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Head of Legal

Head of Legal Hiring Projects

When a company seeks a Head of Legal, there are 3 primary scenarios with subtly different contexts. CEOs in small and medium-sized enterprises might need the strategic guidance of a forward-thinking individual on their leadership team, essentially serving as de facto General Counsel. In larger businesses with a more extensive legal capability, an existing GC may need additional support from senior subject matter experts, each adopting a Head of Legal role in distinct legal practice areas (eg Contracts, Regulatory Compliance, Employment or Real Estate).  Alternatively, in the largest enterprises or in diverse groups of companies, the structure may be extensive enough to merit the recruitment of more generalist lawyers each serving as the dedicated Head of Legal for individual business divisions or subsidiaries.

Our tailored approach addresses these various organisational needs in a range of industries.

  • For companies with a General Counsel in place already, we identify and engage with candidates who can manage specific technical legal practice areas or alternatively the more general needs of individual business units.
  • In organisations where Head of Legal is the top legal position, we help to identify and appoint candidates who can handle both high-level strategy and day-to-day legal and compliance operations – either as sole in-house lawyer or managing a team of legal counsel.

Since the context of a Head of Legal project varies so widely, our tailored approach ensures we find the right fit for your unique structure and needs.

Discuss a Hiring Project

The Head of Legal Recruitment Process

With our LTAR® System, every Head of Legal search starts with the same foundations: a full brief to elicit the precise needs of key board-level stakeholders; an assessment of critical behaviours; which is then followed by proactive candidate outreach and engagement, culminating in the presentation of a shortlist aligned to your technical, behavioural and cultural-fit requirements for such a senior legal position.

Our process ensures candidates match your specific needs, whether you’re a fast-growing startup requiring a versatile sole legal counsel, or an organisation expanding internationally and needing a coordinated approach to sourcing external legal support in diverse jurisdictions.

Our expertise:

  • Identifying senior lawyers with an existing track record as Head of Legal and broad hands-on experience.
  • Tailoring searches for companies transitioning from reliance on external counsel to recruiting their first in-house legal counsel.
  • Finding experienced lawyers who are capable of building and leading in-house legal teams.

Trust Florit Legal to deliver a diverse shortlist of thoroughly assessed legal and compliance talent for your Head of Legal roles across a range of industries – whether the roles are focused on the whole organisation, a group division, or a specialist area of law.

Discuss a Hiring Project

What our clients say

"Florit Legal have assisted Croda with a number of searches over the years. I give them an exclusive mandate, since they take great care to understand our needs and waste no time in identifying the right mix of highly relevant and well briefed candidates. The behavioural assessment technology they provide for us is very helpful."

Tom Brophy - Group General Counsel & Company Secretary (FTSE 100)

“No waffle and certainly not pushy. It’s worth speaking to them. As an experienced HR professional, I can honestly say that their approach is much better than many of their competitors.

Sian Evans - Group HR Director

“I faced a very important and urgent resourcing issue and they not only offered a pragmatic solution, but also secured a very capable appointee. I can trust Miguel to give me honest, helpful and practical advice.”

Sarah Caddy - Legal Director, Company Secretary

“Miguel’s, and his team’s, approach to in-house legal recruitment is refreshing, breaks the stereotypes and is one to which all legal recruitment consultants should aspire. Based on my experience, I cannot recommend them more highly. The service and work ethic simply surpasses that offered by the opposition; you should give them a try."

Richard Fox - Head of Legal

“Initially recommended to me by DLA Piper, Miguel Florit is a trusted advisor who recruited several members of our UK legal team, including me. My personal expectations have also been exceeded, evolving beyond legal into a general management role.”

Paul Ravenscroft - Global Head of M&A

“I have always found Miguel to be personable, proactive and responsive. He tends to present options rather than a ‘one size fits all’ approach, and provides honest insight and feedback. He has delivered every time.”

Paul Gregson - HR Director

“Florit Legal is a legal recruitment business I feel I can trust. They have proven their ability to identify and engage with some excellent candidates and successfully recruit for us.”

Mark Amsden - FTSE General Counsel and Company Secretary

"Miguel has hired lawyers for me in three different companies. He has a real ability to understand your business and your needs quickly, which enables him to add value. The team are professional, reliable and able to deliver a result."

Ken Mullen - Company Secretary & General Counsel

"I worked with Florit Legal and would have no hesitation in recommending them."

Jenny Geddes - In-house Talent Acquisition Specialist

“Miguel has his finger on the pulse of the legal market. He is persistent in a way that gets results, and is not a negative. Florit Legal provided the best candidates by far. An excellent result and very easy to deal with.”

Jennifer Hamilton - Development and Environment Director

“Honesty and integrity is what we look for when hiring, and the same goes for the consultants we choose to deal with. We found Miguel lived up to his reputation and also displayed tenacity, tact and understanding.”

David Biesterfield - Development Director

“Having never recruited a lawyer before, I contacted Florit Brooke following a recommendation from Addleshaw Goddard. They quickly understood my needs, grasped the issues and delivered what we were looking for.”

Andrew Turner - Chief Executive Officer

“I worked with Florit Legal previously and the team to be well informed, responsive, and creative in their approach to the legal market. I have no reservation in recommending them.”

Andrew Hoyle - Non-Executive Director

“Their honesty and knowledgeable approach works. I would strongly recommend any company looking for an in-house lawyer to speak to Florit Legal.”

Andrew Greenwood - Risk Director

“Miguel and his team have helped us to recruit several members of our Legal Team. They have a good grasp of the issues and qualities that really matter to us.”

Alex Simpson - General Counsel

Client: calor
Client: cadbury-schweppes
Client: croda
Client: communisis
Client: Clipper

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