IBM has tapped vice president and assistant general counsel Michelle Browdy to succeed Robert Weber, who led the company’s law department for nine years. Browdy will step up as the company’s first female general counsel as of January 1. Weber has announced plans to retire from IBM in 2015.

Browdy, secretary to the board since 2012, who served for five years as IBM’s worldwide head of litigation, will report to IBM chairman and CEO Virginia Rometty.