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General Counsel | Enterprise Risk Leader | Global Deal Strategist
Ahmed Shahab has spent more than 25 years doing the job most lawyers talk about.
He’s been the General Counsel. Three times. He’s advised boards when scrutiny was real, built legal functions from scratch, led global compliance programs, and closed complex, cross-border transactions measured in billions. His experience spans technology, e-commerce, Web3, aviation, and global infrastructure, with operations across the United States, Europe, APAC, and the Middle East.
Ahmed doesn’t parachute in with a memo. He builds the engine. He aligns legal with growth strategy. He structures the deal, manages the regulators, steadies the boardroom, and keeps the business moving.
Whether a founder needs seasoned in-house leadership, a company needs to quietly find the facts, or a growth platform is preparing for capital or exit, Ahmed brings the kind of judgment that only comes from carrying enterprise risk himself.
Core Areas of Focus
Fractional In-House Legal Leadership
Enterprise Investigations & Regulatory Response
Capital Raises, M&A & Joint Ventures
Global Privacy, Cybersecurity & Compliance Programs
Cross-Border Commercial Transactions
Board & Executive Advisory
Career Highlights
General Counsel & Company Secretary, The Binary Holdings
Leads global legal strategy for a technology and infrastructure platform serving 500+ million users across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. Built and scaled the legal function, implemented regulatory frameworks across multiple jurisdictions, led entity formation and M&A activity, and negotiated high-value multinational agreements to support rapid international expansion.
General Counsel – eCommerce, Chewy (NYSE: CHWY)
Led legal and compliance for an $8B global e-commerce business. Oversaw commercial transactions, privacy, cybersecurity, IP, regulatory compliance, and enterprise risk. Partnered directly with C-suite and board committees on SEC disclosures, regulatory matters, and enterprise risk strategy while managing global legal teams and outside counsel.
General Counsel – Technology & Loyalty, Etihad Airways
Led legal strategy for global technology, data, and loyalty divisions across the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. Negotiated major technology infrastructure agreements, managed multinational regulatory matters, oversaw privacy programs, and handled high-stakes disputes and joint ventures. Served as Company Secretary for multiple international subsidiaries.Director, Legal & Corporate Affairs, Microsoft
Senior legal leader supporting global business units including Office 365, Azure, Xbox, and Bing. Advised on product launches, privacy, security, regulatory investigations, and complex multinational commercial agreements. Served as an escalation point on high-priority global deals requiring executive oversight.
Bar Admissions
California
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
Beyond the Bar
Recognized by Legal 500 as a Power GC in Asia, but more proud of the teams he’s built and mentored across three continents.
Believes the best in-house lawyers are operators first. They understand the product, the pressure, and the people behind the numbers.
Author of How to Be the Best In-House Lawyer in the World, a book inspired by the lessons you only learn after sitting in the GC chair for real.
