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Managing Counsel

Identifying candidates with leadership abilities, business acumen, and gravitas

When General Counsel need to hire a lawyer from outside to serve as a leader in the law department, they require someone with specific experience who will hit the ground running, forge strong relationships across the organization, and have immediate impact. When making these hires, diversity goals and succession planning are always considered. With these priorities in mind, we find business-savvy, senior legal leaders for your current needs, with the future in mind. After three years, 93% of our placements are still at our client companies — most with significantly greater responsibilities.

With 78% of Aspiring General Counsel currently working in in-house leadership positions, it is imperative that your company’s legal leaders not only meet your current needs but are also poised to meet those of the future. It is critical to assess new hires using a dual lens, evaluating their ability to perform the legal task at hand as well as the necessary soft skills to be a succession candidate and someday advance to General Counsel.

Our Process

Our process identifies Managing Counsel to lead now and into the future

At BarkerGilmore, every legal search begins with a core competency and company culture analysis, nationwide outreach, and a deeply personal commitment to our clients. We guarantee a search experience that goes beyond what a traditional headhunter delivers. A full assessment is completed for every in-house legal candidate, which evaluates:

  • Emotional intelligence, gravitas, and ethics
  • Technical aptitude and experience
  • Alignment with business priorities
  • Cultural fit and chemistry
  • Track record of performance in stressful situations
  • Leadership capabilities
  • Motivation and passion for the position

Connect with BarkerGilmore’s Managing Counsel Recruiting Experts

  • Former VP, GC & Corporate Secretary

    The J.M. Smucker Company

    Cleveland, OH

  • Former Vice Chairman, External Affairs & CLO

    AbbVie

    Chicago, IL

  • Former EVP, CLO & Secretary

    Staples, Inc.

    Boston, MA  |  San Diego, CA

  • Former EVP, GC, Chief Ethics Officer & Secretary

    The Chubb Corporation

    New York, NY

  • Former SVP, Corporate General Counsel

    USAA

    San Antonio, TX  |  Washington, DC

  • Former Global CCO

    McDonald’s Corporation

    Chicago, IL

We Go Beyond Recruitment

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

"At the beginning, I remember saying to myself, all search firms are the same, over promising and under delivering. I have dealt with a large number of search firms over almost 30 years and have never received this kind of service. It’s just been fantastic from start to finish."
JOSEPH NAPOLITANO
SVP, CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, ACADIA REALTY TRUST
“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

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