Meta mentioned Tuesday that it employed former Microsoft authorized government Curtis Joseph Mahoney to turn into its chief authorized officer.
Mahoney will change Meta’s earlier head lawyer, Jennifer Newstead, who introduced in December that she can be leaving Meta to turn into Apple’s basic counsel in March.
He joins Meta at a time when the corporate is dealing with a wave of child-safety associated lawsuits across the nation. That features an ongoing case in New Mexico by which the state’s lawyer basic alleged that Meta failed to guard youngsters from sexual abuse and human trafficking on its apps like Fb and Instagram.
“C.J. brings world-class authorized experience, ardour for frontier expertise, and deep perception into the worldwide regulatory challenges dealing with our business,” Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg mentioned in an announcement. “I am wanting ahead to working with him to advance Meta’s mission to construct the way forward for human connection.”
C.J. Mahoney, new head lawyer for Meta.
Courtesy: C.J. Mahoney
Most not too long ago, Mahoney was at Microsoft as a company vice chairman and basic counsel for product, companies and go-to-market authorized. He was beforehand a deputy U.S. commerce consultant throughout President Donald Trump’s first stint within the White Home.
He joined Microsoft in 2021 as deputy basic counsel and centered on commerce and the corporate’s Azure cloud enterprise. Quickly after becoming a member of, he represented Microsoft throughout a U.S. Home Methods and Means Subcommittee on Commerce listening to, speaking in regards to the firm’s initiatives in Africa. In 2025, Mahoney grew to become Microsoft’s basic counsel, taking management of attorneys, paralegals and enterprise professionals who work on engineering, gross sales and advertising and marketing.
At Microsoft, Mahoney reported to Brad Smith, the corporate’s vice chair, president and high government on authorized and political issues, a Microsoft spokesperson mentioned. After Meta’s Cambridge Analytica privateness scandal, Zuckerberg reached out to Smith for recommendation, The Data reported in 2018.
“I am excited to affix Meta because it leads the way in which in AI innovation and continues to attach individuals around the globe,” Mahoney mentioned in an announcement. “As I shut an unbelievable chapter at Microsoft and start a brand new one at Meta, I am grateful for the belief Mark and the Board have positioned in me.”
The Microsoft spokesperson declined to touch upon succession planning after Mahoney’s departure.
Axios first reported on Meta’s new authorized rent.
— CNBC’s Jordan Novet contributed reporting.
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