Legal Counsel - Competition & Market Regulation

Job Description

Turn experience into opportunity. Leverage your accomplishments to get the kind of employment you’ve always wanted: cutting edge issues, world class clients and high-level initiatives all with the collaboration and support of a global community of seasoned professionals. If you are ready to work directly with business leaders and their teams to solve problems and drive change, then a career with the Microsoft Corporate, External and Legal Affairs (CELA) team is for you. We have an opening for a highly motivated and expert competition and regulatory affairs specialist to join Microsoft’s Competition & Market Regulation (CMR) group.

The Competition & Market Regulation group is at the forefront of ensuring compliance with competition laws and associated regulations globally. The team also advocates for policymakers, regulators and other stakeholders to thoughtfully consider the evolving role of competition law amidst the dynamic changes in our economy and the rapid development of new technologies.

This role will be based in London or Brussels and will report to the Corporate Vice President of Competition and Regulation for the Europe, Middle East and Africa region in Brussels. This individual will, as part of a broader team, be responsible for actively contributing to the company’s engagement with UK and EU competition authorities and other relevant regulators. The role will provide deep insight to the CELA team and to Microsoft more broadly into competition and regulatory developments which may have a local, regional or global impact.

Responsibilities

Primary Duties:

• Liaise across the company with key stakeholders to develop responses and positions to regulatory and legislative proposals

• Develop and execute plans to communicate our responses and positions to government and regulatory decision-makers

• Plan and contribute to cross-functional efforts in partnership with internal teams on strategy for building relationships with policymakers and other stakeholders for competition and regulatory policy initiatives

• Supervise and direct outside counsel on multiple regulatory matters

• Advise cross-functional stakeholders within the company on a range of competition and regulatory issues

• Review and advise on key relevant regulatory and legal developments

• Understand, identify and anticipate key regulatory challenges affecting Microsoft, monitoring, managing, and engaging on all issues impacting competition and other related regulatory policy for Microsoft’s products and services

• Advise internal teams on public policy matters to guide development of products, services, choice and competition related investments, technologies and policies

• Work alongside the Government Affairs team with political bodies, policymakers, and NGOs on technology and policy issues

• Collaborate and ensure consistency in approach to policy issues across the region, working with similar roles in other markets and with colleagues in our corporate headquarters in the United States

• Based in London or Brussels
• International travel will be required from time to time

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

We are looking for a competition and regulatory specialist with:

• Relevant in depth experience as a practicing attorney OR equivalent practice of law. Active license to practice law in a jurisdiction and capable of meeting admission requirements in relevant jurisdiction. Juris Doctor or international equivalent degree OR completion of a legal apprenticeship.
• Proficient post-qualification experience (UK and/or EU)
• Demonstrable expertise in UK and EU competition law
• First-rate experience developing innovative and pragmatic approaches to complex legal challenges with a proven track record in providing concise and legal advice

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to independently, quickly and accurately assess legal, practical and business risks and to present this advice to legal and non-legal leadership personnel
• Outstanding analytical and written communication skills
• A keen business sense, with the ability to find creative business-oriented solutions to legal issues, balancing legal risks against business interests
• A demonstrated ability to work efficiently, meet demanding deadlines in a fast-paced environment, prioritise workflow and adjust to frequent workload fluctuations
• An ability to work independently while also being a strong collaborator
• A strong team spirit and ability to work with colleagues based in different locations
• An ability to establish a “trusted advisor” relationship with business team members
• A high degree of flexibility and adaptability
• A passion for technology, the potential of digital transformation and Microsoft’s diverse range of products and services

This description is designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by an employee in this position. The actual duties, responsibilities and qualifications may vary.

#CELA

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.