The Infrastructure Legal Affairs team supporting the Cloud Operations + Innovation division has an immediate opening for an experienced lawyer to support to support electricity infrastructure agreements, electricity regulatory engagements, electricity power purchase agreements, and related legal support applicable to datacenter development and operations in the role of Principal Corporate Counsel - Datacenter Energy Attorney.
Microsoft has ambitious targets to build datacenters that are positive for local communities and enhance the grid with investments in infrastructure and carbon-free energy. This is a unique role for an experienced attorney to work on developing a new practice to support emerging datacenter grid compliance requirements in connection with hyperscale datacenters.
Cloud Operations + Innovation is the team behind the world-leading datacenters at the foundation of 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
- Negotiating electricity infrastructure agreements and electricity supply for datacenters.
Structuring, drafting, and negotiating agreements to support the development of new carbon-free electricity generation.
Identifying and resolving business and legal risks, advising on regulatory matters, and providing input on proposals for regulatory evolutions related to datacenter energy.
Managing day-to-day project-related legal issues.
Collaborating with team members within and across organizational boundaries, including business partners, in-house lawyers, outside counsel, government affairs, and communications professionals.
Exercising independent judgment on legal matters to counsel middle and senior management business partners.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
- Juris Doctor Degree or international equivalent degree AND 4+ years experience as a practicing attorney with experience providing legal support for electricity transactions and regulations in the US.
- OR equivalent experience.
- Active license to practice law in a jurisdiction and capable of meeting admission requirements in relevant jurisdiction
Additional or Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with electricity and natural gas transactions and regulations in Texas is advantageous for this role
- Membership of the State Bar of Texas bar is advantageous for this role.
- 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 collaboration. You must be a flexible and analytical thinker able to identify legal issues quickly and accurately 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 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
This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.
Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. 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 with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.
Skills Required
- Juris Doctor degree or international equivalent degree
- At least 4 years of experience as a practicing attorney
- Experience providing legal support for electricity transactions and regulations in the United States
- Active license to practice law in a jurisdiction
- Ability to meet admission requirements in the relevant jurisdiction
- Experience with electricity and natural gas transactions and regulations in Texas
- Membership in the State Bar of Texas
- Ability to work collaboratively in a diverse and inclusive team
- Business judgment, creative and strategic thinking, and ability to identify and resolve legal issues
- Ability to meet demanding deadlines and prioritize work in a fast-paced environment
- Interest in applying technology, including AI, to improve legal work and efficiency
Microsoft Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Microsoft and has not been reviewed or approved by Microsoft.
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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage is described as comprehensive, with preventive care coverage, vision options, and annual out-of-pocket limits. Feedback suggests medical, mental-health, and disability support are a major strength of the package.
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Parental & Family Support — Family support is expansive, including parental leave, family caregiver leave, child-care assistance, family concierge services, fertility options, and college-advising support for eligible employees. Feedback suggests these benefits meaningfully ease caregiving and family planning demands.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Wellbeing resources include counseling and employee-assistance services, wellness reimbursements, product discounts, and charitable-matching programs. Feedback suggests these extras complement core benefits and support day-to-day quality of life.
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