Start A Conversation Today

read more button

Legal Executive & General Counsel Search

BarkerGilmore is recognized across a broad range of industries as the right choice for organizations seeking world-class legal executive recruiters. With an exclusive focus on in-house legal and compliance talent, we deliver unmatched results through our extensive connections, proven recruitment methodology, and personalized, relationship-based approach. Our clients include Fortune 500 companies, private equity firms, and growing enterprises that demand leaders with legal expertise, business acumen, and executive presence.

As the nation’s only executive search firm dedicated exclusively to the legal and compliance professions, we serve as trusted advisors for CEOs, CHROs, Boards, and General Counsel who understand that the most effective legal and compliance leaders provide more than technical excellence. Our legal executive searches find and place candidates with high emotional intelligence, cultural fit, and the strategic capability to guide companies through challenging business and regulatory environments over the long term.

Unrivaled Expertise in Legal Executive Search

For more than two decades, BarkerGilmore has been recognized for its excellence and performance as executive legal recruiters. Every engagement is led by a senior partner with a track record of placing highly qualified General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officers, and senior legal leaders. We combine our deep experience with a disciplined, data-driven recruitment and candidate evaluation process to ensure every placement exceeds client expectations.

What sets us apart from other legal executive search firms is our ability to assess candidates beyond their résumé. Our certified Hogan Assessments, combined with deep behavioral interviewing, help predict performance, identify leadership potential, and align candidates with the unique needs and culture of each client.

We have built a boutique in-house legal recruiting firm based on quality, trust, and integrity, rather than search assignment volume. We have assembled a team of professionals with unmatched credentials. And we have created a client-centric approach, combined with a portfolio of search and advisory services, unlike any competitor.

Legal Executive Search Firm with Proven Results

BarkerGilmore specializes in three core areas of executive legal recruitment:

General Counsel

We recruit General Counsel who serve as both legal advisors and strategic business partners. Our candidates are prepared to deliver more than technical legal expertise. They possess the judgment, executive presence, and leadership experience required to manage risk, shape strategy, and guide corporate decision-making. Learn more about our General Counsel search services.

Chief Compliance Officers

In highly regulated industries, Chief Compliance Officers play a critical role in avoiding risk, protecting reputation, ensuring operational integrity, and assuring key stakeholders. We place CCOs with a deep understanding of industry-specific regulatory frameworks, a proactive approach to risk management, and the influence to lead change across organizations. Learn more about our Chief Compliance Officer search process.

In-House Counsel

Whether you’re building a legal department from the ground up or adding to an established team, our legal executive recruiters source in-house counsel who have specialized expertise, and are collaborative, business-minded, aligned with organizational values, and ready to grow into senior positions. Learn more about our in-house counsel search expertise.

The BarkerGilmore Advantage

Why BarkerGilmore is Recognized as the General Counsel Search Firm Leader

BarkerGilmore stands apart from all other legal and compliance recruitment firms in tangible ways. Boards, CEOs, and CHROs select BarkerGilmore not only for the high quality in-house talent we deliver, but also for the long-term impact and value those professionals deliver for their organizations.

Here are a few ways our clients benefit from what we call The BarkerGilmore Advantage:

Exclusive focus on the legal and compliance profession enables us to add value by delivering top legal talent that succeed year after year.

Our extensive personal relationships provide insights, direct access, and referrals to engage and recruit the best in-house legal talent across all industries.

A limited hands-off client list and institutional agility enable us to combine accountability with ongoing communication to deliver beneficial outcomes.

We are Hogan Certified, and go far beyond resume credentials to ensure candidates have the professional skills and personal qualities to serve as strategic business advisors.

Our recruiting record of accomplishment is well documented, but we are most proud of the trust we have earned with many of the nation’s most respected organizations.

Ready to Find Your Next Legal Leader?

Whether you’re seeking a transformational General Counsel, a forward-thinking Chief Compliance Officer, or a business-savvy in-house counsel, BarkerGilmore has the experience, network, and insight to deliver top talent that meets your goals.

Partner with the legal executive recruiters trusted by Fortune 500 companies, private equity firms, and high-growth public and private organizations nationwide.

Explore our search capabilities:

General Counsel Search

Chief Compliance Officer Search

In-House Counsel Search

Industries Served

BarkerGilmore serves public and private organizations across:

Whether for placement of in-house counsel, compliance team members, or succession planning support for that role, BarkerGilmore remains the nation’s most trusted legal and compliance search firm.

Connect with BarkerGilmore’s Legal Recruiting Experts

Maria Stayer

Maria Stayer

Senior Director of Project Management, Legal & Compliance

Syracuse, NY

Helen Pudlin

Former EVP & GC

PNC Financial Services Group

Philadelphia, PA

Bob Barker

Managing Partner

Rochester, NY

Peter Ganz

Former SVP, GC, CCO, CLO & Corporate Secretary

Ashland Global Holdings, Inc.

Cincinnati, OH | Asheville, NC

Maureen Brundage

Former EVP, GC, Chief Ethics Officer & Corporate Secretary

The Chubb Corporation

New York, NY

Max Gelernter

Managing Director

PIttsburgh, PA

Marla Persky

Former SVP, GC & Corporate Secretary

Boehringer Ingelheim USA

Chicago, IL | Ridgefield, CT

Camille Montalbano

Camille Montalbano

Senior Project Manager, Legal & Compliance, Information Systems Lead

Rochester, NY

Ed Nekritz

Ed Nekritz

Former CLO and GC

Prologis, Inc.

Denver, CO

Bjarne Tellmann

Bjarne Tellmann

Former Founding General Counsel and Executive Committee Member

Haleon plc

London, England | Munich, Germany

Jamey Seely

General Counsel

Crusoe Energy Holdings, Inc.

Denver, CO

Jennifer Carr

Jennifer Carr

Project Manager, Legal & Compliance

Syracuse, NY

Noah Hanft

Former GC & Corporate Secretary

Mastercard Worldwide

New York, NY

Brittney McDonough

Partner

Rochester, NY

Katie Kristy

Managing Director

Rochester, NY

Michael Williams

Former EVP, CLO & Corporate Secretary

Staples, Inc.

Boston, MA | San Diego, CA

Steve Bell

Managing Director

Rochester, NY

John Gilmore

Managing Partner

Rochester, NY | Naples, FL

Chloe Barker

Managing Director

Morristown, NJ

Ann Harlan

Former VP, GC & Corporate Secretary

The J.M. Smucker Company

Cleveland, OH

Sarah Sullivan

Managing Director

Rochester, NY

Haydee Olinger

Former Global CCO

McDonald’s Corporation

Chicago, IL

Audrey Rubin

Audrey Rubin

Former VP & COO Law

Aon Corporation

Chicago, IL

Alison Waters

Alison Waters

Project Manager, Legal & Compliance

Syracuse, NY

A.B. Cruz III

Former SVP, Corporate General Counsel

USAA

San Antonio, TX | Washington, DC

Trusted by the nation’s most respected organizations

Legal Executive Search Related Resources

Legal and Compliance Consulting

We go beyond recruitment. BarkerGilmore’s Advisors have decades of experience as General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officers and have advised executives and boards at some of the most powerful and respected corporations in the country. Now you can put their experience to work for you in optimizing your legal and compliance departments.

“BarkerGilmore provided everything I could have asked for in a search consultant: personable, knowledgeable, diligent, and someone who acted as an advocate and friend. Through his outstanding help, I was able to obtain an in-house position that fit my skills and interests perfectly. I highly recommend BarkerGilmore.”
KEVIN NAH
SENIOR DIVISION COUNSEL, CORNING INCORPORATED
“We felt like we were working with a partner who helped us ask hard questions and take our time during the interview process to get it right the first time, as opposed to an agency that was just focused on forcing a placement.”
DANNY FULMER
CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER, RHA HEALTH SERVICES
“What I liked the most is that BarkerGilmore shares our company’s data-driven, disciplined focus. That really came through throughout the whole process, and from every member of their team. They really know what they are doing.  BarkerGilmore’s team listened well, and we knew that our needs had been internalized based upon the debriefing of each of the candidates, which were spot on. I like how the team tried to broaden our view; they educated us as well throughout the process.”
SAM MUPPALLA
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, AMERICAN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES
"It has been a great pleasure working with BarkerGilmore as we build out the legal department at Persefoni, a fast-growing software company. All aspects of the search process have been extremely professional and effective. The executive search professionals at BarkerGilmore excelled at understanding our needs and company culture, and finding exceptional candidates for our consideration for several roles.”
PETER C. BARTOLINO
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, GENERAL COUNSEL & CORPORATE SECRETARY, PERSEFONI AI INC.
"I value BarkerGilmore as a search partner because their specialization and depth of experience means they deliver great results. When you hire them you’re working with the guys whose names are on the door. They perform with precision and speed, and deliver quality results as promised. I wish I had someone as good as BarkerGilmore for all our strategic searches!"
KLAUS-DIETER DOERR
DIRECTOR, ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AMPHENOL
“In choosing a search firm, our criteria were quality and diversity of candidates, responsiveness, communication, sense of urgency, and focus on the client. We also wanted a firm that would represent us well — not just the candidate. I did extensive interviews with five search firms – including the large global ones — and then spoke with client references before choosing BarkerGilmore. They’ve exceeded my expectations. And I would use them again in a minute.”
JENNIFER SHOFFNER
CHRO, TOPBUILD

Connect with a legal recruiter

* indicates required fields

Name*
Primary Area of Interest*
Blog Subscription?