About Wolf & Williams

Guiding legal careers and teams with clarity and confidence.

Wolf & Williams is a boutique legal recruitment partner built on trust, deep market knowledge, and long-standing relationships. We guide lawyers and legal teams through important decisions with insight, discretion, and care.

Insight, integrity, and enduring partnerships.

Our purpose

More than recruitment. Trusted guidance.

At Wolf & Williams, recruitment is a responsibility, not a transaction. Our work is built on trust, knowledge, and genuine care for the people and organisations we support.

We take a consultative approach focused on long-term careers and enduring partnerships. With clear communication and market insight, we help lawyers and legal teams make confident decisions, without noise, pressure, or unnecessary complexity.

Our story

Built on experience. Shaped by perspective.

Wolf & Williams was founded on decades of results and a clear purpose: to raise the standard of legal recruitment and make the process more considered, human, and effective.

We bring proven experience across private practice, in-house legal, contract, and executive recruitment in Australia. Our role is to guide with calm clarity and honest advice, helping people navigate pivotal decisions with confidence, discretion, and a long-term view.

Our people

Experienced advisors. Human by nature.

Wolf & Williams is led by legal recruitment specialists who bring deep market knowledge, sound judgement, and a genuine commitment to the people they work with. Each consultant operates as a trusted advisor — taking the time to listen, understand context, and provide clear, considered guidance. While our backgrounds and specialties differ, our approach is consistent: professional, discreet, and grounded in long-term partnership.
Sam Gray

Founder & Director

Bill Panourgias

Director — Contract & Temporary

Morgan Elder

Associate Director - In-House Legal
Becc Smith

Associate Director - Contract & Temporary

What guides us

Principles that shape how we work.

Everything we do at Wolf & Williams is guided by a small set of principles. They inform how we advise, how we communicate, and how we build relationships that last.

Trust first
We place the highest value on trust. Our advice is honest, transparent, and always grounded in what we believe is in the long-term interests of our candidates and clients.
Knowledge-led guidance
Our recommendations are informed by deep market understanding and decades of experience, not assumptions or short-term incentives.
Long-term partnership

We focus on enduring relationships rather than one-off placements, supporting careers and teams well beyond a single hiring decision.

Care and authenticity
We love what we do, and it shows in the way we work. Our approach is personable, considered, and genuinely human.
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Working with us

A considered, calm recruitment experience.

Working with Wolf & Williams feels different because it is different. Our approach is measured, consultative, and built to reduce noise while improving outcomes.

Looking to make your next move – or build your team?

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We listen first
Every engagement begins with understanding — your goals, your context, and what really matters. We take the time to ask the right questions before offering advice.
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We guide with clarity
You’ll receive honest, experience-led insight grounded in real market intelligence. Our role is to help you think clearly and make informed decisions.
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We act with precision
Shortlists are thoughtful and deliberate. Introductions are made only when there is genuine alignment across capability, culture, and long-term fit.
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We manage the process
We handle communication, timing, and sensitive moments with care, discretion, and professionalism — so the experience remains steady and well supported.
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We stay connected
Our relationships don’t end at placement. We remain engaged, offering guidance and perspective as careers and teams evolve.
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Our expertise

Deeply connected to the legal market.

Wolf & Williams is led by legal recruitment specialists who bring deep market knowledge, sound judgement, and a genuine commitment to the people they work with. Each consultant operates as a trusted advisor — taking the time to listen, understand context, and provide clear, considered guidance. While our backgrounds and specialties differ, our approach is consistent: professional, discreet, and grounded in long-term partnership.
  • Nationwide recruitment across private practice and in-house legal teams
  • Contract and interim solutions at all levels
  • Executive search for senior legal leadership roles
  • Global reach supporting Australian returners and international talent

Our global network spans major legal centres including London, New York, Paris, San Francisco, Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, Dubai, and beyond — allowing us to support cross-border career moves with clarity and confidence.

For candidates

Advice you can trust at every stage.

Lawyers work with Wolf & Williams because we take the time to listen and understand their goals, motivations, and concerns. Our advice is grounded in real market insight and shaped by a genuine commitment to long-term career outcomes.

We are known for honesty and transparency. Candidates trust us to provide clear guidance, realistic perspectives, and thoughtful support — whether they are actively exploring opportunities or simply seeking clarity on their next step.

Honest, evidence-based career advice
Insight into firm culture, leadership, and reputation
Support throughout interviews and decision-making
Ongoing connection beyond placement

For clients

Recruitment shaped by insight, not volume.

Clients partner with Wolf & Williams because of our deep understanding of the Australian legal market and our ability to deliver thoughtful, accurate shortlists. We invest time upfront to understand the role, the team, and the broader context — resulting in fewer mismatches and better long-term outcomes.

Our clients value our commercial mindset, honest advice, and consistent communication. We prioritise long-term relationships over quick placements, acting as trusted advisors rather than transactional recruiters.

Precise shortlisting informed by market knowledge
Insight into candidate capability, culture fit, and reputation
Calm, discreet management of sensitive hires
A partnership that extends beyond the placement

Next steps

Let’s talk about what’s next.

Looking for a legal job
Looking to hire a lawyer

FAQs

Common questions.

What is the Wolf & Williams Library?
Our difference lies in depth. We bring decades of Australian legal recruitment experience, real market knowledge, and long-standing relationships. We are trusted because our guidance is grounded in insight, not sales.
Yes. We support law firms and in-house legal teams across Australia, including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide, and Perth.

Confidentiality and discretion are at the heart of all our interactions. We are aware of the sensitivities surrounding moving roles and we place a high value in the trust candidates afford us to manage their next career move.

Yes. We are a full-service boutique legal recruitment firm supporting law firms and in-house legal teams across all major Australian cities.

We assist Australian lawyers returning home and foreign-qualified lawyers relocating to Australia. Our advice covers market demand, firm expectations, sponsorship considerations, and the practical realities of making the move.
Expertise:
IN-HOUSE
PRIVATE PRACTICE
EXECUTIVE SEARCH

Sam Gray

Founder & Director

Sam is a qualified corporate lawyer with over 20 years legal recruitment experience across Australia, UK and USA. He previously was the Managing Director and Founding Partner at, what was previously, one of Australia’s most successful legal recruitment agencies.

Sam works across both private practice and in house.

Sam advises corporates on in house legal recruitment for general counsel, senior legal counsel, legal counsel and company secretary appointments. He has industry experience across construction, energy, renewable energy, real estate, investment funds, private equity, fintech, insurance, technology, industrial, government and financial services.

Sam advises private practice firms on strategic senior legal recruitment including partner, counsel, senior associate, team moves and firm mergers. He represents top-tier, international, mid-market and boutique law firms across Australia.

Sam is curious and an active listener who brings a long-term relationship philosophy in all his interactions. He is recognised for his industry knowledge, ability to read and understand people and provide objective and trusted advice.

Sam invests real time in speaking with clients and candidates about their roles, team structure, motivations, and career direction. He is known for providing a very honest, pragmatic view, even in situations where he may not be the one supporting the hire; or representing the candidate. People come back to Sam because they trust his judgment, and they value the clarity, and perspective he brings every time they’re considering hiring, or a career move.

He brings a personable and enthusiastic attitude to all his dealings, and you know he leaves no stone unturned when sourcing suitable candidates.

Expertise:
CONTRACT / TEMP

Bill Panourgias

Director — Contract & Temporary

Bill is a legal recruitment professional with 20 years’ experience in both contract/ temporary and permanent legal recruitment across private practice and in house.

Bill has sat on all sides of the table — as a lawyer, a candidate, and a client — having led APAC legal recruitment functions at professional services law firms including Gadens, Dentons, and Clyde & Co. Most recently, he launched, built, and led the temp and contracting division at, what used to be, one of Australia’s most successful recruitment firms.

Bill is the leader of our Temporary and Contract legal recruitment business. He is arguably the most connected legal recruiter in the Australian market and possesses a deep understanding of the required legal skill sets to complete any active brief.

Bill’s client base spans both private practice law firms and corporate Australia.
Bill and his team are widely recognised for their speed to source candidates across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Canberra for short, medium and longer term assignments.

Bill’s engaging personality shines through in every interaction. He is genuinely invested in both his candidates and clients alike and is motivated to deliver an outcome on every occasion.

You will walk away from an interaction with Bill feeling like you have a new friend and knowing that he will have your back and provide the ongoing support required in the fast-paced world of contract/temp recruitment.

Expertise:
IN-HOUSE

Morgan Elder

Senior Consultant — In-House Legal

Morgan is a qualified lawyer, with over 6 years legal recruitment experience focussing on in-house legal counsel, risk and corporate governance professionals, across all levels.

Morgan advises corporates on strategic in-house legal recruitment for roles such as general counsel, senior legal counsel, legal counsel, company secretary, and ESG specialists. Her traditional client portfolio spans ASX 100 companies, private family offices, and global institutions with a broad sector coverage across construction, energy, renewable energy, real estate, funds management, fintech, insurance, technology, industrial, government, financial services and FMCG.

Morgan is one of the most dedicated legal recruiters in the Australian market. Her extensive network combined with her agility to map and cover a market quickly; is a key reason her skill set is so highly sought after in the market. Morgan takes the time to understand the industry, company and the role which means her interview to placement strike rate is very high and clients can trust that her candidates have been suitable vetted.

Morgan brings a warm and professional approach to all her candidate and client dealings, and her primary goal is maximising the customer experience with a view to establishing long term relationships.

If you are looking for a recruiter that is not only a subject matter expect, but you can rely on to go the extra mile to ensure a successful placement, then look no further than Morgan.

Expertise:
CONTRACT / TEMP

Bec Smith

Senior Consultant — Interim & Contract

Becc is one of Australia’s leading interim, contract and temporary legal recruiters, bringing over 5 years’ experience, working across premier legal recruitment providers.

Becc partners with a diverse range of organisations to provide support for their legal teams at critical moments, whether managing workflow surges, covering extended periods of leave, filling teams gaps, or delivering project-based work solutions. She is equally comfortable recruiting short, or long-term assignments from legal counsel right through to interim general counsel positions, Becc has unmatched candidate bench strength across her key areas of focus.

With established experience and networks across NSW, ACT and VIC, she provides practical insight into the legal landscape, and the pressures in-house legal teams face to provide adaptable recruitment solutions that align with business needs.

Becc’s legal recruitment practice spans corporate and commercial law, public sector and regulatory matters, and complex disputes. She also recruits across specialist areas including employment, insurance and financial services, privacy and data protection, property and construction, renewables, and TMT.

Warm, dedicated and genuinely invested in her relationships, Becc brings a caring, customer centric and hardworking approach to every engagement. Candidates trust her, clients repeatedly return to her. Feedback across the industry consistently highlights her integrity, her follow through, and the quality of her work. She is someone that people enjoy partnering with, and who always does right by her candidate’s and clients.