Snapchat-owner Snap Inc. has appointed Zachary Briers as general counsel, replacing Michael O’Sullivan, who is leaving the company later this year.
Briers announced the move on LinkedIn. He joins from Munger Tolles & Olson, where he was a partner. Snap is a key client of Munger Tolles, which handled about $51m of legal work for the company last year, according Legal.io.
Earlier this year, Snap won a case in the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit after a judge rejected an appeal by Xerox against three social media companies including Snap over a patent dispute related to the use of AI-based data analysis on mobile devices.
Santa Monica, Los Angeles-based Snap owns social media platform Snapchat, as well as Spectacles, which makes wearable tech.
Writing on LinkedIn, Briers said: “Snap continues to redefine how people communicate and express themselves, and I look forward to contributing to its mission and being a part of its exceptional leadership team.
“To my friends at Munger Tolles & Olson, being your colleague for the past 14 years has been the privilege of my professional life. I am so grateful for all of the opportunities you gave me and for your continued friendship.”
O’Sullivan, meanwhile, exits after eight years with Snap. The company announced his plans to depart at the end of this year back in September, adding that “Mr O’Sullivan has confirmed that his decision is not related to any disagreement with us on any matter relating to our accounting, strategy, management, operations, policies or practices (financial or otherwise)”.
Like Briers, O’Sullivan is a Munger Tolles alumnus, having spent 21 years there. He started his career at Sullivan & Cromwell back in 1992.
In other recent in-house US tech moves, last month legaltech business Consilio hired Tricia Kinney as chief legal officer from BlueLinx Corporation, replacing GC Mike Flanagan.
Back in September, Microsoft promoted GC Jonathan Palmer to the CLO role, replacing Hossein Nowbar after more than two decades with the tech giant, including two years as CLO.
And in July, US blockchain tech provider Marinade Labs hired Zalika Headley as its first GC from digital asset lender BlockFi.
Email your news and story ideas to: [email protected]
