Address Microsoft’s Corporate, External and Legal Affairs Department (CELA) has an immediate opening for a highly motivated and experienced competition leader to join Microsoft’s Corporate, External and Legal team in the UK, reporting directly into the Vice President of External Affairs for the UK. The Microsoft UK CELA team provides front-line legal, government relations and regulatory affairs support for Microsoft’s interests in the UK. You will lead the UK’s competition law team, collaborating and coordinating closely with the company’s U.S.-based Competition and Market Regulation Group as well as counterparts in Brussels and across the globe.
You will focus on the company’s efforts within the UK, to comply with competition laws and market regulation, respond to competition investigations, earn approval for mergers & acquisitions all while collaborating internally to set and execute on the overall UK strategy. You will partner with the UK Government Affairs team to engage with policymakers, regulators, academics, and others to consider the role of competition law in the face of our changing economy, the development of new technology, and passage of new laws and regulations. The role requires demonstrable leadership experience, orientation to and empathy for customers and partners, curiosity and interest in technology, and engagement in and a sophisticated understanding of the competition and regulatory environment. You will proactively develop the competition team ensuring its readiness to deliver while building towards future needs.
Microsoft is on a mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Our culture is centred on embracing a growth mindset, a theme of inspiring excellence, and encouraging teams and leaders to bring their best each day. In doing so, we create life-changing innovations that impact billions of lives around the world. You can help us achieve our mission
Responsibilities
You will lead the UK competition law team. In this role, you will partner with Microsoft’s Competition and Market Regulation Group, based in Redmond, Washington, USA, who is responsible and accountable for compliance with antitrust and competition laws across the globe. As a partner to CMRG, you will provide essential "on the ground" expertise and experience in UK competition law.
Accordingly, you will be responsible for counselling the UK subsidiary business on compliance with UK competition law. And you will be responsible for collaborating and coordinating closely with the Competition and Market Regulation Group on regulatory investigations and merger reviews in the UK and from time-to-time the Litigation Group on private competition litigation in the UK. In addition, you will be on the front line in managing Microsoft’s ongoing engagement and relationship with the UK Competition and Markets Authority and particularly its newly formed Digital Markets Unit. You will play a critical role in spotting new risks in the UK, developing a coherent approach and strategy across complex UK competition matters, and solving any competition concerns and issues.
You will also be responsible for building and nurturing a broad network of key stakeholders and influencers in the UK competition law community, enabling you and your team to lead Microsoft’s advocacy in the UK on competition law and market regulation policy. In doing this work, you will need to collaborate and coordinate closely with other local teams in other key markets, including the Government Affairs teams in Washington, D.C., in Brussels, and in Singapore.
Other
- You practice an authentic and transparent work style. You are collaborative and an effective communicator and enjoy contributing to the success of others.
- You embody our culture and values
- You thrive in an environment of ambiguity and change, able to create clarity for yourself and those around you to navigate and lead a path forward
Qualifications
Required/Minimum Qualifications
- UK qualified solicitor or barrister with extensive experience as a practicing attorney in competition law.
Additional or Preferred Qualifications and experience
- Experience working as in-house competition counsel experience, leading in sophisticated legal environments and managing outside counsel efficiently, and/or working at a competition or other regulatory agency .
- A demonstrated ability to lead and develop teams that work efficiently, meet demanding deadlines in fast-paced environment, prioritise workflow and adjust to frequent workload fluctuations;
- Outstanding analytical and written and oral communication skills;
- A keen business sense, with the ability to find creative business-oriented solutions to legal issues, balancing legal risks against business interests;
- A strong team spirit and ability to work with colleagues based in different locations;
- An ability to establish strong and trusted relationships at the highest levels of an organisation and externally.
