Principal Corporate Counsel, Partner Investments & Global SMB

Overview

Are you ready to work on cutting edge legal, business, and technology issues while supporting a global sales organization?

We are looking for a talented and experienced attorney to join our Corporate, External, and Legal Affairs (CELA) group and lead our legal work supporting both the Partner Investments organization and the Global Small, Medium, and Corporate Business (GSMB) team in the Microsoft Customer and Partner Solutions (MCAPS) organization in the role of Principal Corporate Counsel, Partner Investments & Global SMB . The role sits at the intersection of Microsoft's partner and SMB growth strategies, providing a rare opportunity to influence initiatives that are central to Microsoft's commercial success.

This role requires commercial judgment, practical risk calibration, and the ability to operate across complex legal and compliance domains, including finance controls, incentive governance, anti-corruption, competition law, data handling, security, responsible AI, and partner contracting. You will help shape scalable legal frameworks that support partner investment strategies, SMB go-to-market initiatives, and channel sales programs, while improving deal velocity and enabling sustainable growth across Microsoft's partner ecosystem and global SMB business. There will also be additional opportunities to provide support to the Microsoft Marketplace team as that business evolves.

In this role you will bring legal, business, and have experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder matters in a fast-paced technology environment. We value intellectual curiosity, sound judgment, operational discipline, adaptability, and the ability to simplify complex issues for business decision-makers.

Responsibilities

Strategic Legal Partnership: Serve as a trusted legal advisor to Microsoft's Partner Investments and GSMB organizations, providing practical, business-oriented counsel on strategic initiatives, partner programs, sales motions, and complex legal and regulatory matters.

Commercial Transactions & Partner Programs: Structure, negotiate, and advise on a broad range of partner- and customer-facing arrangements, including investment frameworks, incentive programs, strategic commercial agreements, channel transactions, and other growth-oriented business initiatives.

Incentive Governance & Regulatory Compliance: Advise on the design and implementation of partner investment and incentive programs, helping ensure compliance with applicable legal requirements and company policies, including competition law, anti-corruption, finance controls, and related governance frameworks.

Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with stakeholders across business, finance, sales, operations, compliance, engineering, and other legal teams to develop aligned, practical solutions that balance business objectives with legal and regulatory risk.

Process Improvement & Innovation: Help drive the adoption of AI-enabled tools, scalable legal processes, and reusable frameworks that improve efficiency, accelerate execution, and enable the business to operate at global scale.

Risk Management & Strategic Counseling: Identify, assess, and mitigate legal and regulatory risks across a broad range of subject areas, including partner contracting, data handling, security, responsible AI, and commercial compliance, while enabling innovation and business growth.

Operational Excellence & Knowledge Sharing: Contribute to the development of best practices, playbooks, training materials, and feedback mechanisms that improve consistency, scalability, and the overall effectiveness of legal support across the organization. Champion the adoption of AI-powered solutions and innovative ways of working that help scale legal support, increase productivity, and empower stakeholders through self-service resources and reusable guidance.

Required Qualifications

• Juris Doctor Degree or international equivalent degree AND 4+ years experience as a practicing attorney
• OR equivalent experience.
• Active license to practice law in a jurisdiction and capable of meeting admission requirements in relevant jurisdiction.

Preferred Qualifications

Demonstrated legal experience with the ability to provide practical, risk-calibrated legal advice.

Experience supporting technology, commercial, sales, partner, or go-to-market organizations.

Experience supporting partner ecosystems, channel sales programs, incentives, investments, commercial contracting, or other growth-oriented business initiatives is preferred.

A global mindset and demonstrated ability to work effectively across cultures, geographies, and diverse business environments.

A growth mindset, including intellectual curiosity, adaptability, openness to feedback, and a desire to continuously learn, improve, and embrace new technologies and ways of working.

Demonstrated commitment to operational excellence, including the ability to leverage AI-powered tools, automation, and scalable processes to improve productivity and legal service delivery.

High personal standards of integrity, accountability, and professional judgment.

Desire and ability to work as part of an inclusive team and foster an inclusive workplace where diverse perspectives are valued.

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.

Insights from previous hires

Top skills: Commercial Litigation

Common previous titles: Senior Corporate Counsel, Legal Counsel, Corporate Counsel, Assistant General Counsel, Senior Program Manager, Manager Employee Relations, Senior Solution Engineer, Senior Sales, Senior Advisor, Business Program Manager