Shahab Ahmed
Chief Legal Officer
Executive Snapshot
Shahab Ahmed is a Chief Legal Officer who helps founders, executive teams, and boards commercialize innovation, expand globally, and navigate complex technology and regulatory challenges. Over more than two decades, he has advised technology, fintech, e-commerce, aviation, and digital infrastructure companies on strategic transactions, product launches, privacy, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and international growth.
With a background in information technology, an MBA, and decades of executive legal experience, Shahab helps businesses make informed decisions, manage risk, and scale with confidence.
Why Clients Call Shahab
Companies call Shahab when innovation outpaces existing legal frameworks.
Throughout his career, he has helped organizations launch new technologies, expand into international markets, negotiate strategic commercial relationships, and navigate some of the world's most complex regulatory environments. From Microsoft's launch of Windows Phone, Bing, and Office 365 to AI infrastructure, Web3, fintech, loyalty platforms, and global telecommunications partnerships, Shahab has consistently worked where technology, business, and law intersect.
Clients typically turn to Shahab when they are:
Launching AI, SaaS, fintech, Web3, blockchain, or other technology-enabled products.
Negotiating sophisticated commercial, licensing, and strategic partnership agreements.
Expanding into international markets or managing cross-border operations.
Building privacy, cybersecurity, and global compliance programs.
Preparing for acquisitions, fundraising, or strategic growth initiatives.
Developing governance frameworks for emerging technologies.
Looking for a Chief Legal Officer who understands both innovation and commercialization.
Shahab believes legal should never be the last stop before a product launch. The greatest value comes when legal is involved early, helping businesses innovate thoughtfully, commercialize new ideas, and build products that earn the trust of customers, partners, and regulators.
Shahab’s Story
Shahab Ahmed has built his career at the intersection of business, technology, and law. For more than two decades, he has partnered with founders, product teams, executive leadership, and boards as they introduced new products, entered new markets, and solved legal questions that often had no established roadmap.
Early in his career, Shahab realized he was drawn to the business challenges created by innovation. As technology evolved, so did the legal, regulatory, and commercial questions surrounding it. Rather than waiting for the law to catch up, he built his career helping organizations responsibly launch products, commercialize new ideas, and create legal frameworks that supported innovation without slowing business momentum.
That curiosity led him to some of the world's most recognizable technology and consumer brands. Throughout his career, Shahab has advised on products and platforms used by hundreds of millions of people, including Microsoft's Windows Phone, Bing, and Office 365. He has since helped companies develop and commercialize artificial intelligence, cloud services, digital infrastructure, Web3, blockchain, fintech, loyalty platforms, and other emerging technologies while negotiating strategic commercial relationships across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
His perspective extends well beyond traditional legal training. Shahab earned degrees in Information Technology, Business Administration, and Law, giving him a practical understanding of how technology, operations, finance, and legal strategy intersect. Throughout his career, he has continued to study emerging technology policy and innovation, including executive education in Technology Policy, Law, and Economics. That multidisciplinary background allows him to work comfortably with engineers, product managers, executives, investors, and regulators, translating complex technical concepts into practical business advice.
Throughout his career, Shahab has built and led global legal, privacy, and compliance functions while advising executive teams on international expansion, acquisitions, cybersecurity, product strategy, and governance. Whether supporting a startup building AI infrastructure or a multinational company entering new markets, he approaches legal as a business function that should enable thoughtful innovation rather than react to it.
That philosophy aligns naturally with Unified CLO.
Today, Shahab advises founders, executive teams, boards, and high-growth companies developing the technologies shaping tomorrow's economy. Whether helping a client launch an AI platform, negotiate a global commercial partnership, build an international privacy program, navigate emerging regulation, or expand into new markets, he focuses on practical legal solutions that help businesses innovate, commercialize new ideas, and grow responsibly.
He believes the best legal teams don't wait for innovation. They help build it.
Career Experience
Unified CLO
Chief Legal Officer
As Chief Legal Officer at Unified CLO, Shahab partners with founders, executive teams, and boards to help businesses navigate growth, commercialize innovation, and build the legal infrastructure needed to support long-term success. As part of Unified CLO's Client Success Team model, he advises clients on strategic transactions, emerging technologies, commercial agreements, privacy, cybersecurity, governance, and international expansion.
His multidisciplinary background allows him to work comfortably with executives, engineers, product teams, and investors, helping organizations solve complex business challenges with practical legal solutions.
The Binary Holdings
General Counsel & Chief Privacy Officer
As General Counsel and Chief Privacy Officer, Shahab advises executive leadership on the legal and regulatory issues facing a rapidly growing global technology company. He works closely with product, engineering, and commercial teams to support product launches, strategic partnerships, international expansion, fundraising initiatives, and corporate governance.
His responsibilities also include building global privacy, cybersecurity, and compliance programs while developing legal frameworks that allow emerging technologies to be commercialized responsibly across multiple jurisdictions.
Chewy
General Counsel, E-Commerce Business Unit & Chief Privacy Officer
At Chewy, Shahab advised business and product leaders on commercial transactions, product development, privacy, cybersecurity, intellectual property, regulatory compliance, and strategic growth initiatives.
Working closely with cross-functional leadership, he supported the launch of new products and business lines, helped strengthen governance and compliance programs, and partnered with executive teams on initiatives that balanced innovation with practical risk management.
Etihad Airways
General Counsel, Hala Division | Head of Legal | Group Head of Privacy
At Etihad Airways, Shahab provided legal leadership for the company's loyalty, travel technology, and digital commerce businesses. He advised executive leadership on commercial transactions, corporate governance, privacy, marketing technology, strategic partnerships, and international expansion.
His work included supporting cross-border acquisitions, developing enterprise privacy and cybersecurity programs, negotiating strategic commercial relationships, and helping the business navigate increasingly complex regulatory environments across multiple jurisdictions.
Microsoft
Senior Attorney, Legal & Corporate Affairs
During nearly a decade at Microsoft, Shahab advised product teams and executive leadership on the legal and regulatory issues surrounding emerging technologies. His work spanned cloud services, enterprise software, privacy, intellectual property, consumer protection, commercial transactions, competition law, and global regulatory initiatives.
Working alongside engineers, product managers, and business leaders, he developed a deep appreciation for how legal can contribute throughout the product development process rather than simply reviewing decisions after they have been made.
DLA Piper
Senior Legal Counsel
Before joining Etihad's executive legal team, Shahab served as Senior Legal Counsel through DLA Piper, advising on commercial agreements, aviation, privacy, mergers and acquisitions, and international business transactions.
The role further strengthened his experience supporting complex cross-border matters and working with organizations operating across multiple legal and regulatory environments.
How Shahab Helps Clients
Executive Legal Leadership
Shahab serves as a strategic legal partner to founders, CEOs, boards, and executive leadership teams navigating growth, innovation, and international expansion. Whether serving as a Fractional Chief Legal Officer or partnering with an existing legal department, he helps businesses make informed decisions while building the legal infrastructure needed to support long-term success.
He believes legal creates the greatest value when it is embedded within the business, helping leadership identify opportunities, solve problems, and move forward with confidence.
Product Development & Commercialization
Building a great product is only part of the challenge. Successfully bringing that product to market requires legal strategy that supports innovation without slowing momentum.
Shahab works closely with founders, product teams, engineers, and business leaders to help organizations launch new products, develop commercial strategies, negotiate strategic partnerships, and navigate the legal and regulatory issues that often accompany emerging technologies. His goal is to help clients build products that customers trust and businesses can scale.
Commercial Transactions & Strategic Partnerships
Throughout his career, Shahab has negotiated complex commercial agreements supporting technology companies, digital platforms, software providers, telecommunications companies, and global enterprises.
He approaches negotiations with a practical business mindset, helping clients protect their interests while building relationships that create long-term value. Whether structuring customer agreements, technology licenses, strategic alliances, procurement arrangements, or cross-border partnerships, he focuses on helping businesses move forward.
Privacy, Cybersecurity & Technology Governance
Privacy and cybersecurity have become fundamental business issues rather than isolated legal concerns.
Shahab helps organizations develop practical governance programs that support product development, customer trust, regulatory compliance, and business growth. His experience includes privacy, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence governance, data protection, and international regulatory frameworks, with an emphasis on creating programs that are practical, sustainable, and aligned with business objectives.
Global Growth & Emerging Technologies
Companies developing innovative technologies often face legal questions that have few established answers.
Drawing on decades of experience supporting organizations across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, Shahab helps businesses navigate international expansion, cross-border transactions, emerging regulations, and the evolving legal landscape surrounding artificial intelligence, cloud computing, digital infrastructure, fintech, blockchain, and other transformative technologies.
His focus is helping organizations embrace innovation while building the governance and legal frameworks needed to support sustainable growth.
Executive Counsel
Some of the most important conversations leaders have never involve reviewing a contract.
Shahab enjoys serving as a trusted advisor to founders and executive teams as they evaluate new opportunities, navigate uncertainty, and make strategic business decisions. He understands that the role of a Chief Legal Officer extends well beyond managing legal risk. It includes helping leadership think through complex issues, balance competing priorities, and build organizations that are prepared for the future.
Education
J.D., Northwestern University School of Law
MBA, Strategic Management – Minnesota State University
B.S., Management Information Systems – North Dakota State University
Technology Innovation Policy Program – Harvard University
Bar Admissions
California
Beyond the Bar
Shahab has always been fascinated by the ways technology changes how people live, work, and build businesses. That curiosity extends well beyond his legal practice and has led him to write, speak, and teach on topics including artificial intelligence, privacy, cybersecurity, emerging technologies, and the evolving role of the modern Chief Legal Officer.
He is the author of How to Be the Best In-House Lawyer in the World, a reflection on the skills and mindset that distinguish exceptional in-house counsel. Through writing and speaking, he enjoys sharing practical lessons from his career and encouraging lawyers to become stronger business partners.
Outside of work, Shahab enjoys exploring new technologies, following global business trends, traveling, and spending time with his family. He believes the best legal leaders never stop learning and that curiosity remains one of the most valuable qualities any advisor can bring to the table.
Ready to Talk?
Whether your company needs an experienced General Counsel, strategic legal guidance, or executive-level legal leadership, Unified CLO is ready to help.
Schedule a Conversation
Shahab Ahmed
Chief Legal Officer
Executive Snapshot
Shahab Ahmed is a Chief Legal Officer who helps founders, executive teams, and boards commercialize innovation, expand globally, and navigate complex technology and regulatory challenges. Over more than two decades, he has advised technology, fintech, e-commerce, aviation, and digital infrastructure companies on strategic transactions, product launches, privacy, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and international growth.
With a background in information technology, an MBA, and decades of executive legal experience, Shahab helps businesses make informed decisions, manage risk, and scale with confidence.
Why Clients Call Shahab
Companies call Shahab when innovation outpaces existing legal frameworks.
Throughout his career, he has helped organizations launch new technologies, expand into international markets, negotiate strategic commercial relationships, and navigate some of the world's most complex regulatory environments. From Microsoft's launch of Windows Phone, Bing, and Office 365 to AI infrastructure, Web3, fintech, loyalty platforms, and global telecommunications partnerships, Shahab has consistently worked where technology, business, and law intersect.
Clients typically turn to Shahab when they are:
Launching AI, SaaS, fintech, Web3, blockchain, or other technology-enabled products.
Negotiating sophisticated commercial, licensing, and strategic partnership agreements.
Expanding into international markets or managing cross-border operations.
Building privacy, cybersecurity, and global compliance programs.
Preparing for acquisitions, fundraising, or strategic growth initiatives.
Developing governance frameworks for emerging technologies.
Looking for a Chief Legal Officer who understands both innovation and commercialization.
Shahab believes legal should never be the last stop before a product launch. The greatest value comes when legal is involved early, helping businesses innovate thoughtfully, commercialize new ideas, and build products that earn the trust of customers, partners, and regulators.
Shahab’s Story
Shahab Ahmed has built his career at the intersection of business, technology, and law. For more than two decades, he has partnered with founders, product teams, executive leadership, and boards as they introduced new products, entered new markets, and solved legal questions that often had no established roadmap.
Early in his career, Shahab realized he was drawn to the business challenges created by innovation. As technology evolved, so did the legal, regulatory, and commercial questions surrounding it. Rather than waiting for the law to catch up, he built his career helping organizations responsibly launch products, commercialize new ideas, and create legal frameworks that supported innovation without slowing business momentum.
That curiosity led him to some of the world's most recognizable technology and consumer brands. Throughout his career, Shahab has advised on products and platforms used by hundreds of millions of people, including Microsoft's Windows Phone, Bing, and Office 365. He has since helped companies develop and commercialize artificial intelligence, cloud services, digital infrastructure, Web3, blockchain, fintech, loyalty platforms, and other emerging technologies while negotiating strategic commercial relationships across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
His perspective extends well beyond traditional legal training. Shahab earned degrees in Information Technology, Business Administration, and Law, giving him a practical understanding of how technology, operations, finance, and legal strategy intersect. Throughout his career, he has continued to study emerging technology policy and innovation, including executive education in Technology Policy, Law, and Economics. That multidisciplinary background allows him to work comfortably with engineers, product managers, executives, investors, and regulators, translating complex technical concepts into practical business advice.
Throughout his career, Shahab has built and led global legal, privacy, and compliance functions while advising executive teams on international expansion, acquisitions, cybersecurity, product strategy, and governance. Whether supporting a startup building AI infrastructure or a multinational company entering new markets, he approaches legal as a business function that should enable thoughtful innovation rather than react to it.
That philosophy aligns naturally with Unified CLO.
Today, Shahab advises founders, executive teams, boards, and high-growth companies developing the technologies shaping tomorrow's economy. Whether helping a client launch an AI platform, negotiate a global commercial partnership, build an international privacy program, navigate emerging regulation, or expand into new markets, he focuses on practical legal solutions that help businesses innovate, commercialize new ideas, and grow responsibly.
He believes the best legal teams don't wait for innovation. They help build it.
Career Experience
Unified CLO
Chief Legal Officer
As Chief Legal Officer at Unified CLO, Shahab partners with founders, executive teams, and boards to help businesses navigate growth, commercialize innovation, and build the legal infrastructure needed to support long-term success. As part of Unified CLO's Client Success Team model, he advises clients on strategic transactions, emerging technologies, commercial agreements, privacy, cybersecurity, governance, and international expansion.
His multidisciplinary background allows him to work comfortably with executives, engineers, product teams, and investors, helping organizations solve complex business challenges with practical legal solutions.
The Binary Holdings
General Counsel & Chief Privacy Officer
As General Counsel and Chief Privacy Officer, Shahab advises executive leadership on the legal and regulatory issues facing a rapidly growing global technology company. He works closely with product, engineering, and commercial teams to support product launches, strategic partnerships, international expansion, fundraising initiatives, and corporate governance.
His responsibilities also include building global privacy, cybersecurity, and compliance programs while developing legal frameworks that allow emerging technologies to be commercialized responsibly across multiple jurisdictions.
Chewy
General Counsel, E-Commerce Business Unit & Chief Privacy Officer
At Chewy, Shahab advised business and product leaders on commercial transactions, product development, privacy, cybersecurity, intellectual property, regulatory compliance, and strategic growth initiatives.
Working closely with cross-functional leadership, he supported the launch of new products and business lines, helped strengthen governance and compliance programs, and partnered with executive teams on initiatives that balanced innovation with practical risk management.
Etihad Airways
General Counsel, Hala Division | Head of Legal | Group Head of Privacy
At Etihad Airways, Shahab provided legal leadership for the company's loyalty, travel technology, and digital commerce businesses. He advised executive leadership on commercial transactions, corporate governance, privacy, marketing technology, strategic partnerships, and international expansion.
His work included supporting cross-border acquisitions, developing enterprise privacy and cybersecurity programs, negotiating strategic commercial relationships, and helping the business navigate increasingly complex regulatory environments across multiple jurisdictions.
Microsoft
Senior Attorney, Legal & Corporate Affairs
During nearly a decade at Microsoft, Shahab advised product teams and executive leadership on the legal and regulatory issues surrounding emerging technologies. His work spanned cloud services, enterprise software, privacy, intellectual property, consumer protection, commercial transactions, competition law, and global regulatory initiatives.
Working alongside engineers, product managers, and business leaders, he developed a deep appreciation for how legal can contribute throughout the product development process rather than simply reviewing decisions after they have been made.
DLA Piper
Senior Legal Counsel
Before joining Etihad's executive legal team, Shahab served as Senior Legal Counsel through DLA Piper, advising on commercial agreements, aviation, privacy, mergers and acquisitions, and international business transactions.
The role further strengthened his experience supporting complex cross-border matters and working with organizations operating across multiple legal and regulatory environments.
How Shahab Helps Clients
Executive Legal Leadership
Shahab serves as a strategic legal partner to founders, CEOs, boards, and executive leadership teams navigating growth, innovation, and international expansion. Whether serving as a Fractional Chief Legal Officer or partnering with an existing legal department, he helps businesses make informed decisions while building the legal infrastructure needed to support long-term success.
He believes legal creates the greatest value when it is embedded within the business, helping leadership identify opportunities, solve problems, and move forward with confidence.
Product Development & Commercialization
Building a great product is only part of the challenge. Successfully bringing that product to market requires legal strategy that supports innovation without slowing momentum.
Shahab works closely with founders, product teams, engineers, and business leaders to help organizations launch new products, develop commercial strategies, negotiate strategic partnerships, and navigate the legal and regulatory issues that often accompany emerging technologies. His goal is to help clients build products that customers trust and businesses can scale.
Commercial Transactions & Strategic Partnerships
Throughout his career, Shahab has negotiated complex commercial agreements supporting technology companies, digital platforms, software providers, telecommunications companies, and global enterprises.
He approaches negotiations with a practical business mindset, helping clients protect their interests while building relationships that create long-term value. Whether structuring customer agreements, technology licenses, strategic alliances, procurement arrangements, or cross-border partnerships, he focuses on helping businesses move forward.
Privacy, Cybersecurity & Technology Governance
Privacy and cybersecurity have become fundamental business issues rather than isolated legal concerns.
Shahab helps organizations develop practical governance programs that support product development, customer trust, regulatory compliance, and business growth. His experience includes privacy, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence governance, data protection, and international regulatory frameworks, with an emphasis on creating programs that are practical, sustainable, and aligned with business objectives.
Global Growth & Emerging Technologies
Companies developing innovative technologies often face legal questions that have few established answers.
Drawing on decades of experience supporting organizations across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, Shahab helps businesses navigate international expansion, cross-border transactions, emerging regulations, and the evolving legal landscape surrounding artificial intelligence, cloud computing, digital infrastructure, fintech, blockchain, and other transformative technologies.
His focus is helping organizations embrace innovation while building the governance and legal frameworks needed to support sustainable growth.
Executive Counsel
Some of the most important conversations leaders have never involve reviewing a contract.
Shahab enjoys serving as a trusted advisor to founders and executive teams as they evaluate new opportunities, navigate uncertainty, and make strategic business decisions. He understands that the role of a Chief Legal Officer extends well beyond managing legal risk. It includes helping leadership think through complex issues, balance competing priorities, and build organizations that are prepared for the future.
Education
J.D., Northwestern University School of Law
MBA, Strategic Management – Minnesota State University
B.S., Management Information Systems – North Dakota State University
Technology Innovation Policy Program – Harvard University
Bar Admissions
California
Beyond the Bar
Shahab has always been fascinated by the ways technology changes how people live, work, and build businesses. That curiosity extends well beyond his legal practice and has led him to write, speak, and teach on topics including artificial intelligence, privacy, cybersecurity, emerging technologies, and the evolving role of the modern Chief Legal Officer.
He is the author of How to Be the Best In-House Lawyer in the World, a reflection on the skills and mindset that distinguish exceptional in-house counsel. Through writing and speaking, he enjoys sharing practical lessons from his career and encouraging lawyers to become stronger business partners.
Outside of work, Shahab enjoys exploring new technologies, following global business trends, traveling, and spending time with his family. He believes the best legal leaders never stop learning and that curiosity remains one of the most valuable qualities any advisor can bring to the table.
Ready to Talk?
Whether your company needs an experienced General Counsel, strategic legal guidance, or executive-level legal leadership, Unified CLO is ready to help.
Schedule a Conversation
Shahab Ahmed
Chief Legal Officer
Executive Snapshot
Shahab Ahmed is a Chief Legal Officer who helps founders, executive teams, and boards commercialize innovation, expand globally, and navigate complex technology and regulatory challenges. Over more than two decades, he has advised technology, fintech, e-commerce, aviation, and digital infrastructure companies on strategic transactions, product launches, privacy, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and international growth.
With a background in information technology, an MBA, and decades of executive legal experience, Shahab helps businesses make informed decisions, manage risk, and scale with confidence.
Why Clients Call Shahab
Companies call Shahab when innovation outpaces existing legal frameworks.
Throughout his career, he has helped organizations launch new technologies, expand into international markets, negotiate strategic commercial relationships, and navigate some of the world's most complex regulatory environments. From Microsoft's launch of Windows Phone, Bing, and Office 365 to AI infrastructure, Web3, fintech, loyalty platforms, and global telecommunications partnerships, Shahab has consistently worked where technology, business, and law intersect.
Clients typically turn to Shahab when they are:
Launching AI, SaaS, fintech, Web3, blockchain, or other technology-enabled products.
Negotiating sophisticated commercial, licensing, and strategic partnership agreements.
Expanding into international markets or managing cross-border operations.
Building privacy, cybersecurity, and global compliance programs.
Preparing for acquisitions, fundraising, or strategic growth initiatives.
Developing governance frameworks for emerging technologies.
Looking for a Chief Legal Officer who understands both innovation and commercialization.
Shahab believes legal should never be the last stop before a product launch. The greatest value comes when legal is involved early, helping businesses innovate thoughtfully, commercialize new ideas, and build products that earn the trust of customers, partners, and regulators.
Shahab’s Story
Shahab Ahmed has built his career at the intersection of business, technology, and law. For more than two decades, he has partnered with founders, product teams, executive leadership, and boards as they introduced new products, entered new markets, and solved legal questions that often had no established roadmap.
Early in his career, Shahab realized he was drawn to the business challenges created by innovation. As technology evolved, so did the legal, regulatory, and commercial questions surrounding it. Rather than waiting for the law to catch up, he built his career helping organizations responsibly launch products, commercialize new ideas, and create legal frameworks that supported innovation without slowing business momentum.
That curiosity led him to some of the world's most recognizable technology and consumer brands. Throughout his career, Shahab has advised on products and platforms used by hundreds of millions of people, including Microsoft's Windows Phone, Bing, and Office 365. He has since helped companies develop and commercialize artificial intelligence, cloud services, digital infrastructure, Web3, blockchain, fintech, loyalty platforms, and other emerging technologies while negotiating strategic commercial relationships across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
His perspective extends well beyond traditional legal training. Shahab earned degrees in Information Technology, Business Administration, and Law, giving him a practical understanding of how technology, operations, finance, and legal strategy intersect. Throughout his career, he has continued to study emerging technology policy and innovation, including executive education in Technology Policy, Law, and Economics. That multidisciplinary background allows him to work comfortably with engineers, product managers, executives, investors, and regulators, translating complex technical concepts into practical business advice.
Throughout his career, Shahab has built and led global legal, privacy, and compliance functions while advising executive teams on international expansion, acquisitions, cybersecurity, product strategy, and governance. Whether supporting a startup building AI infrastructure or a multinational company entering new markets, he approaches legal as a business function that should enable thoughtful innovation rather than react to it.
That philosophy aligns naturally with Unified CLO.
Today, Shahab advises founders, executive teams, boards, and high-growth companies developing the technologies shaping tomorrow's economy. Whether helping a client launch an AI platform, negotiate a global commercial partnership, build an international privacy program, navigate emerging regulation, or expand into new markets, he focuses on practical legal solutions that help businesses innovate, commercialize new ideas, and grow responsibly.
He believes the best legal teams don't wait for innovation. They help build it.
Career Experience
Unified CLO
Chief Legal Officer
As Chief Legal Officer at Unified CLO, Shahab partners with founders, executive teams, and boards to help businesses navigate growth, commercialize innovation, and build the legal infrastructure needed to support long-term success. As part of Unified CLO's Client Success Team model, he advises clients on strategic transactions, emerging technologies, commercial agreements, privacy, cybersecurity, governance, and international expansion.
His multidisciplinary background allows him to work comfortably with executives, engineers, product teams, and investors, helping organizations solve complex business challenges with practical legal solutions.
The Binary Holdings
General Counsel & Chief Privacy Officer
As General Counsel and Chief Privacy Officer, Shahab advises executive leadership on the legal and regulatory issues facing a rapidly growing global technology company. He works closely with product, engineering, and commercial teams to support product launches, strategic partnerships, international expansion, fundraising initiatives, and corporate governance.
His responsibilities also include building global privacy, cybersecurity, and compliance programs while developing legal frameworks that allow emerging technologies to be commercialized responsibly across multiple jurisdictions.
Chewy
General Counsel, E-Commerce Business Unit & Chief Privacy Officer
At Chewy, Shahab advised business and product leaders on commercial transactions, product development, privacy, cybersecurity, intellectual property, regulatory compliance, and strategic growth initiatives.
Working closely with cross-functional leadership, he supported the launch of new products and business lines, helped strengthen governance and compliance programs, and partnered with executive teams on initiatives that balanced innovation with practical risk management.
Etihad Airways
General Counsel, Hala Division | Head of Legal | Group Head of Privacy
At Etihad Airways, Shahab provided legal leadership for the company's loyalty, travel technology, and digital commerce businesses. He advised executive leadership on commercial transactions, corporate governance, privacy, marketing technology, strategic partnerships, and international expansion.
His work included supporting cross-border acquisitions, developing enterprise privacy and cybersecurity programs, negotiating strategic commercial relationships, and helping the business navigate increasingly complex regulatory environments across multiple jurisdictions.
Microsoft
Senior Attorney, Legal & Corporate Affairs
During nearly a decade at Microsoft, Shahab advised product teams and executive leadership on the legal and regulatory issues surrounding emerging technologies. His work spanned cloud services, enterprise software, privacy, intellectual property, consumer protection, commercial transactions, competition law, and global regulatory initiatives.
Working alongside engineers, product managers, and business leaders, he developed a deep appreciation for how legal can contribute throughout the product development process rather than simply reviewing decisions after they have been made.
DLA Piper
Senior Legal Counsel
Before joining Etihad's executive legal team, Shahab served as Senior Legal Counsel through DLA Piper, advising on commercial agreements, aviation, privacy, mergers and acquisitions, and international business transactions.
The role further strengthened his experience supporting complex cross-border matters and working with organizations operating across multiple legal and regulatory environments.
How Shahab Helps Clients
Executive Legal Leadership
Shahab serves as a strategic legal partner to founders, CEOs, boards, and executive leadership teams navigating growth, innovation, and international expansion. Whether serving as a Fractional Chief Legal Officer or partnering with an existing legal department, he helps businesses make informed decisions while building the legal infrastructure needed to support long-term success.
He believes legal creates the greatest value when it is embedded within the business, helping leadership identify opportunities, solve problems, and move forward with confidence.
Product Development & Commercialization
Building a great product is only part of the challenge. Successfully bringing that product to market requires legal strategy that supports innovation without slowing momentum.
Shahab works closely with founders, product teams, engineers, and business leaders to help organizations launch new products, develop commercial strategies, negotiate strategic partnerships, and navigate the legal and regulatory issues that often accompany emerging technologies. His goal is to help clients build products that customers trust and businesses can scale.
Commercial Transactions & Strategic Partnerships
Throughout his career, Shahab has negotiated complex commercial agreements supporting technology companies, digital platforms, software providers, telecommunications companies, and global enterprises.
He approaches negotiations with a practical business mindset, helping clients protect their interests while building relationships that create long-term value. Whether structuring customer agreements, technology licenses, strategic alliances, procurement arrangements, or cross-border partnerships, he focuses on helping businesses move forward.
Privacy, Cybersecurity & Technology Governance
Privacy and cybersecurity have become fundamental business issues rather than isolated legal concerns.
Shahab helps organizations develop practical governance programs that support product development, customer trust, regulatory compliance, and business growth. His experience includes privacy, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence governance, data protection, and international regulatory frameworks, with an emphasis on creating programs that are practical, sustainable, and aligned with business objectives.
Global Growth & Emerging Technologies
Companies developing innovative technologies often face legal questions that have few established answers.
Drawing on decades of experience supporting organizations across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, Shahab helps businesses navigate international expansion, cross-border transactions, emerging regulations, and the evolving legal landscape surrounding artificial intelligence, cloud computing, digital infrastructure, fintech, blockchain, and other transformative technologies.
His focus is helping organizations embrace innovation while building the governance and legal frameworks needed to support sustainable growth.
Executive Counsel
Some of the most important conversations leaders have never involve reviewing a contract.
Shahab enjoys serving as a trusted advisor to founders and executive teams as they evaluate new opportunities, navigate uncertainty, and make strategic business decisions. He understands that the role of a Chief Legal Officer extends well beyond managing legal risk. It includes helping leadership think through complex issues, balance competing priorities, and build organizations that are prepared for the future.
Education
J.D., Northwestern University School of Law
MBA, Strategic Management – Minnesota State University
B.S., Management Information Systems – North Dakota State University
Technology Innovation Policy Program – Harvard University
Bar Admissions
California
Beyond the Bar
Shahab has always been fascinated by the ways technology changes how people live, work, and build businesses. That curiosity extends well beyond his legal practice and has led him to write, speak, and teach on topics including artificial intelligence, privacy, cybersecurity, emerging technologies, and the evolving role of the modern Chief Legal Officer.
He is the author of How to Be the Best In-House Lawyer in the World, a reflection on the skills and mindset that distinguish exceptional in-house counsel. Through writing and speaking, he enjoys sharing practical lessons from his career and encouraging lawyers to become stronger business partners.
Outside of work, Shahab enjoys exploring new technologies, following global business trends, traveling, and spending time with his family. He believes the best legal leaders never stop learning and that curiosity remains one of the most valuable qualities any advisor can bring to the table.
Ready to Talk?
Whether your company needs an experienced General Counsel, strategic legal guidance, or executive-level legal leadership, Unified CLO is ready to help.
Schedule a Conversation
Your Fractional
Chief Legal Office
About Unified
What We Do
© 2026 Unified Law Group, PB LLC
Your Fractional
Chief Legal Office
About Unified
What We Do
© 2026 Unified Law Group, PB LLC
Legal Hub
Your Fractional
Chief Legal Office
About Unified
What We Do
© 2026 Unified Law Group, PB LLC
Legal Hub