Senior Corporate Counsel - Energy

Job Description

We are looking for a dynamic, highly motivated, and experienced attorney to help us shape our approach to powering the Microsoft Cloud and the development of new carbon-free electricity generation.

The legal team supporting the Cloud Operations + Innovation division has an immediate opening for an attorney to support electricity infrastructure agreements, electricity supply, carbon-free electricity power purchase agreements, and related legal support applicable to datacenter development and operations.

Microsoft has set ambitious sustainability targets for carbon-free energy, responsible water use, zero-waste, and ecosystem health (see https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/sustainability). This is a unique role for an attorney to work on cutting edge innovative transactions, to help build an environmentally sustainable 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 energy projects around the world that can truly make a difference.

Responsibilities

The main responsibilities for this role include:

• Electricity infrastructure agreements and electricity supply for new datacenters and datacenter expansions.
• Structuring, drafting, and negotiating complex agreements to support the purchase of carbon-free electricity.
• Identifying and resolving business and legal risks, advising on regulatory matters, and providing input on proposals for regulatory evolutions related to datacenter energy.
• Handling day-to-day project-related legal issues.
• Collaborating with team members within and across organizational boundaries, including business partners, lawyers, legal specialists, government affairs, and PR professionals.
• Exercising independent judgment on legal matters to counsel middle and senior management business partners.

Qualifications

Qualifications

We are looking for an experienced attorney who meets the following requirements:

• Juris Doctor or international equivalent degree with excellent academic credentials.
• Active bar membership in good standing in at least one EMEA jurisdiction.

• Experience at a law firm or an in-house legal department

• Legal experience in the following areas: electricity transactions in the European Union, and electricity regulations in the European Union. Additionally, some experience with electricity transactions and regulations in the wider EMEA region is advantageous for this role.

Additional or Preferred Qualifications

• 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 must 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.
• Strong 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.

Location

This role is based at Microsoft offices in London, Dublin, or one of Microsoft’s Europe CELA hub locations and will require 0-25% travel.

#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.