Calibrate Legal Strengthens Search Staff
June 7, 2019 – Legal recruiting continues to be a hot area for search firms. Lawyers employed by government agencies in particular have been on the move as a result of changes in government administrations, according to analysts at Hunt Scanlon Media. 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.
Just recently, Austin, TX-based management consulting and executive search firm Calibrate Legal expanded with the addition of Kathryn B. Whitaker as its director of recruiting and consulting strategy.
“Through both our management consulting and executive search business units, Calibrate Legal’s mission is to elevate the role of law firm marketing and business development professionals, and enable law firms to improve their business of law operations by giving them the tools and resources to succeed,” said Jennifer Johnson Scalzi, CEO of Calibrate Legal. “Kathryn is a law firm insider who has firsthand experience creating and implementing programs that empower marketing and business development professionals to drive top-line growth and enable revenue generation.”
“Thanks to her association leadership, she also has a deep professional network that spans North America, which will be a tremendous asset to Calibrate Legal’s recruiting and consulting functions,” said Ms. Johnson Scalzi.
Ms. Whitaker has 15 years of experience as a law firm marketing and business development professional, working at large and mid-sized firms. Most recently, she served as director of client relations at Burr & Forman LLP. During her career she has worked for a handful of law firms, including the McNair Law Firm; K&L Gates; Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey & Leonard; and Leatherwood Walker Todd & Mann. She is also actively involved in the Legal Marketing Association (LMA), and was a member of its international board of directors from 2015 to 2018. Ms. Whitaker also previously served as the organization’s Southeast region president.
Majority of Legal Departments Prefer In-House Talent
Special Counsel, a full-service provider of legal staffing, and eDiscovery solutions today released the results of its first In-House Legal Trends Survey, a comprehensive look at how in-house legal departments are structured, how they are hiring and what their priorities are for the year ahead.
“I passionately believe that law firms and their business services departments need to focus on doing the right things better,” Ms. Whitaker said. “High performing law firms recognize the importance of elevating their business service professionals, enabling them to become go-to resources within their firms as well as agents of change. Jennifer and the entire Calibrate Legal team share that vision, and I couldn’t be more excited to join the company.”
Legal Recruiters
Calibrate Legal is committed to helping law firms position themselves at the forefront of the next era of the legal industry by placing sophisticated talent, engaging firm leadership and building cultures driven by meaningful data.
Last year, Calibrate Legal added Susan Van Dyke as chief client officer. Her background includes over two decades of legal marketing and communications experience in-house, as a consultant and in the C-suite. Over the course of her career, Ms. Van Dyke has advised on and implemented international merger communications, conducted marketing audits, restructured marketing departments, implemented robust business development programs and beyond.
“In Susan, we’ve found a fellow advocate for our marketing/BD colleagues, and a seasoned peer advisor for our clients in the C-suite across North America,” said Ms. Scalzi. “She has a profound understanding of the business of running a law firm, and that is the voice our industry needs right now.”
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor; and Andrew W. Mitchell, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
