California in 1958. Prior to holding this position, he was President of the American Bar Association in 2007–08.<ref>[http://www.abanet.org/media/neukombio.html William H. Neukom President Biography] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090819115043/http://www.abanet.org/media/neukombio.html |date=August 19, 2009 }}. Retrieved May 18, 2008.</ref> He was the principal legal counsel for Microsoft for almost 25 years. He was also the chairman of the law firm of Preston Gates & Ellis, LLP in Seattle, now part of K&L Gates. He was a co-founder and CEO of the World Justice Project.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bill Neukom, Microsoft's first General Counsel, expands his reach|url=http://www.microsoftalumni.com/s/1769/index.aspx?sid=1769&gid=2&calcid=1119&calpgid=61&pgid=252&ecid=1217&crid=0|publisher=Microsoft Alumni Network|accessdate=March 30, 2017}}</ref>
== Early life and education== Neukom was born in Chicago on November 7, 1941, to Ruth (née Horlick) and John Goudey Neukom.<ref name = Lohr>{{cite news|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/22/business/william-h-neukom-dead.html|title = William H. Neukom, Microsoft Lawyer Who Led Antitrust Fight, Dies at 83|last = Lohr|first = Steve|date = July 22, 2025|accessdate = July 22, 2025|newspaper = The New York Times|url-access = limited}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ruth Neukom Obituary (2002) - Walnut Creek, CA - East Bay Times |url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/eastbaytimes/name/ruth-neukom-obituary?id=28031275 |access-date=July 9, 2024 |website=Legacy.com}}</ref> He had three siblings, including a brother Daniel born seven years younger than him, who was a history teacher at Sacramento Country Day School for 44 years.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 17, 2017 |title='Uncle Dan' says goodbye after 44 years |url=https://www.scdsoctagon.com/online-exclusives/features/2017/06/17/uncle-dan-says-goodbye-after-44-years/ |access-date=July 9, 2024 |website=The Octagon |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=saccds>{{cite web|url=http://www.saccds.org/about-scds/community/faculty-staff/|title=Faculty & Staff|work=Sacramento Country Day School|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104043043/http://www.saccds.org/about-scds/community/faculty-staff/|archivedate=November 4, 2012}}</ref> He was raised in the Bay Area community of San Mateo, California.<ref name = Lohr/> He graduated from San Mateo High School in 1960. After receiving an undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College in 1964,<ref name=Duhaime>{{cite web|title=Bill Neukom, Lawyer Biography|url=http://www.duhaime.org/LawFun/LawArticle-1220/Bill-Neukom-Lawyer-Biography.aspx|work=Duhaime.org|accessdate=December 20, 2011}}</ref> Neukom returned to the Bay Area where he received a law degree from Stanford Law School in 1967.<ref name=Stanford>{{cite web|title=William H. Neukom Makes Lead Donation for New Stanford Law School Academic Building|url=http://www.law.stanford.edu/news/pr/4/|work=Law.stanford.edu|publisher=Stanford University|accessdate=December 20, 2011}}</ref>
== Legal career and Microsoft ==
[[File:Bill Neukom at SF City Hall.jpg|thumb|Neukom during the 2010 Giants World Series victory parade, sporting trademark bow tie<ref name="SFGate"/>]]After earning his law degree, Neukom began his legal career as a bailiff and clerk for Judge Theodore S. Turner at the King County Superior Court in Seattle during 1967-68.<ref name="Abanow">{{cite web |title=Seattle Lawyer William H. Neukom is Named President-Elect of American Bar Association |url=http://www.abanow.org/2006/08/seattle-lawyer-william-h-neukom-is-named-president-elect-of-american-bar-association/ |accessdate=December 20, 2011 |work=abanow.org |publisher=American Bar Association}}</ref>
Following his clerkship, Neukom joined a small law firm. However, after nine years, seeking broader opportunities, he transitioned to the Seattle law firm Shidler, McBroom, Gates & Lucas (later Preston Gates & Ellis), bringing some clients with him. He had already established a connection with Bill Gates Sr., a managing partner at the firm.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://law.stanford.edu/stanford-lawyer/articles/bill-neukom-batting-1000/ | title=Bill Neukom: Batting 1,000 | date=November 15, 2008 }}</ref> In 1978, Gates Sr. enlisted Neukom to provide legal advice to his son's nascent software company, Microsoft, which at the time had just 12 employees.<ref name="Duhaime" /> After six years as an outside counsel, Neukom became Microsoft's first general counsel in 1985, overseeing the legal department's growth from a team of five to over 600 attorneys and support personnel by the time he left in 2002.<ref>{{cite web |title=Neukom Institute bio |url=http://neukominstitute.com/index.php/section/information/about/52/166/about_william_h_neukom |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100211202100/http://neukominstitute.com/index.php/section/information/about/52/166/about_william_h_neukom |archive-date=February 11, 2010 |access-date=October 24, 2009 |publisher=}}</ref><ref name="Dartmouth">{{Cite web |date=January 23, 2018 |title=History |url=https://neukom.dartmouth.edu/about/about-neukom-institute/history |access-date=July 9, 2024 |website=Neukom Institute |language=en}}</ref> He eventually rose to the position of Executive Vice President, managing Microsoft’s legal, governmental affairs, and philanthropic activities for 17 years.<ref name="Dartmouth" />
Neukom was instrumental in defending Microsoft's intellectual property across various countries, most notably in the landmark ''Apple v. Microsoft'' case.<ref name="Abanow" /> He also played a key role in navigating the company through complex antitrust suits, including the high-profile United States v. Microsoft case, often referred to as the "trial of the century."<ref>{{cite web |last=Carlson |first=Peter |date=January 4, 1999 |title=Special Report: Clinton Accused: (The Last) Trial of the Century! |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/trial010499.htm |accessdate=July 1, 2022 |page=C01 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> Beyond legal battles, Neukom directed Microsoft's community affairs programs, spearheading initiatives such as the Microsoft Giving Campaign, the Microsoft Matching Gifts Program, and the Microsoft Volunteer Program. He retired from Microsoft in 2002 as Executive Vice President of Law & Corporate Affairs.<ref name="Abanow" />
After his tenure at Microsoft, Neukom returned to Preston Gates & Ellis as a partner in the business law practice, eventually becoming chair of the firm in January 2004.<ref name="Dartmouth" />
In addition to his corporate career, Neukom served as president of the American Bar Association from August 2007 to August 2008.<ref name="Honored">{{cite web |title=ABA to Honor Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, William H. Neukom for Justice System Advocacy |url=http://www.abanow.org/2011/07/aba-to-honor-justice-sandra-day-oconnor-william-h-neukom-for-justice-system-advocacy/ |accessdate=December 20, 2011 |work=Abanow.org |publisher=American Bar Association}}</ref>
===World Justice Project=== Neukom was the co-founder, president, and CEO of the World Justice Project, which works internationally to strengthen the rule of law, aiming to promote the development of communities of opportunity and equity.<ref name="Honored"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Former Giants managing general partner Bill Neukom dies at 83 |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/45766533/former-giants-managing-general-partner-bill-neukom-dies-83 |access-date=July 18, 2025 |agency=Associated Press |publisher=ESPN.com |date=July 17, 2025}}</ref>
==San Francisco Giants== Neukom had been an investor in the Giants since 1995 and on May 16, 2008, was named the new Managing General Partner for the Giants.<ref name=SFGate>{{cite web|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/09/14/MN5L1L4S5V.DTL|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110915035014/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/09/14/MN5L1L4S5V.DTL|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 15, 2011|title=SF Giants to replace managing partner Bill Neukom|work=SFGate|date=September 15, 2011}}</ref> He succeeded Peter Magowan, who retired at the end of the 2008 season at the age of 66.<ref>{{cite web|last=Killion|first=Ann|title=A Giant Leap|url=http://www.stanfordalumni.org/news/magazine/2011/julaug/features/neukom.html|work=Stanfordalumni.org|publisher=Stanford Alumni Association|accessdate=December 20, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206025807/http://www.stanfordalumni.org/news/magazine/2011/julaug/features/neukom.html|archive-date=February 6, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>
On September 14, 2011, Bill Neukom announced he was retiring as the Managing General Partner and CEO of the San Francisco Giants effective January 1, 2012, and he would be succeeded by Giants executive Larry Baer.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20110915&content_id=24735144&vkey=pr_sf&fext=.jsp&c_id=sf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924235031/http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20110915&content_id=24735144&vkey=pr_sf&fext=.jsp&c_id=sf|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 24, 2011|title=Bill Neukom to Retire from the Giants: Team President and COO Larry Baer to Become CEO|work=Major League Baseball|publisher=Major League Baseball Advanced Media|date=September 15, 2011|accessdate=November 17, 2011}}</ref> The ''San Jose Mercury News'' reported anonymous sources saying that Neukom was forced out due to differences in the ownership group on how to divide up the additional money earned after the Giants won the 2010 World Series.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/mark-purdy/ci_18895752?nclick_check=1|title=Purdy: Bill Neukom out as S.F. Giants honcho|date=September 14, 2011|publisher=}}</ref> The ''Mercury News'' also reported Giants shareholder Charles Bartlett Johnson purchased additional interests in the team, becoming the largest individual shareholder at 25%.<ref>[http://www.insidebayarea.com/breaking-news/ci_19640611 The most powerful person in Bay Area sports], by Mark Purdy, Mercury News Columnist, Posted: December 30, 2011</ref>
==Personal life and death== Neukom married Diane McMakin on December 28, 1963<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 26, 1964 |title=The San Francisco Examiner from San Francisco, California |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/458289812/ |access-date=July 9, 2024 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en-US}}</ref> and divorced in June 1977, and they had four children,<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 1, 2014 |title=Dartmouth Announces $10 Million Gift From Bill Neukom '64 {{!}} Dartmouth |url=https://home.dartmouth.edu/news/2014/05/dartmouth-announces-10-million-gift-bill-neukom-64 |access-date=July 9, 2024 |website=home.dartmouth.edu |language=en}}</ref> Josselyn Neukom, Samantha Neukom Nyhan (Paul Nyhan), Gillian Neukom Toledo (Rob Toledo), and John McMakin "Jay" Neukom.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Furlong |first=Lisa |title=William Neukom '64 {{!}} Dartmouth Alumni Magazine {{!}} Jan/Feb 2002 |url=https://archive.dartmouthalumnimagazine.com/article/2002/1/1/william-neukom-64 |access-date=July 9, 2024 |website=Dartmouth Alumni Magazine {{!}} The Complete Archive |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=magazine |first=STANFORD |date=July 1, 2011 |title=A Giant Leap |url=https://stanfordmag.org/contents/a-giant-leap |access-date=July 9, 2024 |website=stanfordmag.org |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=SF Giants boss Bill Neukom sets frenetic pace |url=https://www.sfgate.com/giants/article/SF-Giants-boss-Bill-Neukom-sets-frenetic-pace-2376251.php |date=April 10, 2011 |website=sfgate.com |first=Sam |last=Whiting |publisher=SFGATE |access-date=September 11, 2024}}</ref> In or around 1996, he married Sally Beard Barnes.<ref name = Lohr/>
Neukom died at his Seattle home on July 14, 2025, at the age of 83.<ref name = Lohr/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.klgates.com/William-H-Neukom |title=William H. Neukom, Retired Partner |publisher=K&L Gates |access-date=July 19, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.sfgate.com/giants/article/former-sf-giants-owner-bill-neukom-dies-20774263.php |title=Bill Neukom, top SF Giants exec from 2010 World Series team, dies at 83 |first=Alex |last=Simon |date=July 17, 2025 |website=sfgate.com |publisher=SFGATE |access-date=July 17, 2025}}</ref>
==Philanthropy== Between 1996 and 2007, Neukom was a member of the Board of Trustees of Dartmouth College, and he served as chair of the board from 2004 to 2007. Three of his four children have attended Dartmouth. He was the founding donor of the Neukom Institute for Computational Science at Dartmouth College, which aims to advance computing resources and applications in multiple aspects of the Dartmouth curriculum.<ref>{{cite web|title=William H. Neukom|url=http://www.dartmouth.edu/~neukom/about/whneukom.html|work=Dartmouth.edu|accessdate=December 20, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The Neukom Institute|url=http://www.dartmouth.edu/~neukom/|work=Dartmouth.edu|publisher=Trustees of Dartmouth College|accessdate=December 20, 2011|archive-date=September 11, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130911205253/http://www.dartmouth.edu/~neukom/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In 2006 Neukom committed to a gift of $20 million for the planned construction of a new academic building at Stanford University's law school.<ref name="Stanford"/> The structure, named the William H. Neukom Building and opened in 2011, is {{convert|65000|sqft}} and is situated on the existing law school complex.<ref>{{cite web |title=The William H. Neukom Building |url=http://www.law.stanford.edu/school/campus/academic_building/ |work=Law.stanford.edu |publisher=Stanford University |accessdate=December 20, 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120129132132/http://www.law.stanford.edu/school/campus/academic_building/ |archivedate=January 29, 2012 }}</ref>
==See also== * ''Neukom Vivarium''
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20081016170954/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/05/17/SPBB10NUUE.DTL "Meet Bill Neukom,"] San Francisco Chronicle, May 18, 2008. * [https://web.archive.org/web/20090819115043/http://www.abanet.org/media/neukombio.html ABA Website] * [http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/team/front_office.jsp?c_id=sf Giants Front Office – SF Giants website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902093834/http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/team/front_office.jsp?c_id=sf |date=September 2, 2011 }}
{{San Francisco Giants owners}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Neukom, Bill}} Category:1941 births Category:2025 deaths Category:San Francisco Giants owners Category:20th-century American lawyers Category:20th-century American businesspeople Category:American philanthropists Category:Presidents of the American Bar Association Category:Stanford Law School alumni Category:Dartmouth College alumni Category:Microsoft employees Category:American chief executives of professional sports organizations Category:American business executives Category:The Asia Foundation Category:San Mateo High School alumni Category:Businesspeople from San Mateo, California Category:People associated with K&L Gates