Internet search firm Google is planning to replace head of its in-house mergers and acquisitions (M&A) group, David Lawee, with one of its top most lawyers, and place Lawee in an yet to be planned new late-stage investment group.
Don Harrison, the top lawyer at Google, will take over Lawee as head of the firm’s mergers and acquisitions team, according to Reuters.
Harrison joins Google in the time when the firm has been still in the process of incorporating its acquisition of smartphone maker Motorola Mobility in a $12.5bn deal, which closedin May 2012.
He also heads the team when the internet search giant experiences high regulatory inspection, with the US Federal Trade Commission and the European Commission aiming antitrust investigations into the search giant’s business practices.
According to regulatory filings, the search engine firm has struck about 160 deals to acquire firms and assets since 2010.
Several Google’s most popular products, including online maps and Android mobile software, were developed by the firms are basedon technology which was acquired.
Google is also planning to increase its funds for Google Ventures to $300m per year, up from $200m earlier.
