Profile

Software Strategies
was founded by Michael Whitener, author of the newly published book “Creating Software Alliances: A Detailed
Look at Establishing Partnerships in the Software Industry, Structuring Agreements, and Managing Relationships” (Aspatore Books, 2007).

The book is based on Michael’s
experience drafting and negotiating hundreds of alliance agreements, global and domestic, involving large companies and small.

Before founding Software Strategies, Michael was Associate General Counsel – International at BearingPoint, Inc., a global management and technology consulting company.  At BearingPoint, Michael handled the company’s international legal matters, and managed an overseas and domestic legal team of 23.  During 2003-05, Michael was based in BearingPoint’s Sydney, Australia office.

Michael formerly was Managing Director
and General Counsel of WorldSpace Asia Pte Ltd, the Singapore-based subsidiary of WorldSpace Corporation, a global satellite communications company. In that role, Michael established and expanded WorldSpace’s presence throughout Asia.

Michael commenced his legal career as an attorney at the international law firms of Sidley Austin Brown & Wood (Washington, D.C. and New York) and Hogan & Hartson (Washington, D.C.), and received a one-year Fulbright Fellowship to study Japanese law and language in Tokyo.

Michael earned his undergraduate degree from the College of William & Mary and his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law, where he was Executive Editor of the Virginia Journal of International Law.  He is also a graduate of the strategic alliances program at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

Michael is based in Washington, D.C. area.

Recent Publications:

• Creating Software Alliances:
  A Detailed Look at Establishing Partnerships in the Software Industry, Structuring Agreements, and Managing Relationships (Aspatore Books, 2007)
• Software Distribution in China:  Taming the Guardian Lions,
  Upgrade Magazine (Aug/Sept 2006)
• Negotiating Intellectual Property Clauses:  Nine Key Issues,
  ACC Docket (May 2005)

Recent Presentations: 

• Revenue Recognition in Technology Transactions, LAWASIA 40^th Anniversary International Conference, Goa, India (Oct 2006)
• Intellectual Property Issues in Contract Negotiations, Lexis-Nexis Contracts Conference, Sydney and Melbourne (Feb 2005/Aug 2004)