Citymapper has appointed Alice Hou as its first general counsel as another tech startup looks to launch its in-house legal team.
Hou, who trained at New York firm Hughes Hubbard & Reed, joined this summer from US business consulting company Sapient, where she was a legal director.
The Citymapper app, which first launched in London five years ago, now serves 29 cities around the world. The startup recently raised $40m of series B financing from Index Ventures and Benchmark Capital.
Citymapper uses public data to provide users with the fastest and cheapest way to travel, from using public transport, to taxis, walking or Uber trips. The startup has previously used Taylor Wessing as its legal adviser with corporate partner Adrian Rainey leading its $10m funding round in 2014.
Other fast growing tech startups have also recently recruited to strengthen their legal teams. Restaurant food courier company Deliveroo appointed Baker & McKenzie trained Sam Harper as its GC in January. Harper was previously GC at Blackstone-backed tech company Lumata, where he managed a team of six lawyers. Deliveroo raised $275m of series E funding in August this year with Cooley advising General Catalyst on its part in the funding round.
In the US, Google’s self-driving car project hired it had appointed its first GC earlier this year. Alphabet Inc appointed former Climate Corporation chief legal officer Ken Vosen to the role.
Last July, ridehailing startup Uber appointed former Telefónica head of legal Matt Wilson as its legal director for UK, Ireland and the Nordics. Wilson, who was featured in the 2016 GC Powerlist, has had to lead his team through a series of legal challenges from Transport for London and the companies own drivers.
matthew.field@legalease.co.uk