Brian S. Bentcover, who most recently served for more than a decade as an in-house attorney at Microsoft Corp., has joined the Seattle office of Davis Wright Tremaine LLP as a partner in the communications, media, and technology group.

During his 11+ years at Microsoft, Bentcover provided and led front-line legal and regulatory support for a wide variety of business organizations, ranging from start-up ventures to established global businesses with billions of dollars in revenue. He further expands DWT’s tech and licensing practice, one of the biggest in the Northwest, which has grown rapidly in the past decade to serve the full range of technology, software, and digital media companies.

“Brian brings to DWT deep background and experience in transactions and issues relevant to technology-oriented companies, whether in digital media, online services, or the development and marketing of software and hardware,” said Daniel Waggoner, co-chair of Davis Wright’s communications, media, and technology group. “His pragmatic, business-oriented skills will deliver tremendous value to our clients.”

Bentcover received his J.D. from the University of Chicago, and started his practice at the Chicago firm of Sonnenschein, Nath & Rosenthal LLP (now SNR Denton). He spent five years at a litigation boutique in Seattle before joining Microsoft.