In just over two decades, Amazon has gone from a startup based out of founder and chief executive officer Jeff Bezos's garage to one of the most powerful companies on Earth. If the planned purchase of Whole Foods Market and the company's ongoing push into the world of fashion are any indication, it seems the Seattle-based giant will only continue to expand its reach.

Supporting the growth of the company and managing the legal risks faced by such a behemoth is a massive legal department of more than 800 people, led since 2012 by David Zapolsky, Amazon's senior vice-president, general counsel and secretary.