Your Corporate Legal and General Counsel Recruiting Specialist

If you are looking for your next General Counsel, Employment Law Specialist, Corporate Attorney, or other key legal hires, we understand these profiles well and bring a proven executive search track record filling this function.

Our methodology enables us to quickly recruit the executive talent you are looking for to give you peace of mind about your operations team leadership.

Strategic Legal Leadership for Today’s Complex Business Environment

At Herd Freed Hartz, we help Northwest companies recruit high-impact General Counsel and senior legal leaders who bring more than legal expertise—they bring strategic clarity and trusted counsel. As regulatory complexity increases and business environments become more global and risk-sensitive, legal leaders are playing a greater role in shaping business outcomes. According to the Association of Corporate Counsel’s 2024 Chief Legal Officers Survey, 75% of CLOs report a direct role in influencing corporate strategy—up significantly from previous years. As a legal executive search firm and search firm with a robust network, Herd Freed Hartz specializes in legal executive search and general counsel executive search, leveraging our expertise to connect clients with top legal talent. That’s why hiring the right legal executive is no longer a compliance necessity—it’s a competitive imperative.

What Makes General Counsel Searches Unique

The General Counsel role is a critical role and one of the most multifaceted positions in the C-suite. These leaders must be both legal strategists and business advisors, able to protect the organization while enabling innovation and growth. Some GCs are the first in-house counsel in a fast-growing startup, building out legal infrastructure from scratch; others inherit teams and oversee global compliance for complex, mature enterprises, private equity firms, and organizations across various industries. Every company’s needs are different—which is why our search process is designed to uncover what you need in a legal leader today and in the years ahead.

Today’s legal leaders must be agile communicators, strategic thinkers, and trusted voices at the executive table

Key Trends in Legal Leadership Hiring

Legal leadership is evolving quickly. With increasing focus on ESG compliance, data privacy, cybersecurity, and corporate governance, the scope of the General Counsel’s role continues to expand. The evolving legal landscape, along with rapid changes in the legal industry and legal market, requires industry expertise and a deep understanding of current trends, challenges, and opportunities. A 2023 report by Thomson Reuters found that 72% of corporate legal departments are facing increased demand for proactive risk management and cross-functional collaboration. As a result, today’s legal leaders must be agile communicators, strategic thinkers, and trusted voices at the executive table, possessing strong business acumen and leadership skills. Identifying candidates with the right talent—those who demonstrate both legal expertise and the ability to drive organizational success—is essential. We help companies identify candidates by sourcing and vetting top legal professionals, legal talent, top talent, and top legal talent who combine legal acumen with business fluency and emotional intelligence—because modern legal leadership demands all three.

Best Practices for Hiring Legal Executives

Recruiting a General Counsel requires more than a traditional legal search. Our executive search firm brings a refined process that blends rigorous technical vetting with a strong emphasis on leadership style, cultural fit, and alignment with your company’s mission. The whole process is managed by a senior partner, leveraging our proven track record, adherence to industry standards, and global network to deliver legal excellence and meet client expectations. Our executive search, legal recruitment, and advisory services are designed to support C-suite executives and senior leadership, providing tailored executive coaching for long term success.

Our process includes comprehensive candidate assessments, confidential market outreach, and nuanced stakeholder alignment. We evaluate candidates for technical backgrounds, industry experience, and ensure we identify the right candidates who will contribute to your legal team, legal department, and overall company culture. Aligning with company culture, company’s culture, corporate goals, and client expectations is central to our approach, supporting both immediate needs and long-term organizational success.

We have extensive experience placing compliance officers, chief compliance, chief compliance officers, legal counsel, and corporate counsel, ensuring compliance and supporting your legal issues with in house legal talent and house legal talent. Our team’s background with law firms and deep understanding of legal department dynamics allows us to build strong legal teams that drive business growth and mitigate risk. Research by BarkerGilmore shows that 93% of CEOs highly value General Counsel who possess strong commercial acumen—not just legal knowledge. We prioritize this blend of skills to ensure your next legal leader is a true business partner.

Why Northwest Companies Trust Herd Freed Hartz

From VC-backed startups to publicly traded companies, we’ve placed legal leaders who protect, guide, and strengthen the organizations they serve. Our clients value our Northwest market expertise, our strong connections within the legal community and legal market, and Dine’s extensive network, which give us unique access to top talent. We are committed to exceeding client expectations and supporting our clients’ long-term success through comprehensive after-placement support. Our thoughtful and transparent approach ensures we find candidates who don’t just meet the brief—they elevate it. At Herd Freed Hartz, we believe legal executives should bring confidence and chemistry to the table, and we help clients develop and execute effective legal strategies aligned with their business objectives. We’re here to help you hire a General Counsel who doesn’t just understand the law—but who understands your business, your values, and your vision.