Executive Legal Search
Discreet leadership appointments, delivered with precision.
Our expertise
Senior appointments require senior judgement.
Executive legal search demands discretion, market intelligence and deep relationship networks. These roles shape organisations, influence governance and drive commercial outcomes — they require more than a recruitment process. Wolf & Williams brings decades of experience placing senior legal leaders across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra and Adelaide. Our approach is structured, confidential and aligned to long-term organisational strategy.
Corporate legal leadership
Strategic search for critical appointments.
General Counsel and Head of Legal appointments are typically managed on a retained basis to ensure full market coverage and disciplined process management.
We conduct thorough market mapping, present a structured longlist and shortlist, and manage the process through to offer with constant communication and transparency. Our clients benefit from access to the Wolf & Williams Library for salary benchmarking and competitive insight.
Recent placements include:
- General Counsel – Australian Energy Company
- General Counsel – Global Renewable Energy Company
- Deputy General Counsel – Leading Australian Energy Generator
- Head of Legal – Global Insurance Company
Private practice leadership
Commercially informed partner recruitment.
Partner recruitment requires understanding of partnership economics, portable practices, succession strategy and cultural alignment. We work closely with firms across top-tier, international, national and boutique segments to execute discreet and strategic partner appointments.
Our directors have over 40 years of combined experience in the market, with long-standing relationships across practice groups and firm tiers. We assess not only business cases but leadership style, strategic alignment and long-term cultural fit.
Recent placements include:
- Corporate M&A Partner – International Firm
- Environment & Planning Partner – National Firm
- Insurance Partner –National Firm
- Technology Partner – International Firm
How we work
Structured, confidential, transparent.
Retained search model
Full market coverage
Due diligence
Thorough interviews and assessment of experience, leadership capability, and strategic fit.
Constant communication
Flexible structures
Retained or exclusive engagement.
For General Counsel and senior corporate roles, we recommend retained search to ensure confidentiality and complete coverage.
For partner appointments, we work across retained and exclusive models depending on firm strategy and sensitivity.
Typical timelines for retained searches are approximately 8 weeks from initial briefing to contract execution.
Next step
Planning a senior legal appointment?
Executive Legal Search Specialists
FAQs
Executive Legal Search
What does a retained search model look like?
Typically structured as one-third of the fee at commencement, one-third on delivery of shortlist, and one-third upon successful placement.
Do you use retained models for partner search?
Depending on the firm and strategic sensitivity. We often operate exclusively, with retained structures used where appropriate.