Microsoft Gulf
Principal Corporate Counsel
- Permanent
- Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Experience 10 - 15 yrs
- Urgent
Job overview
Date posted
19/09/2025
Location
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Salary
Undisclosed
Compensation
Comprehensive package
Experience
10 - 15 yrs
Seniority
Senior & Lead
Qualification
Bachelors degree
Expiration date
03/11/2025
Job description
The Principal Corporate Counsel will support Microsoft’s Corporate, External and Legal Affairs (CELA) Deal Team, focusing on strategic and complex commercial transactions across the EMEA region. The role involves advising on large-scale deals, developing negotiation strategies, managing legal risks, and collaborating with business leaders and external stakeholders. This position requires strong expertise in commercial and corporate law, proficiency in Arabic and English, and the ability to work with global teams in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
Required skills
commercial law
corporate law
contract negotiation
M&A transactions
technology transactions
data protection
intellectual property
compliance
regulatory advisory
transaction structuring
legal drafting
Arabic legal proficiency
English legal proficiency
Key responsibilities
- Provide legal support for complex technology transactions by developing negotiation strategies, solving problems creatively, and coordinating across CELA and business team subject matter experts
- Offer strategic advice on newly emerging information technology business models, including AI, while staying updated on rules, regulations, and statutory requirements
- Draft, negotiate, and structure integrated agreements encompassing sales, procurement, partnerships, joint ventures, investments, and other business models
- Address legal issues such as commercial contracts, intellectual property, and data protection
- Utilize outside counsel effectively and guide escalations to senior leaders for informed decision-making
- Communicate to advance negotiations and achieve closure of open issues
- Provide practical and strategic advice to business clients and CELA colleagues
- Ensure a coordinated legal voice through collaboration across groups and management
- Organize and simplify complex legal issues, recommending clear courses of action
Experience & skills
- Juris Doctorate Degree or international equivalent
- Active license to practice law in a jurisdiction and capable of meeting admission requirements in relevant jurisdiction
- Demonstrable experience in commercial and corporate law
- Proficiency in written, reading, and conversational Arabic and English
- Experience in law firm or in-house roles specializing in complex transactions, including technology transactions, M&A, or business development
- Experience managing complex transactions with multiple stakeholders
- Strong orchestration and negotiation skills
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, matrixed environment with sound judgment
- Team player with cross-functional collaboration experience
- Growth mindset and ability to learn new concepts quickly