Apple Inc. is reportedly set to appoint Jennifer G. Newstead, currently the Chief Legal Officer at Meta Platforms Inc., as its next General Counsel. This move comes as Katherine Adams, who has held the position since 2017, prepares to step down.
Newstead brings a wealth of experience to Apple. Before joining Meta in 2019, she served as the Senate-confirmed Legal Adviser of the U.S. Department of State, providing counsel on domestic and international law affecting U.S. foreign relations. Her prior roles include General Counsel of the White House Office of Management and Budget and Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General at the U.S. Department of Justice. In the private sector, Newstead was a partner at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, advising technology, media, and financial services firms on litigation and regulatory matters. She holds degrees from Harvard University and Yale Law School and has clerked for Justice Stephen Breyer of the U.S. Supreme Court and Judge Laurence Silberman of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. ([lac.org](https://www.lac.org/assets/files/Jennifer-G-Newstead.pdf?utm_source=openai))
Adams joined Apple from Honeywell in 2017, where she was Senior Vice President and General Counsel. At Apple, she oversaw all legal matters, including corporate governance, intellectual property, litigation, and securities compliance. ([apple.com](https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2017/10/katherine-adams-joins-apple-as-general-counsel-and-svp/?utm_source=openai))
This leadership change is part of a broader trend of high-profile executive movements between major technology companies. Notably, Alan Dye, Apple’s longtime head of human interface design, is set to join Meta as Chief Design Officer on December 31, 2025. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/business/apples-design-executive-alan-dye-join-meta-2025-12-03/?utm_source=openai))
As Apple continues to navigate complex legal and regulatory landscapes, Newstead’s extensive experience in both government and private sectors positions her to effectively lead the company’s legal strategies in the coming years.