We are looking for a dynamic, highly motivated, and experienced commercial and real estate attorney to support Microsoft’s global cloud expansion in the role of Senior Corporate Counsel, Land Acquisition, Lease, and Business Development.

The legal team supporting the Cloud Operations + Innovation division has an immediate opening for an attorney to support land acquisition, leasing, and strategic partnerships in support of Microsoft’s datacenters. This is a unique opportunity for an attorney to help Microsoft build hyperscale infrastructure for its rapidly expanding global cloud.

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.

In alignment with our Microsoft values, we are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment for all employees to positively impact our culture every day.

Responsibilities

• Drafting and negotiating complex commercial agreements in support of cloud and datacenter infrastructure, including real estate acquisitions and property development agreements, colocation leases, and related transactions.

• Managing outside counsel in colocation leasing and land acquisition, including due diligence, purchase agreements, and post-acquisition development issues.

• Supporting the creation of new partnerships and business models to support datacenter projects.

• Supporting the delivery of Microsoft’s datacenter projects, including engagement with local government and community groups on environmental permitting across multi-site and multi-country projects.

• Supporting the Microsoft zoning and permitting team on review and applications for entitlements.

• Creating new contract models, templates, and process improvements to improve quality and reduce contract cycle time for datacenter infrastructure expansion.

• Collaborating with team members within and across organizational boundaries, including engineering finance, marketing, government affairs and communications teams.

• Developing trusted advisor relationships with business clients and executives.

Other

• Embody our Culture (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/about/corporate-values) and Values (https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/culture)

Qualifications

Required/Minimum Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate Degree or Equivalent International Degree

• OR Completion of a Legal Apprenticeship.

• Active license to practice law in a jurisdiction and capable of meeting admission requirements in relevant jurisdiction.

• 7+ years experience as a practicing attorney

• OR equivalent practice of law.

• Experience in real estate and other complex commercial transactions, working with municipal authorities, regional and national governments, and local communities and experience developing, negotiating, and documenting complex, multi-party transactions.

Additional or Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in real estate and other complex commercial transactions, with experience in large infrastructure projects, real estate lease, purchase and development agreements, and/or international transactions.

• 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.

• The ability to deliver impact through superior collaboration. You should be a flexible and analytical thinker able to quickly, and accurately identify legal issues in a complex environment and to develop solutions by exercising confident judgment in ambiguous situations.

• Results orientation, customer focus, a commitment to providing the highest quality client service, and a desire to develop trusted advisor relationships with business clients.

• 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 IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $141,800 - $248,800 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 $179,300 - $268,900 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 June 5, 2024.

#CELA #CELACO+I

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. Consistent with applicable law, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations (https://careers.microsoft.com/v2/global/en/accessibility.html) .