General Counsel and Legal Director

With vast experience and global reach, we help businesses across every sector to find the most outstanding senior legal talent, and General Counsel to help develop and progress their careers.

Female manager leading a company discussion

Explore General Counsel recruitment


Recruiting General Counsel since 1989 

Strong legal leadership is the lynchpin to every successful business. General Counsel today are more than just lawyers. They are part of the strategy and businesses rely on their knowledge and commerciality. Therefore, hiring the right GC is crucial. 

We have a proven track record of hiring General Counsel in high-profile, complex senior legal talent searches and accessing our strong relationships with the GC community.

benefits

By choosing to work with us, you will benefit from: 

Genuine global reach

Our many global offices have completed projects in more than 55 locations.  Through our extensive network we can consistently deliver in your search for talent 

An unrivalled track record

We are a recruitment partner you can trust

Market longevity

We pioneered the first recruitment consultancies in numerous global locations. We offer local market knowledge on a global scale

Focused expertise

We are a legal specialist search and recruitment consultancy dedicated to the legal profession. We speak your language and understand your markets 

Tailored services

We tailor our services to suit your needs and goals. Typically, they include contingent and retained search, permanent, temporary and interim recruitment as well as consultancy solutions


How we can help

Finding General Counsel talent

Hiring General Counsel is more than just a new hire, it is a new partnership for the business. As a business you will be looking for someone who can not only deal with the pure practical legal matters but someone who can align this to the business objectives in the most commercial way.

We have a proven track record of recruiting GCs in high-profile, complex senior legal talent searches.

Close up of business colleagues working together in coworking office,

Building legal teams

Whether you are looking to build out your headquartered legal team or launch in-house legal resource around the world you will be looking to find the highest quality talent.

Many businesses in recent years have looked to decentralise their legal teams and it has become more important than ever to have legal expertise on the ground. These lawyers provide local knowledge around specific laws and regulations but also local language skills allowing for ease of access when it comes to complicated legal matters.

Female professionals sit in an office environment, smiling

Hiring your first lawyer

Making this investment is a big step for businesses and there are lots of questions, from when is the right time to bring in this resource to what kind of background should the lawyer have.

As a business, you need to scope the role out and establish where this talent would sit within your business and what long-term benefits having this resource will mean.

Roles we typically recruit for include:

Global General Counsel  
Regional General Counsel  
General Counsel
Legal Director 
Head of Legal   

Interim General Counsel
Interim Head of Legal  
Senior Legal Counsel  
Legal Counsel 
Interim Legal Counsel  

Sole Legal Counsel 
Corporate Counsel  
Contract Manager  
Paralegal 
Legal Operations

looking to hire an in-house role?

TR_Global in-house report 2025 - Portrait cover

We are delighted to share with you our 2025-2026 global in-house legal market report and salary guide.

The global in-house legal market continues to evolve rapidly, navigating a complex landscape with both challenges and opportunities. This year’s report addresses several critical factors shaping the market.

Meet the team

Joyce-Toeset
Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland

latest resources

Shot of a young businesswoman using a digital tablet in a modern office

Stepping into a PE-backed business: a GC’s perspective

  • Posted May 15, 2026
Contents Key insights Georgia Morgan Wynne spoke to Kristin McFetridge, General Counsel at MVF Global, about the realities of stepping into a private equity-backed business and why success in the role has less to do with law, and more to do with judgment, pace and people. It’s rarely the legal work that’s the challenge For […]
Businessman talking to colleagues in meeting

UK and Ireland in-house legal recruitment market update Q2

  • Posted April 21, 2026
Contents Key insights Corporate and commercial, London Q1 saw a more cautious start to the year for the in‑house legal market, reflecting a complex economic backdrop and ongoing geopolitical uncertainty. While macro conditions remain challenging, hiring activity was disciplined rather than suppressed. Sector wise, energy-related legal hiring softened as did media sector hiring after a […]
Print Factory Manager Meeting With Employees

What data centre investment means for infrastructure lawyers

  • Posted April 20, 2026
Contents Key insights Over the past decade, infrastructure investment has undergone a quiet but profound transformation. Traditionally anchored in assets such as roads, ports, and utilities, infrastructure funds are now allocating significant capital to digital assets: most notably, data centres. This shift has been driven by the exponential growth of cloud computing, artificial intelligence, streaming […]

Why 2026 is a turning point for Europe’s in-house legal teams

  • Posted March 25, 2026
Legal departments across Europe are balancing complex geopolitical pressures, rapid digital transformation and rising expectations around ESG, data protection and sustainability. At the same time, organisations are reshaping their operating models, and legal leaders are redefining what effective legal work looks like in an AI-driven environment. According to LinkedIn, continental Europe has nearly 900,000 in-house […]
Happy entrepreneurs shaking hands after meeting in a hallway among people in blurred motion.

Why demand for employment lawyers in the UK and Europe is surging in 2025-2026

  • Posted March 23, 2026
Over the past nine to twelve months, demand for employment lawyers has increased markedly across both private practice and in‑house teams in the UK and Europe. This is not a short‑term spike driven by cyclical hiring. It reflects a broader structural shift in how organisations manage people risk, compliance and workforce change, a trend increasingly […]

The role of venture capital in North America’s energy transition – and the impact on legal hiring

  • Posted March 20, 2026
We’ve already discussed how the North American energy transition and AI driven infrastructure will reshape legal hiring, but what role does venture capital (VC) play in this scenario? VC has become a central force accelerating North America’s energy transition, transforming research breakthroughs into commercial energy solutions. Global clean‑energy investment reached record levels in 2024 and continued rising […]
Man working from coffee shop. He is using mobile phone and laptop

Stepping up: How heads of legal can progress into the general counsel role

  • Posted March 19, 2026
The transition from head of legal to general counsel (GC) has become an increasingly significant career step within organisations. While both roles require extensive legal expertise, the GC position carries a broader strategic remit, encompassing enterprise-wide risk management, governance oversight and senior leadership responsibilities. As organisations face heightened regulatory expectations, operational complexity and evolving commercial […]
Group of business persons talking in the office.

How General Counsel in the Netherlands are building AI-ready legal teams

  • Posted March 9, 2026
Across the Netherlands, artificial intelligence is more than a technology conversation. For General Counsel, it has become a structural and workforce question. As organisations review how automation and legal tech fit into their operations, many are doing so at different speeds. This reflects the uneven pace of AI adoption across the Dutch legal market.  This shift is happening against a complex backdrop. Parts of […]
Happy entrepreneurs shaking hands after meeting in a hallway among people in blurred motion.

What UK interim in-house lawyers look for in day rates: expectations vs reality

  • Posted March 5, 2026
The interim legal market has evolved and grown significantly in the UK over the past 10 years, driven by shifting economic conditions, corporate transformation, digital and automation initiatives, headcount freezes and sustained demand for specialist in-house legal skills. Against this backdrop, one question consistently sits at the centre of conversations with interim in‑house lawyers when […]
Businesswoman with diary and pen by colleagues

Why US in-house legal departments are restructuring in 2026: key themes emerging across industries

  • Posted March 4, 2026
In-house legal departments across the United States are entering a period of structural change. While cost pressure and regulatory complexity are not new, the pace and nature of change heading into 2026 is different. In-house legal teams are being asked to move faster, operate closer to the business, and support increasingly complex risk environments with […]
Graphic designers at work.

Hiring employment counsel in 2026: What financial services leaders need

  • Posted March 1, 2026
Financial services organisations, both listed and privately owned, are navigating one of the most active and complex deal environments seen in many years. M&A activity has accelerated, operating models are being re‑engineered and expectations on legal, people and governance teams have grown significantly. Consolidation continues across banking, insurance, asset and wealth management, fintech and payments, […]
Happy entrepreneurs shaking hands after meeting in a hallway among people in blurred motion.

Why private equity investment into professional services is reshaping in‑house legal growth in 2026

  • Posted February 24, 2026
Hiring across legal teams in professional services accelerated through 2025, and early signs suggest that momentum is continuing into 2026. A central driver is the rise of private equity (PE) investment into legal, consulting and accounting platforms, which is changing how organisations scale, modernise and manage risk. Rather than viewing legal and advisory as static […]
Groups of young men and women sitting at tables in coworking office environment and discussing small business plans and projects.

What does a legal operations professional do?

  • Posted January 24, 2026
Legal operations has become one of the most important functions within modern in‑house legal teams. As organisations scale, digitise and face increasing regulatory and commercial pressure, the expectations placed on legal teams have expanded considerably. Legal operations professionals help bridge this gap by enabling legal functions to work smarter, move faster and deliver more consistent […]
A close up of a person using her mouse and laptop at a desk

AI adoption in legal functions across Europe and the impact of the EU AI Act

  • Posted January 23, 2026
Across Europe, artificial intelligence is moving rapidly from a theoretical discussion to a practical reality for in-house legal teams. From generative AI and automation to AI-powered legal tech platforms, organisations are reassessing how AI fits into the modern legal function and what this means for legal work, governance and talent.  The use of AI across in-house legal teams is being […]
Professional man looking at a laptop

Does a Chief Legal Officer need IPO experience for a successful IPO? What the data tells us

  • Posted January 8, 2026
This article has been co-authored by Dylan Marvin, Chief Customer Officer and former Chief Legal Officer at Cision, to explore whether prior IPO experience truly predicts better outcomes, or if the data tells a different story. Does prior IPO experience actually matter? A company’s Initial Public Offering (IPO) is the culmination of many years of […]
people around an office table sharing ideas and working collaboratively

Beyond compliance: Why your law firm needs a General Counsel

  • Posted January 7, 2026
The role of the General Counsel (GC) within law firms has grown significantly over the past decade. What was once a rare and somewhat ambiguous position has become a central part of how modern law firms manage legal risks, regulatory compliance, and governance. Although law firms have long been required to appoint a Compliance Officer for Legal […]
john spinosa and jon coles, market update

The changing expectations of the US in-house legal market

  • Posted December 8, 2025
The US in-house legal market is evolving as both employers and candidates adjust to new expectations, shifting priorities and growing internal capability needs. Conversations with Jon Coles and John Spinosa highlight how legal departments are responding to these pressures, what legal professionals value today and why international companies operating in the US are rethinking how […]

How M&A deals and AI are influencing US in-house legal hiring

  • Posted December 8, 2025
Shifts in deal activity, developments in artificial intelligence and evolving compensation expectations are influencing how companies hire in the United States. Recent insights from Jon Coles and John Spinosa highlight how legal teams are preparing for 2026, what skills are becoming more sought after and how both employers and candidates can adapt to a fast-moving […]

Why work in the Netherlands as a legal professional?

  • Posted December 2, 2025
The Netherlands is one of Europe’s most attractive destinations for legal professionals looking to advance their careers. Whether you’re a Solicitor, Legal Counsel or compliance specialist, relocating to the Netherlands offers access to a progressive legal system, international work and a lifestyle Dutch lawyers consistently praise. Why Dutch lawyers love working in the Netherlands Ask […]
Two women sit for a meeting

The art of hiring interim in-house Lawyers in private equity

  • Posted November 12, 2025
Private equity firms operate in fast-paced, high-stakes environments where timing, precision, and adaptability are critical. Whether supporting portfolio companies through growth phases, preparing for IPOs, or navigating exits, legal expertise must be both strategic and scalable. Hiring interim in-house Lawyers, particularly General Counsel (GCs), offers a compelling solution by delivering technical acumen without the overhead […]

looking to hire an in-house role?