International Law Enforcement Counsel in Brussels, Belgium

The Law Enforcement and National Security Team in Microsoft’s Privacy, Safety, and Regulatory Affairs organization has an opening for an experienced lawyer to join our team at our EU headquarters in Dublin, Ireland or one of our European hubs including London, Brussels or Munich. This lawyer will provide advice and guidance to the global team responsible for responding to government and civil demands for customer data and assist in the implementation of eEvidence legislation in the EU.

Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.

Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities will include:

Legal Advice and Counsel

• Advising Microsoft’s Law Enforcement and National Security operations team responsible for responding to legal demands from governments around the world seeking access to customer data from Microsoft’s products and services.

• Managing incident response cases involving law enforcement agencies and supporting colleagues around the world with advice and guidance related to government access to data, Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty law and other international laws.

• Providing legal advice relating to civil legal orders for user data in conjunction with outside counsel in global jurisdictions. Collaborating with Microsoft in-house lawyers and outside counsel in responding to these orders with previous experience dealing with the recognition and enforcement of international civil legal orders e.g. Brussels Regulation.

• Providing subject matter expertise and advice to senior leadership and policy teams concerning compliance with laws and policy relating to government access to data and surveillance law. 

• Engaging with government authorities and policy makers on matters related to Microsoft’s compliance with government legal demands to address operational and policy questions, conduct training and outreach, and maintain working relationships with domestic and international law enforcement.

• Conducting and/or coordinating legal research through outside counsel, as well as interpreting and applying risk-based assessments of how legal requirements throughout the world affect Microsoft’s current and future product and service offerings.

• Reviewing and providing advice on legislative proposals from governments around the world that may implicate Microsoft’s obligations to produce data to government authorities. 

Representing Microsoft

• Proactively engages 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).

• Proactively develops positive relationships with external and internal legal professionals, academics, government officials, customers, and/or partners to protect and advocate Microsoft’s interests and to drive results; coordinates with government affairs professionals to obtain alignment in policy strategy for public entities.

Communication

• Improves decision making and conflict resolution by leveraging key stakeholders, including Microsoft senior executives, by simplifying and summarizing highly complex/multi-dimensional issues into actionable strategies and concise recommendations.

• Ability to communicate complicated legal and policy advice clearly and succinctly to a variety of different audiences (internal and external) from a diverse set of disciplines (lawyers, project managers, engineers, business executives, government officials, policymakers, academics, reporters) and cultures.

• Engages directly with customers to discuss Microsoft’s policies, practices and procedures for responding to government requests for user data.

• Comfort with ambiguity and ability to make and communicate decisions despite shifting parameters.

Operational Excellence

• Drives the adoption of and models new tools and processes including the application of new AI models and applications; develops and leads operational excellence initiatives that significantly improve the quality, timeliness, and efficiency of projects; mentors and provides guidance to others to identify opportunities and tools to increase operational efficiency and effectiveness; performs compliance audits/assessments.

• Sources and manages outside counsel and vendor resources strategically to maximize the efficiency of spending; develops budget for practice group or cross-group initiatives; works within and manages budgets for projects.

• Leads and ensures all team members comply with confidentiality, attorney-client privilege, and security procedures.

Other

• Company Values: Embody ourculture (https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/culture) and a demonstrated commitment to the company’s core values (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/about/corporate-values) , including a commitment to high ethical standards, unquestioned integrity, and a commitment to advancing the company’s diversity & inclusion commitments.

Qualifications

Required/Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Law Degree or Equivalent International Degree OR Completion of a Legal Apprenticeship.

• Active license to practice law in an EU/UK/EFTA jurisdiction and capable of maintaining admission requirements in relevant jurisdiction.

• Fluency in the English language at C2 level, within the Common European Framework (or equivalent) with experience practicing law through English.

• professional experience dealing with laws related to government access to data/digital evidence and surveillance.

• Knowledge of and experience with the criminal investigative process, preferably as a prosecutor, judge,defence lawyer or in-house counsel in a technology company.

• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment and working on cutting-edge legal and policy matters where ambiguity is the rule rather than the exception.

• Growth mindset, approaching each day with a hunger to learn new things, regardingfeedback as an opportunity to grow.

Additional or Preferred Qualifications :

• Understanding of key laws relating to government access to data such as the US Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA), Brazil’s Marco Civil da Internet or the EU’s eEvidence Regulation and Digital Services Act.

• Experience dealing with Regulatory agencies in multiple jurisdictions.

• Experience as International Law Enforcement Senior Counsel

• Motivate and lead others, including on matters where you have no direct oversight or management responsibilities over those whose assistance/participation is required.

• Ability to understand customer requirements and corporate strategies, and how to ensure your work is advancing both.

• Demonstrated ability to think creatively to devise strategies that advance customers’ and clients’ interests, prioritize among competing responsibilities, and devise long-term strategies

• Willingness to experiment and try new things and learn quickly from failure and/or mistakes.

• Ability and willingness to adapt quickly as the legal, policy and factual landscape continues to evolve

• Familiarity with internet-based communications technology, cloud services and Microsoft’s products and services.

• Working proficiency in another EU official language would be an asset.

Ability to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements are required for this role. These requirements include, but are not limited to the following specialized security screenings:

• Microsoft Cloud Background Check: This position will be required to pass the Microsoft Cloud background check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter.

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) .