Casiya Thaniel is a Washington, D.C. based attorney on the Global Commercial and Field Group team providing legal support to clients responsible for enterprise customers in the multi-billion dollar U.S. Regulated Industries Enterprise Operating Unit. Casiya manages complex deals that require her to understand and navigate evolving global laws and regulations, including data privacy and security, that govern Microsoft agreements and cloud technology. Casiya also assists the U.S. Financial Services business drive revenue by hosting technology events and speaking regularly on digital transformation, artificial intelligence, privacy, cyber security, and the importance of cloud literacy. In her prior role in Redmond, WA, she supported Xbox and PC products for large U.S. retailers, where she primarily focused on marketing, sales, and antitrust concerns.
Casiya continues to represent the legal department and champions Microsoft’s diversity and inclusion initiatives by contributing to the development of a pipeline of a diverse candidate/talent pool. Casiya was the relationship lead for Corporate Counsel Women of Color and the National Bar Association. She was also on the team that organized and executed the Microsoft’s Women and Minority Law Student IP Summit which was recognized as a diversity best practice by the American Bar Association.
Casiya holds a B.B.A. from Howard University, Master’s Certificate in Commercial Contract Management from George Washington University/ESI International and a J.D. from North Carolina Central University. She is a Certified Information Privacy Professional-U.S. and an alum of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity. Casiya is on the board of trustees for the Holy Trinity Episcopal Day School in Maryland, the Executive Committee of the National Bar Association – Commercial Law Section, and serves as a business advisor for My Sister’s Closet, an organization serving women in need of mentoring, career development and skills training.