The Advocates Opens Office In Houston
January 4, 2017 – Denver-based executive search firm The Advocates has opened a new office in Houston and named Miriam McHenry to lead the new location. “It’s the perfect time to plant roots in the Houston market,” said Marcus Ollig, president and founder. “We have been strategically assisting our clients in Houston for some time and have forged many wonderful relationships there.”
“Texas is much more than just energy – despite the oil and gas downturn, it enjoys a thriving economy and a vibrant, growing legal market,” Mr. Ollig continued. “Many elite national and international law firms remain interested in entering the Houston market. We are excited to finally be an official part of the Houston legal community. While exceptional Texas-based firms, as well as many large national and international law firms operating in Houston continue to thrive, it is a highly competitive market for legal talent.”
A Client Turns Search Firm Partner
Ms. McHenry, a former national law firm marketing and recruiting executive, has recruited and hired hundreds of attorneys across the country. She most recently worked for WilsherCo Inc. as a sales and marketing manager, and prior to that worked as the director of recruiting, professional development and marketing for Houston-based Burleson LLP, which shut down late last year.
“I first worked with The Advocates as a client a couple of years ago,” said Ms. McHenry. “I retained them to find a managing partner for my firm’s Denver office. It was a tough order to fill, but amazingly, and as promised, the first candidate they presented was a perfect fit. The firm was able to make the hire and get back to business three months earlier than we projected. I am proud to join The Advocates and couldn’t be more pleased to open the Houston office.”
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Mr. Ollig said that he also plans to eventually open a Houston office for The Advocates’ sister company, Targeted Legal Staffing Solutions, which provides temporary employees and support staff to corporate legal departments and law firms.
Mr. Ollig is a business veteran with over 25 years’ experience in both the public and private sectors. He developed The Advocates’ unique processes, designed to gain a deeper understanding of clients’ and candidates’ needs. He has consulted with law firm leaders on law firm management issues, consultative marketing techniques, associate retention, and interviewing practices.
The Advocates, founded in 2002, is involved in direct hire placement, general counsel or lateral partner moves, as well as a variety of other employment services, including layoffs, retention surveys and virtual services.
Legal Recruiting Booming
Legal recruiting generally has been booming this year. According to Hunt Scanlon Media, lawyers employed by government agencies are on the move — a direct result of President Obama’s second term nearing its end. Employment of lawyers is projected to grow 10 percent through 2022. Demand for legal work is expected to be robust as individuals, businesses, and all levels of government require legal services in the U.S. and internationally as global economies expand.
A general counsel, chief counsel or chief legal officer is the chief lawyer of a legal department, usually in a company or a governmental department. In a company, the person holding the position typically reports directly to the CEO, and their duties involve overseeing and identifying the legal issues in all departments and their interrelation, including engineering, design, marketing, sales, distribution, credit, finance, human resources, production, as well as corporate governance and business policy.
Contributed by Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor, Hunt Scanlon Media
