Principal Corporate Counsel (Africa Market)

Microsoft’s Corporate, External and Legal Affairs department (CELA) is recruiting an experienced Principal Corporate Counsel to join its Compliance & Ethics (“C&E”), Business Regulatory Investigations (“BRI”) team in EMEA (Europe, Middle East & Africa). C&E is responsible for conducting internal investigations, proactively mitigating risk, providing advice on legal compliance matters, and partnering with the business to create a culture of compliance, among other accountabilities.

The BRI EMEA attorney will assist the company in meeting those responsibilities and its continuing commitment to comply with laws, regulations and policies governing business activities across the EMEA region. The attorney will work on internal investigations and serve as part of the trusted C&E BRI compliance team to the EMEA regional business and leadership team, with a particular focus on Africa.

The attorney will report directly to the Assistant General Counsel leading the CELA C&E BRI EMEA Team, and will partner with other teams across the region, including government affairs professionals, attorneys, investigators, administrators and business professionals.

Responsibilities

Specific Responsibilities Include:

• Lead and conduct internal compliance investigations in accordance with the BRI Investigations Manual and Framework and assist with corresponding remediation plan recommendations.
• Work with business leadership, compliance committees, and multi-disciplinary teams in Africa, including CELA, HR, Finance, Controls & Compliance, and business stakeholders to identify and analyze compliance and related legal risks, provide advice, support remediation and controls, and enhance compliance culture.
• Act as a compliance subject matter expert to business leadership on issues important to ensuring Microsoft complies with relevant laws and regulations, such as the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, in coordination with others as appropriate.
• Advise employees on Microsoft policy questions and issues.
• Help drive the evolution of the C&E BRI team to strengthen and enhance Microsoft’s ability to grow its business with partners and customers in a dynamic environment while responding with agility to emerging risks and regulations.
• Travel within the region will be required.

Qualifications

Qualifications:

Required/Minimum Qualifications

• Juris Doctor Degree or international equivalent degree AND extensive experience as a practicing attorney
• OR equivalent experience
• Active license to practice law in the UK jurisdictions and capable of meeting admission requirements in relevant jurisdiction
• Extensive experience as practicing attorney handling internal/corporate investigations or government investigations.
• Ability to apply sound, principled, and consistent judgment in a fast-moving and challenging legal and business environment.
• Experience analyzing complex financial, business, and legal issues and communicating investigations findings and recommendations in a clear and concise fashion.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with compliance investigations or programs in Africa.
• Strong commitment to and reputation for integrity.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment and decision-making in a dynamic legal and business environment.
• Commitment to personal and professional development.
• Interest and commitment to continuous learning, openness to innovation and ability to turn constructive feedback into new ways of working.
• Effective collaboration and communication skills and ability to leverage these skills to drive consensus and deliver outcomes.
• Excellent writing and speaking skills, and ability to analyze complex financial, business, and legal issues and communicate in a clear and concise fashion.
• A firm understanding of relevant compliance rules and requirements, including the laws and regulations governing U.S. companies doing business in non-U.S. locations, as well as an appreciation of pertinent business, accounting, and finance principles.
• A strong grasp of employment, privacy, and other requirements relating to internal investigations.
• Experience dealing with diverse cultures and building strong client relationships.
• Ability to prioritize, work efficiently and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request via the Accommodation request form.

Benefits/perks listed below may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Microsoft and the country where you work.

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