About

As a division of IAC (Nasdaq: IAC), IAC Applications is part of a family that includes many of the most successful internet brands in the world, including Match, Tinder, Vimeo and The Daily Beast. The IAC Applications division is one of the world’s largest distributors of utility applications across desktop, browser and mobile, with team leader Orla Cullen reporting directly to IAC Applications’ global general counsel in New York. Like IAC Applications’ business, Cullen’s team spans the globe with Jonathan Espiritu advising on US legal issues, Cian Martin counselling EU legal matters from Dublin and Minsk-based Nina Shurupava and Marina Yakavets assisting on local Belarus and international matters. The team can also be involved with other IAC companies from time to time, meaning its lawyers are required to have a solid knowledge of the larger company’s activities. When discussing the team, Cullen mentions that ‘the business is crazily fast-paced’, and so a high level of on-point technical legal skill is sought from lawyers within the team. ‘Initially’, she says, ‘at its core what we are looking for is excellent drafting and legal analytical skills and those who are hardworking and capable of solid teamwork. As they get more senior, it becomes more about deep business knowledge, adding value and having more of a commercial focus when advising. Understanding the risk appetite of the business is also key to advise optimally’. One of the major successes the team has spearheaded in recent months was the rollout of GDPR compliance across the company which, given the vast amount of products in the portfolio, was no easy task – especially when the company acquired a new Austrian business three months out from the deadline. Cullen explains that she is used to finding solutions to novel challenges, having had to deal with this since joining the company three years ago: ‘Due to the nature of our company – the business is always looking to be ahead of the curve with new technologies – so as a team, we are often having to advise on areas which is very much in the grey zone legally. In order to do this, you have to get stuck in when faced with a new problem, and learn the business and the people within it’. She concludes, ‘In this company, things are always changing, which is challenging and exciting. We always push ourselves to produce work that is in tune with the business’s goals, rather than boilerplate advice.’