Principal Corporate Counsel
Microsoft
Principal Corporate Counsel
Redmond, Washington, United States
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Overview
We are looking for a dynamic, highly motivated, and experienced Principal Corporate Counsel to support Microsoft’s global cloud expansion.
The legal team supporting the Cloud Operations + Innovation division has an immediate opening for a Principal Corporate Counse to support the worldwide datacenter operations and network acquisition teams. In this unique role, this attorney will be tasked with creating a scale contracting program to manage datacenter procurement and to support the growing datacenters operations team, and with advising on the acquisition of subsea network infrastructure.
Cloud Operations + Innovation is the team behind one of the world’s largest cloud infrastructures, responsible for operating all Microsoft online products and services, including AI tools such as Copilot. Our focus is on smart growth, high efficiency, and delivering a trusted experience to customers and partners worldwide. This is a fast-growing division that is investing in datacenter capabilities and innovative projects around the world that can truly make a difference.
Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.
Qualifications
Required/minimum qualifications
- Juris Doctor Degree or international equivalent degree AND 4+ years experience as a practicing attorney
- OR equivalent experience.
- Active license to practice law in a jurisdiction and capable of meeting admission requirements in relevant jurisdiction.
- 3+ years experience in procurement, contracting, and datacenter operations—or related experiences.
Additional or preferred qualifications
- Juris Doctor Degree or international equivalent degree AND 5+ years experience as a practicing attorney
- OR equivalent experience.
- 3+ years experience as an attorney in specialized practice area (e.g., tax, employment, copyright). 1+ year(s) in-house counsel experience.
- Desire and ability to work as part of a diverse and inclusive team.
- Keen business sense, ability to think creatively and strategically, and a sense of humor.
- Capability to work efficiently, meet demanding deadlines in a fast-paced environment, prioritize workflow, and adjust to frequent fluctuations in workload and business imperatives.
- A passion for working in the technology sector and including a keen interest in applying technology, including AI, to improve legal work and efficiency.
Legal Counsel IC4 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $132,200 - $232,800 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $165,800 - $248,600 per year.
Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here: https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay
Microsoft will accept applications for the role until August 8, 2025.
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Responsibilities
- Creation of a scale procurement legal function.
- Drafting, negotiating, and counseling the operations business on high impact supplier goods/services agreements and the subsea network acquisition team on consortium arrangements, capacity leases, and network builds.
- Providing legal counsel to the datacenter services/operations business and subsea network acquisition team.
- Creating legal guidance to empower datacenter services/operations team and the subsea network acquisition team in their daily work.
- Collaborating with team members within and across organizational boundaries, including on regulatory compliance, employment, privacy, security, environmental, health, safety, and sustainability.
- Develop trusted advisor relationships with business clients and executives.
- Exercising independent judgment on legal matters to counsel middle and senior management business partners.
- Creating new contract models, templates, training, and process enhancements to improve quality and reduce contract cycle time for datacenter operations.