Senior Attorney, Land Use & Environmental Permitting

The Infrastructure Legal Affairs team supporting Microsoft's Cloud Operations + Innovation division has an immediate opening for a commercial and land use attorney to support Microsoft's global cloud expansion. As the Senior Attorney-Land Use & Environmental Permitting, you will support zoning and permitting to enable the delivery of Microsoft’s Americas datacenter projects.  This is a unique opportunity for an attorney to help Microsoft build hyperscale infrastructure. 

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.

Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more, and we are dedicated to this mission across every aspect of our company. Our Culture is centered on embracing a growth mindset and encouraging teams and leaders to bring their best each day. Join us and help shape the future of the world. 

Legal Advice & Counsel 

• Providing strategic support for zoning, planning and permitting to enable the delivery of Microsoft’s Americas datacenter projects. This includes advising on land use and zoning issues and engagement with consultants, local authorities, and government stakeholders for projects located in multiple states and countries.
• Advising on site development environmental matters and obtaining environmental permits for Microsoft’s Americas datacenter projects, including air and wetlands permits, and remediation processes and standards.
• Negotiating and drafting infrastructure development agreements with municipalities and utilities.
• Assistance with real estate documents ancillary to development efforts, including negotiating and drafting easements.
• Managing local zoning and land use counsel.
• Creating new contract models, templates, playbooks, and process improvements to improve quality, amplify scale, and reduce contract cycle time for datacenter infrastructure expansion.

Operational Excellence:

• Demonstrate results orientation, customer focus, a commitment to providing the highest quality client service, and a desire to develop trusted advisor relationships with business clients.
• Apply technology, including AI, to improve legal work and efficiency.

Communication & Culture:

• Collaborating with team members within and across organizational boundaries, including engineering, finance, marketing, government and public affairs, and communications teams.
• Developing strong, trusted advisor relationships with business clients and executives.
• Embody our Culture and Values

Required Minimum Qualifications

• Juris Doctor Degree or international equivalent degree AND 6+ 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. 

Additional or Preferred Qualifications

• 3+ years experience in land use, and/or environmental law; ideally working on large infrastructure projects or datacenters, either in-h