Meta Taps Microsoft's Top Lawyer C.J. Mahoney as New Chief Legal Officer

The battle for big tech dominance has moved from code to courtrooms. Meta announced Tuesday, January 6, 2026, that it's hired former Microsoft legal executive Curtis Joseph Mahoney (C.J. Mahoney) to serve as its new Chief Legal Officer. Mahoney succeeds Jennifer Newstead, who is set to join Apple as general counsel this March.

The Pedigree: From Microsoft to Meta Chief Legal Officer C.J. Mahoney

Mahoney isn't just a corporate lawyer; he's a veteran of both the beltway and the boardroom. Before joining Microsoft in 2021, he served as a deputy U.S. Trade Representative during the first Trump administration. At Microsoft, he quickly rose through the ranks, moving from managing the Azure cloud business's legal affairs to becoming the company's General Counsel in 2025.

In his role at Microsoft, Mahoney reported directly to Brad Smith, overseeing a massive team of legal professionals across engineering, sales, and marketing. Now, he'll bring that scale of leadership to Meta at a pivotal moment in the company's history.

High Stakes: Child Safety and AI Regulation

Mahoney's arrival coincides with a wave of child-safety lawsuits hitting Meta. The company is currently battling an ongoing case in New Mexico, where the attorney general alleges a failure to protect minors from exploitation on Facebook and Instagram. Zuckerberg noted that Mahoney’s "deep insight into global regulatory challenges" will be critical as the company navigates these turbulent waters.