Legal
The legal team at Pure provides a search and selection service to a broad range of multi-national clients within the private practice, financial services, commerce and industry and not for profit sectors.
Our consultants work in small teams where they are able to focus on their clients’ needs and requirements and therefore provide an exceptional level of service and success rates on assignments.
Private Practice
We have particular expertise in a number of areas, specifically: Trade and Commodities, Tax and Tax Litigation, Restructuring and Insolvency, and Energy, where we hold unrivalled market knowledge.
In-house
Our consultants are sector specialists and focus on placing mid to senior level lawyers in FTSE-listed businesses as well as mid-cap companies and SMEs. They have established networks developed within each of their specialist sectors. As such, they are entrenched in their markets and able to offer a bespoke service.
International
We have capability throughout Europe and the Middle East from our London office and in 2008 we opened an office in Hong Kong that provides a search service to private practice clients throughout the Asia Pac region.
Our specialist teams are able to provide in-depth market knowledge on their markets and have a first class record in completing challenging assignments on behalf of their clients.
We advertise opportunities through targeted third party websites. Please visit Totally Legal for a comprehensive list of our current opportunities.
Examples of completed assignments
| In-house | |
| General Counsel | Integrated Oil Company |
| Legal Director | Global Consumer Goods Company |
| Legal Counsel & Company Secretary | Fitness Club Chain |
| Professional Services | |
| Corporate Tax Partner | Big 4 Accountancy Firm |
| Team Move: Private Client and Trusts Team | Legal arm of a Big 4 Accountancy Firm |
| Law Firms | |
| Team Move: Senior Corporate Tax Partner and Corporate Tax Partner Designate | Leading UK City Firm |
| Partner - European Restructuring Group | Leading US Law Firm |
| Senior Associate - Restructuring & Insolvency | Magic Circle Law Firm |
| Energy Trading | |
| General Counsel | Oil Major |
| Energy Trading Counsel | Commodities Trading House |
| Carbon Trading Counsel | Bulge Bracket Investment Bank |
| Interim | |
| Interim Legal Director | Telecommunications Giant |
| Associate Counsel - Funds | Asset Manager |
| Interim Legal Counsel | Pharmaceuticals Company |
Our people
In-house - UK
Christopher
Hurst
London office
Christopher operates within the in-house legal sector. He specialises in placing mid-level to General Counsel level lawyers on a permanent basis to a range of FTSE-listed business, multinationals and SMEs. Christopher has established a strong reputation of building and shaping existing and new legal functions and helping to generate value from bringing legal in-house for the first time.
Having spent nine years in recruitment with a global legal company and a boutique legal search firm, Christopher joined Pure as an Associate Director in the legal division.
Christopher graduated with a 2.1 from Southampton.
He is an enthusiastic rugby player but has a keen interest in Arsenal FC. He loves spending time with his wife and young daughter.
Karen
Glass
London office
Karen specialises in placing lawyers from mid-level to General Counsel level on a permanent basis into a range of financial services clients, including retail and investment banks, insurance companies and professional services organisations.
She initially qualified as a lawyer at CMS Cameron McKenna and practised as a projects lawyer before moving to Speechly Bircham LLP as a commercial lawyer. She then decided to move into legal recruitment and joined a global recruitment company, where she placed lawyers of all levels into FTSE350 companies.
Jonathan
Wylie
London office
Jonathan is a consultant within the in-house legal team at Pure Search, who specialise in the placement of mid-level to General Counsel-level lawyers into a range of commerce and industry and financial services clients. Jonathan is often the first point of contact for candidates in our network.
Jonathan joined Pure in 2010 after having previously trained at the Bar and graduating in Law and Government from the University of Ulster.
Jonathan is a keen runner with an enthusiasm for watching rugby and football. To relax he enjoys the theatre, live music and travel.
Celene
Yon
London office
Celene specialises in placing lawyers at all levels, with a particular focus on mid to senior level appointments, on a permanent basis across the financial services sector. Celene is a qualified lawyer, graduating from Newcastle University and the College of Law London prior to joining a leading global recruitment company in 2006. She then moved to a boutique legal search firm to build up their legal financial services desk, before joining Pure as an Associate Director.
Celene has an expansive candidate network. Over the years she has worked with a broad range of financial services clients from investment/corporate/retail banks, asset management houses, hedge funds, private banks/wealth managers, custody houses, exchanges, clearing houses, brokerages, trading platforms, derivatives trading and spreadbetting companies.
In her spare time Celene enjoys doing yoga, running, eating out with friends and travelling.
Matthew
Bennett
London office
Matthew operates within the financial services sector specialising in placing lawyers across all levels. Matthew has 4 years experience in the sector and has delivered on appointments at Executive and General Counsel level within Investment Banks and through the asset management space.
Having qualified as a lawyer with a leading US firm he joined a leading international recruiter where he was successfully promoted to head the in house legal desk placing lawyers into financial services in London. Matthew has successfully completed a number of searches for General Counsel and is experienced at taking clients through the process if this is their first and sole General Counsel.
Matthew graduated in Business and Finance from Loughborough University before completing a law degree at Nottingham Law School. Matthew qualified as a lawyer in 2009.
Matthew is a former cricketer who now enjoys playing club cricket and hockey when he isn’t renovating his house!
Lucinda
Youtan
London office
Lucinda is a Consultant specialising in recruiting qualified lawyers at all levels into Commerce and Industry and has a particular interest in the FMCG, Media, Technology and Telecommunications and Retail sectors.
Prior to joining Pure Search, Lucinda worked as a lawyer in a Legal 500 firm in the city and continues to draw upon her network of contacts from this experience.
Victoria
Moore
London office
Victoria operates within the in-house legal sector. She specialises in placing mid-level to General Counsel lawyers on a permanent and interim basis to a range of FTSE-listed business, multinationals and SMEs. Victoria qualified as a lawyer and worked in an international law firm for several years before moving into a regional boutique legal recruitment firm to develop their in-house recruitment offering.
Victoria graduated with an MA (hons) from the University of Aberdeen in Economic Science and International Relations and a PGDL and LPC from the College of Law, Chester.
Victoria joined Pure as an Executive Consultant and will assist clients in London, the regions and EMEA. Victoria has extensive experience of assisting clients across the Energy, Retail & FMCG, Technology, Media & Telecommunications, Real Estate & Construction, Industry, Pharmaceuticals, Business Services, Professional Services and Financial Services sectors and has an extensive candidate network in these sectors.
Outside the office Victoria enjoys Skiing, Cycling (recently completed London to Paris bike ride), keep fit and reading.
Energy Trading & Commodities
David
Hurrell
London office
David works with banks, law firms and corporates in the Energy, Trade and Commodities sector. He focuses on search and selection mandates for senior and mid level lawyers and compliance professionals. He has recently completed a number of high level retained searches including a General Counsel and Global Head of Compliance for two commodities trading houses.
His sector focus gives him complete coverage of this market and enables him to have a thorough understanding of both the businesses and individuals within it.
David joined Pure from another leading global recruitment business.
He studied History at University College London and successfully completed the GDL and LPC. Rather than taking up his training contract David decided to pursue a career in legal recruitment. David’s interests include following Gloucester Rugby Club, most music genres and fine food and wine. Gradually eating his way round the capital’s excellent restaurants means the gym necessarily features too!
Oliver
Cook
London office
Oliver works with top 30 UK law firms and top 15 US law firms focussing on both senior associate and partner placements within the Energy, Trade and Commodities sectors. Prior to joining Pure, Oliver moved people successfully into both UK and US law firms. His specific sector focus gives Oliver a thorough understanding of the market and the leading individuals within it.
Oliver joined Pure from a boutique search firm where he conducted work for predominantly partner level appointments.
He studied at Kingston University and completed his undergraduate studies in Business Management.
Outside of work Oliver is a keen golfer with a strong interest in most sports, particularly football. He also enjoys eating out and travelling.
Restructuring & Insolvency
Tim
Jones
London office
Tim leads our Debt Finance and Restructuring Practice and focuses on search assignments for mid level and senior appointments within Leveraged Finance, Debt Advisory and Private Equity. He has successfully complete searches for roles in Origination & Execution teams, Structuring, Syndications, Portfolio Management, Sponsor Coverage and Credit.
He joined Pure in 2006 to develop our offering in this area and also has extensive experience of recruiting at senior levels within Financial & Operational Restructuring, Business Support & Workout and Distressed Private Equity.
Tim graduated in Economics and Business Studies from Sheffield University.
Tim has a passion for travel and has visited over 35 countries. Prior to joining Pure, Tim took a 12 month sabbatical and travelled extensively in South America, Australasia and Japan.
Private Practice - EMEA
Hilary operates in the London market, where she focuses on placing Partners and Associates in a broad range of law firm clients.
A graduate of Hull University, she trained as a solicitor with a City practice, before moving into legal recruitment. With over 20 years experience, she has worked in London and Asia, with clients ranging from leading City firms to niche practices. She has been involved with senior appointments, lateral hires and recruitment issues across a range of specialisations.
When not providing an unpaid taxi service for her teenage boys, Hilary’s interests include travel, tennis and time for a good book.
Private Practice - Asia Pacific
Chris
Nelson
London office
Chris is the co-founder of the Pure Group. He has a leading reputation in tax and front office banking search. He has been responsible for some of the highest profile and most senior moves in the last decade in these disciplines. Specifically, Chris handles partner and team moves in the profession and director level assignments in commerce and banking.
Chris spent his early career with Arthur Andersen as a tax consultant in their London office after reading Law at Leeds University.
Chris’s interests include golf and marathon running, though seldom at the same time.
Roz
Etkind
Hong Kong office
Roz leads the Asia Legal Private Practice business from our Hong Kong office.
Providing comprehensive search and advised recruitment solutions to the top Legal Firms in the region, Roz has developed a loyal following of clients.
Through strategic solutions such as Team or Senior Partner moves, or market mapping and profiling from Associate through to Partner, Roz and her team provide whole market solutions.
A keen traveller, Roz enjoys learning about the rich culture and history of the region.
Andrew
Wallace
Hong Kong office
Andrew is Co-Head of our Asian legal business.
Prior to joining Pure, Andrew created a strong reputation in legal search and selection in both Hong Kong and Australia. In 2007 Andrew moved out to Hong Kong and worked for an international legal recruitment firm.
Andrew is a specialist in the private practice legal market, where he undertakes search and selection assignments. He has successfully placed Equity Partners, Counsels and Associates into Magic Circle, Offshore and top ranked US law firms.
Andrew graduated university with a Bachelor of Economics and a Bachelor of Laws.
Andrew enjoys travelling to new and exciting locations. He is a keen skier and tennis player, and has participated at national level for skiing.
Liam
Richardson
Hong Kong office
Liam leads the Asia Legal In-House business from our Hong Kong office. He specialises in the placement of lawyers from mid-level to APAC General Counsel into positions within the financial services and commerce and industry sectors. In Hong Kong since 2006, Liam has developed an extensive network of clients in Asia and has successfully completed assignments in a number of major Asian cities.
Having initially joined a global legal recruitment firm in London in 2004, Liam relocated to Hong Kong in early 2006 to assist with the growth of the firm’s in-house legal recruitment business across Asia.
Liam graduated in Law from the University of Leicester before going on to complete the LPC at the College of Law in London.
Liam is a keen traveller and is always looking to explore new destinations. He also plays rugby and is a keen golfer.
Jade
Crook
Hong Kong office
Jade operates within the Private Practice sector, specialising in the placement of Lawyers in the Asia Pacific region.
Before moving to Hong Kong, Jade gained several years of experience within a specialist legal search firm in London, placing associates at all levels.
She graduated from the University of Bristol with a Bachelor of Science Experimental Psychology degree.
Jade enjoys travelling, wakeboarding, skiing, and swimming.
Research
Vanessa
Anaman
London office
Vanessa joined Pure in 2007 as Head of Research. With over eight years experience in market mapping, candidate sourcing, headhunting, profiling and name generation, Vanessa has a strong track record of identifying both individuals and teams for strategic group hires.
She has worked in recruitment within the banking sector, where she covered both Front Office and legal projects. Vanessa also worked for a specialist external research agency.
Every mandate received by Pure Search would be fully supported by Vanessa and her research team.
Christina
Pippas
London office
Christina works within the in-house legal team at Pure Search. She specialises in candidate generation and management within the in-house market; focusing on lawyers looking to move in-house in the financial services sector: including investment and retail banks, asset management, and private equity houses and insurance companies
Christina also works closely with the Hong Kong office; sourcing candidates in the UK for roles in Asia.
Christina graduated with a 2:1 from Oxford University where she was also the senior social secretary of the Law Society. She has an LLB in Law from the College of Law and is fluent in three European Languages. She has had some work experience in the oil industry.
If you would like to know more about moving in house and hear of current opportunities available, please contact Christina for a confidential initial discussion.
Specialities
Market Mapping, Networking, Researching, Consulting, Headhunting,