Mediaboss Marketing

US: Airbnb has hired multiple lawyers, formerly from tech company Polys legal division, in preparation for the companys initial public offering [IPO] later this year.

It hired Mary Huser has joined as general counsel for risk and regulatory, Iris Chen as deputy general counsel for product, and Miko Ando Brown as associate general counsel for trust and safety.

The company had previously heavily cut its legal department during the 25 per cent layoff round done in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Key changes include the departure of Robert Chestnut, former deputy general counsel and chief of ethics, and Rene Lawson, another deputy general counsel for litigation.

Another significant departure was VP of trust Margaret Richardson, who has previously worked in the companys policy, safety and standards teams. Her previous involvement with Former US Attorney General Eric Holder helped her create Airbnbs anti-discrimination policy.

Airbnbs legal efforts have become more pronounced recently, as its lobbying and litigating wings have both been active. While Airbnb has settled many high-profile lawsuits with cities like New York and Boston, the total number of lawsuits the company has faced in the US has grown significantly since 2018.

Airbnb is rumoured to be aiming to raise $3 billion in an IPO this December. It is seeking to strengthen its relationship with many cities, settling major lawsuits, in anticipation of that development.

All three of the major new hires have significant experience in supporting the legal needs of tech companies. Chen previously worked with Google in its Intellectual Property division for 14 years, while Huser has worked as an in-house counsel with both Blackberry and eBay.

The hires have also been noted for their efforts to improve diversity in the legal industry. Brown started a lecture series focusing on women in leadership, Chen is a member of the Minority Corporate Counsel Association, while Huser is a known inclusion advocate.

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Airbnb bolsters legal division with new hires ahead of IPO - Short Term Rentalz