Caulfield Search

24/07/2024

“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change”.

Caulfield Search - Headhunters
July 24, 2024

The rise of the internet & social media over the last 21 years - since we launched Caulfield Search summer 2003:

1. When we signed up to our first small 2 person office (3 at a real squeeze) at MWB (now Regus) at 107 Fleet Street in late June 2003, we still had slow dial up internet access, and there was no social media! Over the next decade or so based there, the often conservative legal market obviously started adapting to the advent of a range of new social media platforms, to the extent that they are now an integral part of everyone’s marketing and PR.

2. All a far cry from the legal magazine advertising we all used to rely on, for generic job ads, specific job search projects, and law firm advertising*. Remember that in the late 1900s the ‘no poach’ agreement still existed between top City firms – as with much else, the arrival & growth of the US firms in London shattered that - see my article from October 2000 in Legal Week: https://www.law.com/international-edition/2000/10/13/testing-times-for-the-recruitment-business/

*[the Dolly the Sheep advert for a magic circle firm we had run, in association with a creative design agency in the late 1990s was seen as pushing the boundaries!]

3. I remained sceptical initially - my then partner (above) involved in media, had to fight to even persuade me to run photos in the legal mag. ads we ran etc. & some in the market thought it was too much! But then as so often in the legal market, we slowly reacted as I saw that others (law firms and service providers) were increasingly using all forms of social media, so gradually started using some platforms, and now in this modern technological age am as addicted as everyone else (hence this and all other posts!).

4. With the rapid introduction of AI (we are yet to dabble!) and the inevitable changes this will bring not only to marketing and PR, but potentially fundamental changes to the fabric of law firms and how they operate, we look forward to seeing how technology evolves over the next decade or so (maybe even the next 21 years, if we are still around!)

5. These days, as we discuss strategy with law firm management in London, USA and across the UK, growth, expansion, amalgamations, acquisitions, mergers etc. are all seen as not only potentially desirable, but necessary to go forward – treading water and staying the same is not progress; with an ever changing and challenging world, all the technological advances and investment required – as Darwin apparently said: “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change”.

We are always happy to discuss how we can help (formally or otherwise), always confidentially. Please do contact us for a chat:

[email protected] - Mob: 07973 285423
[email protected] - Mob: 07818 420655

Andy Caulfield & Ian Holloway
Caulfield Search Caulfield Search - Headhunters www.caulfieldsearch.com

&A

23/07/2024

July 23, 2024
Why we set up Caulfield Search - Headhunters 21 years ago

1. Professionally – whilst never having any plans or aspirations to be entrepreneurs, SME owners etc., it gradually dawned having learned the legal recruitment and search market for a number of years working for others, there was no longer any sensible value in earning big fees for their benefit simply for a phone and desk in London (as many people realise in many careers – not all of course, but certainly in legal search/ recruitment - there comes a point where the brand name matters far less than your own abilities, connections and skills learned).

2. Personally – going through divorces focuses the mind! Financially obviously, but also ensuring proper time with young kids and avoiding being absentee Dads (my own, old family lawyer told me I was a modern Dad, as I refused to accept my ex-wife’s dinosaur barrister telling the court weekly/ fortnightly contact with my own young sons was perfectly acceptable, such utter nonsense! covered in the book Cory Y. Standby - The Independent Author Network - https://www.independentauthornetwork.com/cory-y-standby.html )

3. So the planets aligned, there was a confluence of professional and personal circumstances, and in summer 2003, almost on a whim without any detailed planning, to ensure I could attend my 4 young sons various sports days without awkward conversations with my then employer, and silly comments from younger childless colleagues - who know nothing of real life 😉 Caulfield Search was launched.

4. It was a steep learning curve, the accounting & admin. side still is a pain in the whatsit, but you learn and obviously as the fees come in, survive and even thrive! Then of course we have gone through the global financial crash, Brexit, Covid, cost of living crisis, Truss budget and all sorts of unimaginable external factors, but we are still here! Along the way, there have also been some legal issues with occasional recalcitrant clients and even internal bust ups, but as an ex-HS litigator, I was trained to deal with such matters head-on!! (detail in 50!: THE LIFE, LOVES & PSYCHE OF A MALE MID-LIFE CRISIS: Volume 1 - The Journey https://www.amazon.co.uk/50-PSYCHE-MID-LIFE.../dp/1499095880 )

5. So the reality is that for the past 21 years, we have worked flexibly, long before the pandemic made it more-widely acceptable. We realised a long time ago that people work better with a balanced life, having time to see kids’ sports days and other necessary family/ personal time, then making up work time as required. We live or die by the fees we generate, which acts as a huge motivator & of course given the senior-level, big deals we focus on there are peaks and troughs.

6. We have worked in big recruiters where the call-centre culture demanded people be at their desks for set hours (9am-6pm), but outside this no one did anything! This is not the way the legal market works, and indeed you have to be out and about meeting, networking, making contact regularly. So we are naturally huge supporters (and indeed pioneers) of agile working arrangements, and will always support lawyers wishing to work at firms adopting these sensible models. Equally, we understand some prefer greater office/ desk time, and there is clearly room for both, as long as people have a choice (even if that means changing law firm).

We are always happy to discuss how we can help (formally or otherwise), always confidentially. Please do contact us for a chat:

[email protected] - Mob: 07973 285423
[email protected] - Mob: 07818 420655

Andy Caulfield & Ian Holloway
Caulfield Search - Headhunters Caulfield Search www.caulfieldsearch.com

23/07/2024

July 23, 2024
Why we set up Caulfield Search - Headhunters 21 years ago

1. Professionally – whilst never having any plans or aspirations to be entrepreneurs, SME owners etc., it gradually dawned having learned the legal recruitment and search market for a number of years working for others, there was no longer any sensible value in earning big fees for their benefit simply for a phone and desk in London (as many people realise in many careers – not all of course, but certainly in legal search/ recruitment - there comes a point where the brand name matters far less than your own abilities, connections and skills learned).

2. Personally – going through divorces focuses the mind! Financially obviously, but also ensuring proper time with young kids and avoiding being absentee Dads (my own, old family lawyer told me I was a modern Dad, as I refused to accept my ex-wife’s dinosaur barrister telling the court weekly/ fortnightly contact with my own young sons was perfectly acceptable, such utter nonsense! covered in the book Cory Y. Standby - The Independent Author Network - https://www.independentauthornetwork.com/cory-y-standby.html )

3. So the planets aligned, there was a confluence of professional and personal circumstances, and in summer 2003, almost on a whim without any detailed planning, to ensure I could attend my 4 young sons various sports days without awkward conversations with my then employer, and silly comments from younger childless colleagues - who know nothing of real life ;) Caulfield Search was launched.

4. It was a steep learning curve, the accounting & admin. side still is a pain in the whatsit, but you learn and obviously as the fees come in, survive and even thrive! Then of course we have gone through the global financial crash, Brexit, Covid, cost of living crisis, Truss budget and all sorts of unimaginable external factors, but we are still here! Along the way, there have also been some legal issues with occasional recalcitrant clients and even internal bust ups, but as an ex-HS litigator, I was trained to deal with such matters head-on!! (detail in 50!: THE LIFE, LOVES & PSYCHE OF A MALE MID-LIFE CRISIS: Volume 1 - The Journey https://www.amazon.co.uk/50-PSYCHE-MID-LIFE-CRISIS-Journey/dp/1499095880 )

5. So the reality is that for the past 21 years, we have worked flexibly, long before the pandemic made it more-widely acceptable. We realised a long time ago that people work better with a balanced life, having time to see kids’ sports days and other necessary family/ personal time, then making up work time as required. We live or die by the fees we generate, which acts as a huge motivator & of course given the senior-level, big deals we focus on there are peaks and troughs.

6. We have worked in big recruiters where the call-centre culture demanded people be at their desks for set hours (9am-6pm), but outside this no one did anything! This is not the way the legal market works, and indeed you have to be out and about meeting, networking, making contact regularly. So we are naturally huge supporters (and indeed pioneers) of agile working arrangements, and will always support lawyers wishing to work at firms adopting these sensible models. Equally, we understand some prefer greater office/ desk time, and there is clearly room for both, as long as people have a choice (even if that means changing law firm).

We are always happy to discuss how we can help (formally or otherwise), always confidentially. Please do contact us for a chat:

[email protected] - Mob: 07973 285423
[email protected] - Mob: 07818 420655

Andy Caulfield & Ian Holloway
Caulfield Search Caulfield Search - Headhunters www.caulfieldsearch.com

This is the story of life. It is about love and relationships; about the importance of family; about how real life and human emotions invariably mess each of these up. It looks at death, divorce and dating; losing loved ones; family feuds and other intertwined issues; grief and stress and how we ...

15/07/2024

15th July 2024 update - pretty accurate so far.....
(let's see if we as accurate in second half of year)
======================================
Caulfield Search 2024 Overview Predictions
A. Wider issues:

UK: General Election in 2024 (unlikely to wait until Jan 2025; split views on May or Oct), it feels in some ways like 1997 again (albeit without the same spirit of optimism) so predicted Labour election victory;

US: Trump (regardless of ongoing trials) wins Republican nomination, and Democrats narrowly win November election;
Sadly global conflicts continue, as does the need for greater action on the effects of climate change;

Man City win the Premier League; much as we would love England to win Euros & T20 World Cup, suspect we will just fall short, but GB will do well again at Paris Olympics. Nadal & Murray retire at year end.

B. Legal Market:

Law firm mergers pick up as need/ desire for consolidation (domestically & internationally) acts as catalyst for ongoing talks (for all the reasons previously highlighted, including some listed below);

Lateral hires in core areas continue as partners/ teams seek strategically-focused firms to deliver their practices with a stronger platform; Challenger/ consultancy firms continue to grow as partners appreciate the flexibility offered;

Retiring senior & managing partners still want strategic roles helping others with growth & expansion plans; There is a new landscape for litigation funding; Greater acceptance of alternative legal fees/ Is the billable hour dead?; The continued expansion of & investment in legal tech; Ongoing regional expansion and heightened competition for work; Managing the stagnation in revenue versus increasing costs (thus generally lower profitability).
We hope to be proved right as the year progresses, and will provide a year-end update to review how accurate we were (or were not, as the case may be)!

If you wish to discuss these or any other matters with us, please do get in touch: Andrew Caulfield & Ian Holloway – Caulfield Search
[email protected] - Mob: 07973 285423 [email protected] - Mob: 07818 420655
--------------------
FYI here are a selection of (some of) our 2023 commentaries (other posts are available): Dec: https://lnkd.in/eVUiXcXS Nov: https://lnkd.in/ee3r-yPf Oct: https://lnkd.in/ej6jJX2Z Sept: https://lnkd.in/emPqzPHC Aug: https://lnkd.in/ek-NwcHS July: https://lnkd.in/e4pNuemG

04/07/2024

Caulfield Search - Headhunters update:
What we have learned: our lives in the law
(rapidly approaching 40 years!!)

July 4, 2024

What we have learned: our lives in the law
(rapidly approaching 40 years!!)

We both turn 60 next year; I know hard to believe looking at us ;) so between all our summer sports viewing & keeping work ticking over too, here’s one of the start of no doubt various reflections from us since we arrived in the City as fresh faced ingénues way back in 1989.

We met as Law undergrads at Leeds Uni. in 1985 (just after Keir). After Law School (LSF), Andy joined Herbert Smith as he liked the look of LA Law, Rumpole of the Bailey and various other litigation based TV concepts; Ian went to the newly merged Clifford Chance to join their innovative finance lawyers (between his proof reading many of Maggie’s privatisation prospectuses). We have many tales from those blissful 2 years training contracts (as had just been renamed the traditional Articled Clerkships) for another day. We recall a very senior partner saying as we gathered to be congratulated on qualifying, that our fun was over and now the hard work really began! And all for a paltry £20 odd K as NQs in 1991 – how the world has changed!!

There were already those from those early years destined for partnership (‘Articled Partners’ as they were known) who scraped and fawned as they clambered their way up the greasy pole from day one.

The rest of us maintained a degree of work/ life balance, particularly enjoying the social side of the firms. There were transgressions which are way too salacious for here (maybe the next book?). We both moved on to try something different (other firms and in house), before ending up in recruitment (respectively) 20-30 years ago, using and increasing our legal market knowledge daily to reach the point we now are, advising law firms on their strategies and lawyers on their careers, across all practice areas, particularly moving partners & teams, and advising on bolt ons, acquisitions and merger introductions.

We are always happy to discuss how we can help (formally or otherwise), always confidentially.
Please do contact us for a chat:

[email protected] - Mob: 07973 285423
[email protected] - Mob: 07818 420655

Andy Caulfield & Ian Holloway

Caulfield Search Caulfield Search - Headhunters www.caulfieldsearch.com

04/07/2024

https://spotlight.leeds.ac.uk/leeds-magazine-2024/big-interviews/keir-starmer/index.html

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer talks exclusively about how Leeds changed his life

11/06/2024

Caulfield Search Caulfield Search - Headhunters
- Summer Lateral Shopping List (June 2024):

Some highlights we are currently working on/ searching for an array of firms.

Partners & teams in:

1. Disputes Resolution, Commercial Litigation, International Arbitration and more focused Lit. - Tech and other focused sectors.

2. Tech, IP, Lifesciences partners & teams required by market leading US firms to bolster growing London practices.

3. Discrete areas of Finance in areas such as special situations/ structures, private credit, Projects & related finance, plus other growing ‘niche’ practices.

Small firms, London offices or teams for bolt ons:

4. In all the above areas for existing London firms / US offices / growing regional practices.

5. Growing regional firms wishing to add & grow London practices in areas such as Real Estate, Employment, Private Client, Family, Sports, Retail, Healthcare, Hotels & Leisure etc.

6. Also, smaller firms looking for similar practices for merger & amalgamation across the spectrum.

Please reach out of you wish to discuss any matters (in confidence):

[email protected] - Mob: 07973 285423
[email protected] - Mob: 07818 420655

Andy Caulfield & Ian Holloway
Caulfield Search - Headhunters Caulfield Search
www.caulfieldsearch.com

05/06/2024

Caulfield Search - Headhunters Caulfield Search
Summer Summary 2024:

1. Good to see our rain-affected build up to cricket ……
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/andrewcaulfield_leeds-trip-conclusion-as-predicted-cricket-activity-7199445253244805120-jmG-?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop ….is standing us in good stead in rainy Barbados (so glad we went in Dec instead)!
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/andrewcaulfield_mens-t20-world-cup-2024-teams-format-venues-activity-7202925020321300480-GHVl?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

2. Plenty else to watch this summer - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/andrewcaulfield_t20worldcup2024-euros2024-activity-7201945669807345665-s1ea?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

- https://www.linkedin.com/posts/andrewcaulfield_bbc-two-laura-kuenssberg-state-of-chaos-activity-7202404282367639552-NqhB?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop &

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/andrewcaulfield_england-ge2024-timeforchange-activity-7200862719548235776-08ps?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop
With , Paris Olympics etc. to come as the summer progresses

3. Can people enjoy all this as part of the enlightened world which developed post-pandemic, but some are fighting back against now? - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/andrew-caulfield-3a349a127_tribunal-cases-to-rise-as-uk-firms-push-back-activity-7203766204694495232-1Y6q?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

4. Wil people get much-needed breaks to rest & recuperate, or do issues such as: (a) ever spiralling NQ pay rises militate against any down time - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/andrewcaulfield_is-there-a-maximum-number-in-this-salary-activity-7201117196935196672-JmvU?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

(b) the growing redistribution of partner profits & pay to reward higher-flyers (and reduce for others) https://www.linkedin.com/posts/andrewcaulfield_its-not-just-the-spread-big-law-is-making-activity-7203687548102029312-u5lk?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop &
(c) more generally, what are the longer-term effects in a tougher economic environment? https://www.linkedin.com/posts/andrewcaulfield_uk-top-50-firms-see-cash-balances-plummet-activity-7201912944341733377-qFHP?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

5. Which obviously ties in massively to growing awareness of issues, duty of care owed by businesses etc. - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/andrewcaulfield_there-is-always-somebody-that-will-listen-activity-7203696414546083840-kEWU?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

& https://www.linkedin.com/posts/andrewcaulfield_ripgrayson-bekind-activity-7201839371795251201--zSN?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

6. For perspective, recommend people very powerful piece about Rob Burrow who sadly left us this week after his battle with MND –https://www.linkedin.com/posts/andrewcaulfield_theres-only-one-rob-burrow-activity-7203688272319893505-spSa?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

& read this headline comment from someone who knew his time was cruelly being robbed from him - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/andrew-caulfield-3a349a127_httpslnkdineg2ciseb-activity-7203702377982427137-G909?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

7. As much as the world, markets and so much else changes, fundamentally law (like politics) broadly remains the same - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/andrewcaulfield_plus-ca-change-some-nostalgia-extra-activity-7194958533484781568-O2c_?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop &
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/andrew-caulfield-3a349a127_everyone-everywhere-all-at-once-caulfield-activity-7201149121993261056--W49?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

8. And finally, some suggested summer reading - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/andrewcaulfield_50-the-life-loves-psyche-of-a-male-mid-life-activity-7177721952978010112-KegE?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

& https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/caulfield-search-monthly-views-7098629988026834944/

Please reach out of you wish to discuss any matters (in confidence):
[email protected] - Mob: 07973 285423
[email protected] - Mob: 07818 420655
Andy Caulfield & Ian Holloway
Caulfield Search - Headhunters Caulfield Search
www.caulfieldsearch.com

09/05/2024

Plus ca change….. (some nostalgia)
Caulfield Search - Headhunters

We recently came across an old document with links to some historical articles we have written over the years. Having now been in legal recruitment / search for approaching 30 years, it is clear that despite market evolutions, shifts in focus, law firm growth and an ever changing world, in dealing with senior lawyers and their careers, hiring, team moves and mergers, this remains a universal truth (in law as in politics) : plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose…..

1. The prize – is team recruitment all it’s cracked up to be? [3 June 2015 - Legal Business]

Caulfield Search founder Andy Caulfield, who handled the move of SJ Berwin real estate star David Ryland to Paul Hastings in 2013 with a team of associates, argues hiring firms should have a set of core criteria in place. ‘It works if they’re properly cohesive at their current firm, if the team is not too big and unwieldy, and there is an obvious lead partner. Also, firms all want rainmakers who are self-sufficient but aren’t so egotistical that culturally they can’t fit in. It sounds straightforward but there are many different characters in the legal market.’ https://www.legalbusiness.co.uk/analysis/the-prize-is-team-recruitment-all-its-cracked-up-to-be/

2. Lock down – the impact of the downturn on the recruitment market [May 23, 2013]

Partnership used to be for life as a general rule – barring exceptional circumstances. This meant that any moves between law firms in a partner's career were the exception, rather than the rule. And then the world changed. The impact on major and mid-tier law firms, and by implication the outlook of their top talent, has been significant and has continued to shift in response to a range of macro and micro situational indicators. Over the past 25 years, there have been many contributory macro-economic, corporate and political factors to contend with: a technological revolution; the huge expansion of law firms into global businesses; the advent of the US firms' threat to City firms from the late 1990s onwards; and most recently, the global credit crunch. https://www.law.com/international-edition/2013/05/23/lock-down-the-impact-of-the-downturn-on-the-recruitment-market/

3. Testing times for the recruitment business [Legal Week - October 13, 2000]

Over the past few years, the occasional article has been published discussing the advent of head-hunting in London’s legal marketplace. The general themes of such articles have been the argument that London lags behind New York (where head-hunting is endemic), the growing awareness among London firms of the need for a more proactive recruitment solution and the ‘battle’ for market share between the ‘passive’ file-search agencies and the new breed of more ‘aggressive’ head-hunters. There is little purpose in dwelling on such tired cliches. There can be no doubt that London law firms have fully embraced the concept of head-hunting. There are very few firms remaining that have not crossed the perceived ‘great divide’ and retained head-hunters to fill key vacancies on a proactive basis. https://www.law.com/international-edition/2000/10/13/testing-times-for-the-recruitment-business/

If you are a partner/ team (in any area); a practice looking for bolt on; or firm considering merger; please do get in touch for a confidential discussion on any matter:

[email protected] - Mob: 07973 285423
[email protected] - Mob: 07818 420655

Andy Caulfield & Ian Holloway
Caulfield Search - Headhunters Caulfield Search
www.caulfieldsearch.com
Please also see our monthly Newsletters & various other posts; commentary for a wider feel of our market views; roles and clients we are working with; needs for partners/teams/ bolt ons & acquisitions; mergers – advice & introductions; and a whole array of other issues we post about!

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/caulfield-search-may-update-business-plans-followings-onccc/?trackingId=epnWGo%2Fh%2BnI2OQcrwCVhLg%3D%3D

25/04/2024

Andy Caulfield and Ian Holloway became friends as Law Undergraduates at Leeds University where they both studied for their LLB (Hons) Law degrees from 1985- 88. After their College of Law year, passing the Law Society Finals, they both entered the City.

Ian Holloway trained and qualified as a lawyer at Clifford Chance (1989-94) where he worked on a wide variety of banking, finance and capital markets transactions before he moved in-house to join the Legal Department of Swiss Bank Corporation (1994-96). At Swiss Bank, Ian advised on finance and capital markets in the Legal Department. Ian then joined Nikko Europe (1996-98) to head up their legal team before moving, with his team, to Citigroup (1999-2005) where he worked in the General Counsel’s Office as a Director advising on a wide variety of capital markets transactions.

Andy trained and qualified as a lawyer at Herbert Smith (1989-93) where he worked on general commercial and insurance litigation matters. He moved to help expand a leading regional firm (Pitmans: 1993-95) litigation team (along with hires from Slaughters & CC), before joining Clyde &Co (1995/96) working between their Guildford & City bases. Andrew moved into legal recruitment in late 1996 with market-leader, ZMB, working closely with Macrae & Brenner, before moving into legal search/ headhunting in late 1999 (working for James Caan & others). He decided to go solo and set up Caulfield Search - Headhunters in June 2003 -www.caulfieldsearch.com

Caulfield Search has, for over two decades, successfully completed a range of merger/ bolt on introductions & partner searches across the spectrum of practice areas, as well as Counsel and senior associate level work (primarily for in house clients). Particular highlights include a whole office move from one US firm to another (£458K capped fee); identifying parties for medium-sized UK law firm merger (creating a Top 60 law firm); boutiques into larger firms & numerous other prospective merger introductions too; IT/Outsourcing/Tech team moves; plus Energy; Finance; Restructuring; Corporate & PE; Real Estate; Litigation/ White Collar Crime; Media, Sport; Tax & Pensions partners/teams to leading US & select UK firms too.

Ian entered the world of legal recruitment when he joined Caulfield Search as a partner in 2005. Ian has worked on numerous retained searches for both US and UK law firms; as well as for investment banks and private banks; handling partner, counsel and associate level searches in practice areas including Capital Markets, Derivatives, Securitisation, Banking, Corporate, Real Estate, Real Estate Finance, Restructuring and Tax. Ian joined Adecco’s professional services brand, Badenoch & Clark in 2011 where he managed the teams placing lawyers into law firms and financial institutions as well as continuing to place lawyers at all seniority levels himself. He holds the record for the highest individual fee in Badenoch & Clark’s history ($300K fee).

Ian and Andrew continued to work together & jointly helped to launch Adecco’s senior B&C Executive brand in 2013. Ian is now working with Andrew once again at Caulfield Search - Headhunters, bringing their collective 60+ years’ City experience to the legal market: www.caulfieldsearch.com

Please do get in touch for a confidential discussion on any matter:
[email protected] - Mob: 07973 285423
[email protected] - Mob: 07818 420655