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.

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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.

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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.

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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?

We are delighted to share with you our 2024-2025 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

latest resources

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  • In-house

UK in-house legal recruitment market update Q3

  • Posted July 14, 2025
Corporate and commercial Taylor Root’s corporate and commercial team saw a reduction in vacancies at the start of Q2 in 2025. April’s market was shaky, influenced by global uncertainties, including political factors like Trump’s policies, which disrupted confidence. However, May and June saw recovery, with increased hiring activity signalling optimism for a stronger H2 2025 […]
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  • General counsel

Legal at the helm: why legal counsel must be central to cyber incident response

  • Posted July 2, 2025
In today’s threat-heavy digital environment, a cyberattack is not just a technical issue — it’s a business crisis. And in a crisis, leadership matters. Yet too often, legal counsel is brought in late or treated as a supporting act rather than a central figure. That mindset must change. Emma Jones, Global Manager, Cyber Incident Response […]
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  • Career Advice

How a non-linear path can lead to a rewarding legal career

  • Posted June 23, 2025
In a profession that often encourages following a well-established path, one senior lawyer’s career trajectory demonstrates the value of trusting your instincts, embracing risk, and seeing each move as a stepping stone. For legal leaders contemplating a shift—whether in-house or back to private practice—his story is a timely reminder that careers don’t need to be […]
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  • General counsel

Lessons learned from hiring General Counsels for private equity funds and portfolio companies

  • Posted June 23, 2025
Hiring General Counsels for private equity (PE) funds and their portfolio companies is a critical task that requires strategic foresight, alignment with business objectives, and a deep understanding of the unique challenges in these environments. Over years of hiring GCs for both PE funds and their portfolio companies, I have detailed eight key lessons to […]
  • In-house

Taylor Root at the NextGen GC Summit, Sydney

  • Posted June 12, 2025
We are delighted to be participating in the NextGen GC Summit, taking place in Sydney on 18th and 19th June 2025. Now in its third year, the NextGen GC Summit—hosted by Law Ninjas—has firmly established itself as a premier gathering for in-house legal professionals, both regionally and globally. This two-day summit will unite General Counsel […]
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  • Market Insight

Q1 2025 market moves: UK senior legal leaders in financial services

  • Posted June 4, 2025
The start of 2025 has brought with it signs of renewed activity in the UK legal recruitment market—particularly for senior legal hires in financial services. Following a year of economic uncertainty and cautious hiring, the sector is showing encouraging signs of recovery. Here, we summarise data from our inaugural quarterly report on ‘market moves: UK […]
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  • Hiring advice

Hiring your first General Counsel for a private equity-backed portfolio company 

  • Posted June 4, 2025
As a legal recruiter at Taylor Root, I’ve guided numerous private equity-backed portfolio companies and their investors through the critical process of hiring their first General Counsel (GC). This pivotal hire can shape your company’s trajectory, and getting it right requires strategy, foresight and precision.  A GC in a PE-backed business is far more than […]
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  • Career Advice

GCs in retail and FMCG – leading through today’s crises, preparing for tomorrow 

  • Posted May 29, 2025
In 2025, retail and FMCG sectors are navigating a turbulent landscape marked by economic volatility, digital threats, and geopolitical disruptions. High-profile cyberattacks in the UK on Marks & Spencer, Harrods, and the Co-op, costing millions in lost sales, highlight the sector’s vulnerability. Concurrently, President Trump’s ongoing trade war and tariffs threaten higher consumer prices and […]
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  • Market Insight

The regulatory burden: navigating compliance challenges in the insurance sector

  • Posted May 22, 2025
Understanding the regulatory landscape The insurance industry stands at a critical juncture, grappling with an increasingly complex regulatory environment that threatens to overwhelm both operational efficiency and long-term strategic focus. What was once a manageable area of business has now grown into a significant challenge, demanding more resources, more expertise, and more agility than ever […]
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  • Market Insight

Navigating a growing regulatory landscape: A guide for German GCs

  • Posted April 17, 2025
In the aftermath of COVID-19, the regulatory environment in Germany and across Europe has evolved rapidly, presenting significant challenges for in-house General Counsel and their legal teams. Regulatory focus has intensified in supply chain transparency, ESG compliance and digital governance, while major EU regulations – including the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence […]
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  • Hiring advice

Eight essential compensation strategies for in-house legal hiring managers

  • Posted April 15, 2025
In today’s competitive legal market, rising law firm salaries pose a significant challenge for in-house legal teams. If you’re hiring in-house legal talent and finding yourself competing on salaries, here are some practical tips to help you attract and retain top talent. Make a strong business case for budget increases Securing additional budget approval is […]
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  • Hiring advice

Your first legal hire in private equity: Scaling the right way

  • Posted April 14, 2025
The topic of culture has never been more critical in hiring discussions, particularly when recruiting in-house legal teams in private equity firms and portfolio companies, who are increasingly recognising that businesses thrive through the right hires.  Nowhere is this more important than in legal, where your first hire sets the foundation for how risk is managed, deals are […]
  • In-house

From crisis management to prevention – The role of Governance, Risk and Compliance professionals

  • Posted April 8, 2025
The role of Governance, Risk and Compliance professionals has changed drastically, especially in the Middle East. GRC used to be about reacting to problems, handling crises, responding to new regulations, and making sure compliance issues were addressed after the fact. But today, the focus is on prevention! What I have observed is that as the […]
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  • Hiring advice

Key considerations for a GC’s first hire in a PE-backed business

  • Posted March 19, 2025
As the first General Counsel (GC) in a private equity (PE)-backed business, one of the most critical decisions you will face is who to hire for your in-house legal team. With multiple competing priorities, including commercial demands, rapid growth and investor expectations, it can be challenging to know where to begin. Choosing how to build […]
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  • Career progression

Making the most of your in-house career

  • Posted March 18, 2025
Taylor Root has been active in the in-house legal market since 1989, helping candidates to make the move from private practice and to navigate the different stages of their in-house career. In association with the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) we hosted an event on “Managing your In-House Career”, which quickly turned into an extremely constructive discussion not only on […]
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  • General counsel

Five steps to securing a GC role in private equity

  • Posted March 10, 2025
As the demands on General Counsels (GCs) within private equity continue to evolve, legal leaders must now bring far more than technical expertise to the table. From mastering complex deal structures to influencing firm-wide strategy, today’s GCs are pivotal to the success of investment firms and their portfolio companies. Drawing on decades of experience in […]
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  • General counsel

Five ways compensation is changing for GCs in private equity

  • Posted March 3, 2025
Compensation can vary for GCs in private equity, depending on factors such as the size of the firm, the time of entry and the firm’s growth stage. However, one constant across the industry is the increasingly strategic role of the General Counsel (GC). As specialists in hiring in-house legal teams for private equity, we’re seeing […]
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  • In-house

UK private equity market update 2025

  • Posted February 12, 2025
As we move into 2025, private equity (PE) firms are beginning to look at scaling up their legal functions. With deal flow accelerating, regulatory scrutiny increasing and AI reshaping due diligence and operations, legal teams in PE firms are playing a bigger role in driving value creation, mitigating risk and ensuring compliance across funds and […]
A diverse group of professional individuals engaged in a business meeting within a bright beige office, illustrating teamwork, collaboration, and leadership.
  • In-house

Seven tips for building an in-house legal team from scratch

  • Posted February 12, 2025
As anyone trying to hire in-house legal teams will tell you, the current market for talent can be fiercely competitive. Over-inflated salaries in some sectors have had an impact on the market and building the right team is crucial to success. ​ In Taylor Root’s Q&A session with Jonathan Wiseman, General Counsel and Chief People […]
woman working on a laptop from home
  • Hiring advice

Should you hire a fractional or interim General Counsel?

  • Posted November 14, 2024
We’ve already discussed the key considerations you should make before hiring a fractional General Counsel, but how do they weigh up against interim professionals? In today’s complex business landscape, companies face a myriad of legal challenges. Whether it is navigating regulatory requirements, managing contracts, or addressing potential litigation, having access to legal expertise is crucial. […]

looking to hire an in-house role?