For Partners.
Your Next Move.
We specialise in supporting Partners and senior lawyers ready to step into partnership.
Whether you’re actively considering a move or simply interested in market insights, we provide discreet representation, strategic career advice, and deep market knowledge – all tailored to your long-term goals.
Who We Work With
We support senior lawyers at different stages of the partnership journey:
Established Partners
Many of those we assist are well-established at the Partner level. Often, there’s a desire for a new challenge – such as building a practice area from the ground up, or moving to a better-performing firm to more effectively leverage an existing client base. We regularly work with Partners drawn to firms offering something different: fresh leadership, a more collaborative culture, or a stronger platform for their clients.
Junior Partners
For recently promoted Partners, the initial momentum can sometimes give way to longer-term questions. We often speak with junior Partners – typically two to four years into the role – who are performing well but feeling uncertain about the future, particularly around equity, leadership opportunities, or firm culture. If you’re thinking ahead and reassessing your path, we can help you explore your options.
Prospective Partners
From time to time, we work with senior lawyers who have the experience, drive, and client relationships to take the step into partnership – but are held back by internal dynamics, lack of a clear promotion path, or shifting firm priorities. We help assess your readiness, clarify market expectations, and identify firms open to supporting your transition into partnership.
Our Approach
Tailored, Confidential Conversations
Every Partner has a unique story – and we take the time to understand yours. Our process begins with a confidential conversation about your goals, priorities, and what a successful move looks like for you. We offer honest, informed advice to help guide your thinking.
Strategic Positioning & Advocacy
We help you articulate your value in a way that resonates – including refining your business case and highlighting the strengths of your client relationships and broader practice. When it’s time to speak with firms, we represent you to the right people with professionalism and credibility.
Access to Opportunities That Fit
We work with a broad range of firms, so depending on your practice, it’s likely we’ll have options immediately worth exploring – including firms you may not have previously considered. Our recommendations are grounded in an understanding of your client synergies and commercial drivers, and focused on long-term alignment.
Support Through Every Stage
We’re well versed in the complexities of Partner moves. From initial scoping through to offer and integration, we support you at every stage – providing clarity, feedback, and a grounded, strategic perspective throughout the process.
Commonly Asked Questions by Partners
We understand that exploring a potential move at the Partner level often raises important questions. It’s essential to feel confident in who you choose to guide you through that process. To help with this, we’ve compiled a list of common questions Partners ask – along with our responses – to give you a clearer understanding of who we are and how we work.
Do you focus on any particular practice areas?
Our experience is broad and we assist Partners across all major commercial and government practice areas.
Do you focus on any particular industries?
Not specifically. Some of the firms we work with have strengths in particular industries and some briefs we work on involve firms looking for Partners with expertise in certain industries.
Do I always need a portable client base for a Partner role?
Generally, our client firms will want a portable client base though on rare occasions they may not. The requirement for a portable client base – and the level expected, if one is required – will depend on the specific firm, and this is something we’ll discuss with you as part of the process.
Do you offer support with business plans, including access to templates and assistance in assessing potential portable client bases?
Yes, we do. We spend a significant amount of time assisting Partners and prospective Partners with the development of their business plans. We provide a tailored business plan template that covers the key information our client firms are typically looking for. A detailed and well-considered business plan is a critical part of the process when engaging with prospective firms. Because preparing one can take time, getting started early not only provides clarity around your current practice and what’s likely portable, but also demonstrates that you’re organised, proactive, and genuinely invested in the opportunity – qualities that resonate well with firms when a business plan is requested.
What tend to be the backgrounds of the Partners you assist?
We typically engage with Partners from global, national, and leading city firms who have a portable client base. Partners from these environments tend to align well with – and are broadly representative of – the client firms we work with. From time to time, we also assist experienced Special Counsel with a portable client base who may have been overlooked for partnership in their current firm but are ready to step into a Partner role elsewhere.
When approaching firms to introduce Partners, who do you approach?
We generally speak to a firm’s leadership though it will depend on the particular client firm and who within the firm handles Partner level recruitment. For some firms, this will be the CEO, Managing Partner or similar, whilst for others there are other senior staff responsible for managing Partner-level introductions. We’ll discuss what information to present to a firm with you.
What are some of the most common motivations for Partners to move laterally?
We typically place Partners who are already performing well in their current roles. We know that introducing Partners while they are on an upward trajectory strengthens their position and appeal to prospective firms. We find that the Partners we assist are often interested in firms with a stronger market reputation and more competitive remuneration structures. In firms with a two-tier partnership model (salaried and equity), a clear and expedited path to equity can also be a compelling reason to move. We often see Partners energised by a firm’s strategic vision, whether within a particular practice area or at a broader firmwide level, or by the opportunity to build a practice from the ground up. While some moves may be prompted by push factors, such as dissatisfaction with firm leadership or culture, most of the placements we are involved with are driven by pull factors including strategic career growth, a better firm platform and more appealing long-term prospects.
How do you retain market knowledge across multiple markets?
We find that having a thorough and up-to-date understanding of the markets we operate in is essential. While we actively market-map, track Partner moves, and monitor media coverage of the Australian private practice market (often seeing moves reported that we had prior knowledge of), our most valuable insights come from regular conversations with our senior contacts in firms and with Partners directly. Beyond firm-level intelligence, a strong grasp of current and projected economic conditions helps us understand why certain practice areas – and the Partners within them – are busier than others. More importantly, this enables us to anticipate which areas are likely to see increased demand, allowing us to identify growth opportunities for the firms we partner with.
What is usually discussed in an initial call or catch-up call?
We’ll usually discuss the current state of the market and get a sense of how a Partner is tracking. This often includes a conversation about long-term goals, the nature of their practice, and, typically linked to that, remuneration. Depending on the discussion, we may highlight some potential options to help illustrate the opportunity cost of staying put. We find that this kind of insight can be valuable in helping Partners assess whether it’s worth seriously considering new opportunities.
I am quite interested in a move, though the timing isn’t ideal. Is it still worth a chat?
Yes, we’d absolutely suggest arming yourself with as much information about the market as possible. That way, when the time is right, you’ll already have a head start – and a clear sense of which firms to consider and potentially approach.
Getting the timing right is crucial for any move, but particularly so at the Partner level, where there’s often a lot riding on the successful transition of portable work. If we’ve already introduced a Partner to a firm and something has come up, we often find that, depending on the firm’s needs at the time, our client firms are quite open to revisiting the conversation down the track when the timing is better.
I’m not yet a Partner though have partnership aspirations over the next 12-18 months. Is it too early to have an initial chat?
It’s not too early at all. We speak with many Special Counsel (and occasionally Senior Associates) in this position, and we’d recommend starting the conversation at this point. Doing so can help guide a future move by giving you insight into what prospective firms look for at the Partner level – including what to highlight in your business plan. You may be surprised by the level of portable work you potentially have, and it’s possible that you may be able to make the transition to a Partner role sooner than you expect. Since timing is crucial, getting in early and opening the conversation is a smart move.
Should I speak to multiple search firms or should I pick one?
At the Partner level, we’d generally recommend choosing one highly competent search firm to assist you. Ideally, look for someone at that search firm with a strong track record of placing Partners at your level, who is well connected and active within the types of firms you’re targeting, and who possesses strong local market knowledge. It’s important they take the time and have the ability to thoroughly understand your practice, ensuring you’re effectively presented to prospective firms. We appreciate that law firm Partners are busy professionals, so you want someone who values your time, earns your trust, understands the Partner placement process, and can skilfully navigate any challenges that arise along the way.
Do you accept word-of-mouth referrals?
Yes, we’re always happy to speak with word-of-mouth referrals, many of which come from Partners we’ve previously placed. Even if we’re not able to assist directly with specific opportunities – which can happen for various reasons – we’re always willing to offer general guidance. For that reason, it’s always worthwhile to refer other lawyers to us for an initial conversation.
Why do you work with a selection of law firms?
We specialise in Partner placements and know we can’t work with everyone. By keeping our client list focused, we maintain a broad, diverse pool of potential Partners to approach while gaining a deep understanding of each client firm’s strengths. We never headhunt from those we represent, and our selectivity means our client firms are consistently appealing to the Partners we engage with – for reasons we’d be happy to share.
Do you assist Partners looking to relocate interstate?
Yes, we do. While interstate moves aren’t especially common, we understand that there are times when relocation makes sense for personal or professional reasons. Naturally, the portability of a client base for a Partner relocating interstate can vary depending on the nature of the practice.
Does the structure and leadership of a firm make any difference, or are all firms similar?
Yes, they do make a difference. Law firms obviously vary so it’s important to know some general characteristics of a particular firm as they can influence a range of things such as your progression, remuneration and workplace culture. We’ll discuss these general characteristics, including leadership, of any particular firm we consider with you.
I have contacts at several firms, so I’m not sure if I feel I need further assistance in terms of approaching firms. Should I just rely on those contacts?
This is a relatively common scenario. Having contacts can be very helpful for gaining inside information about a firm’s culture and their experience. However, we generally recommend engaging with a search firm like us that understands the lateral Partner placement process thoroughly. We add value for both Partners and prospective firms in multiple ways throughout the process, and we typically cover this in our initial call.
Will I be briefed on any interviews I have?
Yes, this is an important part of the process. We want to make sure you’re well prepared ahead of any interviews, ensuring you can articulate your value to a firm and be confident in addressing questions around your practice, client base and strategic fit.
Can I get any assistance when resigning?
Yes, we’ll guide you through the resignation process and advise on how best to manage it. We’ve placed Partners leaving firms after long tenures, where the emotional attachment can be significant. We know that firms can react in a number of ways when a Partner resigns and we’ll help you prepare for this when the time comes.
I have some questions about my employment contract and some possible client conflicts. Can I get any assistance with this?
Yes, questions about employment contracts and client conflicts are important. These matters are typically handled directly by our client firms. However, we can help guide you on how to approach these issues and connect you with the appropriate contacts at the firms when the time comes.
Do you discuss and provide feedback regarding remuneration, including salaried and equity Partner thresholds?
Yes, we do. We’re frequently discussing these topics with the Partners we engage with.
Should I move as an individual Partner or should I move as part of a team of Partners?
There are benefits to either option and the right approach will depend on your individual circumstances. It’s something we’d explore with you in detail, considering a range of factors including the nature of your practice, your client base, strategic goals, and how you work with others in your current team.
Most of my practice is panel-work related, so if I were to move, it would need to be to a firm that's on certain panels. Can you assist in that situation?
Yes, we have placed Partners whose practices depend on a firm having representation on particular panels. This is not an uncommon situation.
Do I pay for any assistance with my job search?
No, there’s no cost to you. Any assistance or advice we provide in terms of your job search is entirely free. We invoice our client firms based on placements.
What do you expect from the Partners you engage with?
We require open and honest communication throughout the process, as it enables us to effectively manage discussions with our client firms, and we understand this expectation is reciprocal. We also appreciate when Partners are clear on their goals – even if those goals evolve through the process. Moving at the Partner level can be a significant journey, often involving a range of emotions, and we’re here to help navigate that. Being responsive and invested in the process will always be valued by us, and any firm we’ve introduced you to.
Considering a Move? Let’s Talk.
Whether you’re considering your next move or simply curious about what’s happening in the market, we’d welcome the opportunity to have that conversation – discreetly, and with your long-term success in mind.
