I'm Olesia Chizheva, international lawyer. I specialize in IP, AI regulation, and data privacy. I build legal functions from scratch and make them work with the business, not against it.
Most recently, as Head of Legal at a European B2B iGaming group (NDA), I built the entire legal function from scratch: structured a multi-jurisdiction corporate scheme (Serbia/Cyprus/Malta), formalized IP on 40+ products, delivered GDPR compliance, mapped 16 target markets, prepared a Brazilian certification pipeline, and ran the full hiring cycle for my legal team.
I was a member of the Center for AI and Digital Policy (USA) research group in 2025, focused on EU AI Act and global AI governance. I'm applying for a PhD and attend EUIPO and WIPO events. I write working papers for myself — no published articles yet.
At Marillion/Mazars I led cross-border IP and data privacy mandates for pharma and FMCG clients across the EU, CIS, Korea, and China, including EU sanctions advisory and patent portfolio strategy for regulated industries.
At Yandex × Yango I managed IP across 46+ jurisdictions: CIS, MENA, LATAM, Africa negotiating 250+ agreements and structuring the legal architecture for AI-generated content at one of the world's largest tech companies. I left to relocate to Italy and pursue my LL.M. at Bologna.
I spent two years at Mafin, an insurtech startup, growing from lawyer to Head of Legal & Operations, managing a cross-functional team of 10, launching 4 products with Yandex, Avito, Ozon and MVideo, and saving the company €1.8M via compliance and claims.
I started as a junior IP lawyer at MTS, one of the CIS's leading telecoms, where I helped build one of the first automated AI systems for IP enforcement in the country. That project shaped how I think: tools and processes matter as much as the law itself.
These are the principles I developed and implemented as Head of Legal. Not borrowed from a textbook. Built from practice.
Every legal document must simultaneously protect the business and be understandable to the people who use it. A document that protects but nobody reads creates hidden risk. A document that's friendly but doesn't protect creates real risk. Both conditions must be true at once.
Legal's job is not to say no. It's to show how something can be done, what legal and business risks arise, and what alternatives exist. Business makes decisions knowing the consequences, not by hitting a wall labelled "legal said no".
Legal is part of the operational team, not a separate bureaucratic function. Tasks don't go via formal email and aren't limited to business hours. Communication happens in team chats. Progress on all legal tasks is tracked on kanban boards, visible to the team in real time.
Real problems, real outcomes. A selection of projects that show how I work.
A B2B software company had 40+ products with no formal IP documentation: no work-for-hire agreements, no registered rights, no chain of title. I deposited and formalized rights to all assets (code, art, audio, R&D files), allocated IP to the correct entities across three jurisdictions, and structured intra-group licensing to qualify the portfolio for the IP Box tax regime. Result: ~60% reduction in legal and tax exposure. The IP registry came out clean and investor-ready.
Delivered a full data protection compliance programme for a multi-entity European technology group: data mapping across all entities, DPIA and LIA documentation, controller/processor allocation, DPA templates, SCC-based transfer mechanisms for non-EU data flows, and privacy policy rebuild. Reduced operational privacy risk by approximately 50% within the engagement period.
At Mafin, I identified and pursued tax compliance gaps, antimonopoly risks, and IP infringement claims that generated €1.8M in recovered value for the company. This included structured claim correspondence, engagement with regulatory authorities, and implementing preventive compliance processes to stop recurring risks. Simultaneously reduced routine contract tasks by 30% by rebuilding the document management system and introducing standardized templates.
Prepared full technical and legal certification packages for the Brazilian gambling market: RNG documentation, math model certification, IP ownership evidence, and regulatory compliance filings. Coordinated with external Brazilian counsel and testing labs to achieve certification of 10+ games with materially shorter approval timelines than the industry standard. Part of a broader 16-market regulatory entry roadmap.
At Yandex, I built the legal framework for AI-generated content across 46+ jurisdictions, addressing copyright ownership, third-party rights exposure, and platform liability. This included designing the content licensing flow for creative production agreements (250+ executed), structuring EULA and Terms of Use for AI-integrated services, and developing internal guidance on AI output liability for product and tech teams.
Advised a French pharmaceutical company, a German automotive group, and an international equipment manufacturer on the application of EU sanctions to software licensing, an area where standard analysis often breaks down. Developed risk minimisation strategies for each client and engaged directly with European and national authorities to explore available exemptions. Outcome: continued operational continuity with documented compliance positions.
Here is what I actually do, and what it means for your business.
You have a legal mess or no legal function at all. I come in, assess what exists, design the architecture, implement contract templates and approval workflows, set up CLM, train your teams, and hire the people to run it long-term. You get solid legal infrastructure without a year of delays.
From trademark registration (EUIPO, Madrid System, USPTO) to IP allocation across multi-entity corporate structures. I build clean chains of title, design intra-group licensing models, and position IP assets for tax efficiency (IP Box, R&D regimes) and investor due diligence.
You want to expand but don't know what you need where. I map regulatory requirements across target jurisdictions, identify licensing vs. certification models, structure the entity setup, and deliver a concrete entry roadmap, not a 60-page memo that sits unread.
Full-cycle privacy programme delivery: DPIA and LIA documentation, data mapping, controller/processor analysis, DPA templates, SCC-based transfer mechanisms, cookie compliance, and privacy policy drafting. Practical, proportionate, not paranoid.
I draft, redline, and negotiate complex commercial agreements: SaaS, software licensing, distribution, reseller, influencer & content creator, White Label / Turnkey, and technology partnership agreements. In English and across multiple legal systems simultaneously.
Helping tech companies understand what the EU AI Act actually requires and what to do about it. Risk classification, transparency obligations, prohibited use assessment, and internal governance frameworks. I am actively working in this area, both as a practitioner and as a researcher.
I'm open to different engagement models. Whether you need a full-time legal lead, a fractional partner, or help with a specific project. Let's find the right fit.
Head of Legal or General Counsel role. I build and own the legal function. Remote-first, with travel for conferences and team meetings. Looking for companies that treat legal as part of how the business works, not a separate function.
Part-time senior legal leadership for companies not yet ready for a full-time hire. I cover strategic and operational legal needs, sit in on key meetings, and build the foundation for when you scale the team.
A defined scope, a clear deliverable. Market entry analysis, IP audit, GDPR compliance programme, contract template library, legal ops buildout. Fixed scope or time-and-materials, whatever fits the project.
One-off contract review, regulatory opinion, or strategic legal advice. Useful for founders and small teams that need expert input on a specific document or decision without an ongoing engagement.
Registered sole proprietor in Italy
I can issue B2B invoices for consulting services under Italian law. All engagements outside of employment are conducted through my independent practice.
I'm applying for a PhD in EU digital law. I attend EUIPO and WIPO conferences as a practitioner and write working papers on AI regulation, IP enforcement, and data governance. No published articles yet.
Member of an international research group on AI governance. Conducted legal and policy research on the EU AI Act, OECD AI Principles, and UNESCO AI Ethics Recommendation. Contributed to comparative analysis of global AI governance frameworks and drafted policy recommendations on responsible AI development and data protection.
Research proposal submitted to University of Amsterdam (ACELG, vacancy 14760) and University of Vienna (Prof. Forgó, Department of Innovation and Digitalisation in Law). The proposal focuses on automated IP enforcement systems, AI authorship under the CDSM Directive, and the relationship between GDPR and EU AI Act in content moderation and rights management. No PhD yet. This is where I am headed.
Working paper exploring the tension between sports data commercialization, AI training datasets, and the consent framework under GDPR, with focus on special category biometric data. Not submitted or published. Written for the PhD application process and personal research development.
Recommendations from clients and colleagues on LinkedIn, February 2026.
Olesia made sure that my HOP board-game IP, trademark, and creative assets are well protected. She was clear, structured, and really thought things through with me. She helped me understand everything, removed all the stress of figuring out the admin side and ensured proper protection for my game. She is extremely smart, extremely thorough, practical, and deeply caring about outcomes. I couldn't recommend her more, and I would/will work with Olesia anytime there's a chance.
Olesia is a reliable, constructive, and very transparent legal partner. She listens carefully to the business context, asks the right clarifying questions, and consistently delivers solutions that are practical rather than theoretical. What I value most is her ability to translate complex legal topics into clear, human, and understandable language for non-lawyers. This skill makes collaboration efficient, reduces friction between legal and commercial teams, and builds trust on both sides.
The work was carried out with a high level of professionalism, efficiency and speed. We particularly valued the clear communication in multiple languages, which made the entire process smooth and accessible at every stage. The lawyer managed the procedure independently, without requiring our deep involvement — allowing us to stay focused on our business operations while being confident that everything was under control. The process proved to be structured, transparent and reliable from beginning to end.
I want to highlight her exceptional level of responsibility. For a lawyer, it is crucial not only to identify risks but also to help the business find practical ways to bring ideas to life — and Olesia does this brilliantly. She is always deadline-oriented, highly attentive to detail, and possesses the rare ability to explain complex legal nuances in plain, simple language. She would be a valuable asset to any company.
Open to employment, fractional, and consulting engagements. Available for a call this week.