Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and organization on the planet to achieve more. Microsoft’s Global Trade Legal and Policy team advances this mission through international trade policies, strategies and solutions that foster a culture of compliance, trust, and innovation across Microsoft and with our partners and customers worldwide.

This Principal Corporate Counsel - Export Controls and Sanctions, Policy role is an exciting hybrid trade attorney/trade policy role that will focus on advancing Microsoft’s international sanctions and export controls policy priorities. You will advise the company on policy trends and global sanctions and export controls-related regulatory developments – including in the evolving ways sanctions and export controls are being used as tools to carry out various foreign policy objectives. You will work closely with members of Government Affairs teams in and outside the U.S., the Global Trade Legal Team, and internal business, policy, and legal counterparts to develop Microsoft’s sanctions and export controls policy agenda and formulate and execute strategies for advancing that agenda. You will advise on international sanctions and export controls law and on compliance with sanctions and export controls laws and regulations relevant to advancing the policy agenda. You will engage directly with – or assist colleagues in engagements with – global and USG policymakers, including, in the U.S., relevant regulatory agencies like the Departments of Commerce, Treasury, and State, and members of Congress. You will also represent Microsoft in key industry associations.

This role requires: experience navigating government agencies in and outside the U.S. on trade-related policy and regulatory matters; sound, principled and consistent judgment in fast-paced ambiguous environments; a track record of cross-collaboration; unwavering commitment to integrity; solutions-driven creativity and a business-enabling mindset; the ability to drive clarity from the complex. The role will report into the Global Trade Legal team within Corporate, External and Legal Affairs (CELA).

Responsibilities

• You will monitor legal and regulatory developments; you will distill and clearly communicate their impact to Microsoft senior leadership and key stakeholders.

• You will develop and execute regional and multilateral external engagement strategies that include advocating for innovative and effective export control, sanctions, and other trade law approaches to achieving national security and foreign policy objectives.

• You will counsel Microsoft key stakeholders on trade-related legal and regulatory developments and strategies.

• You will work with business partners and other key stakeholders to operationalize regulatory developments and strategies, and to assure compliance globally.

• You will serve as a key business partner and valued legal advisor to senior level clients and colleagues by providing actionable advice on a wide range of issues; you will collaborate and advise on strategy to drive meaningful conversations that are grounded in in-depth understanding of product group.

• You will proactively engage industry, business, or legal groups to drive Microsoft's policy objectives and external outreach initiatives (e.g., conferences, hearings, consultations, conducting workshops, volunteering for committees, leading recruiting activities).

• You will develop and strategize positive relationships with external and internal legal professionals, academics, government officials, customers, and/or partners in an effort to protect and advocate Microsoft's interests and to drive results.

• You will collaborate across internal groups, senior management, senior-level business leaders, and clients to ensure a coordinated Microsoft voice.

• You will organize and simplify complex/multi-dimensional issues and recommend a clear course of action among alternatives.

• You will model compliance and maintain confidentiality, attorney-client privilege, privacy, and the security of data.

Other  

• Embody our culture and values  

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.

• 5+ years experience as a practicing attorney

• OR equivalent practice of law.

• Experience as an attorney in sanctions and export controls practice areas.

Other Qualifications:

• Citizenship Verification: This position requires verification of U.S. Citizenship to meet federal government security requirements. This role will require access to information that is controlled for export under export control regulations, potentially under the U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations or Export Administration Regulations, the EU Dual Use Regulation, and/or other export control regulations. As a condition of employment, the successful candidate will be required to provide proof of citizenship, U.S. permanent residency, or other protected status (e.g., under 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3)) for assessment of eligibility to access the export-controlled information. To meet this legal requirement, and as a condition of employment, the successful candidate’s citizenship will be verified with a valid passport. Lawful permanent residents, refugees, and asylees may verify status using other documents, where applicable.This position requires verification of citizenship due to citizenship-based legal restrictions. Specifically, this position supports United States federal, state, and/or local government agency customers and is subject to certain citizenship-based restrictions where required or permitted by applicable law. To meet this legal requirement, and as a condition of employment, the successful candidate’s citizenship will be verified with a valid passport

Additional or Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in leading, developing and executing legislative and regulatory policy strategic plans and initiatives in a political environment. 

• Experience working on international trade policy in the Executive or Legislative branches of the federal government.  Willingness to travel, both domestically and internationally, as needed (and when safe to do so).

• Experience with cutting-edge technologies, including disciplines such as digital and telecommunications, artificial intelligence, quantum, and space and satellites.

• Experience advocating for and influencing export controls, sanctions, and other trade policy.

• Knowledge and experience in exports, imports, supply chain, economic sanctions, and non-U.S. export and sanctions regulations (e.g., BAFA, UN, EU, UK BIS) regulations.

• Excited and passionate about innovating on behalf of our partners and customers.

• A mix of corporate law firm and in-house experience.

• Hands-on project management experience, including organizational skills, the ability to manage multiple and varying mission-critical projects at once, and to follow through and meet deadlines.

• Experience simplifying complex technical trade issues for executives.

Legal Counsel IC4 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $124,800 - $222,000 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 $159,000 - $238,600 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

#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 (https://careers.microsoft.com/v2/global/en/accessibility.html) .