CarterBaldwin Assists The Federalist Society Recruit Second President and CEO
February 11, 2025 – CarterBaldwin Executive Search has assisted in the recruitment of Sheldon Gilbert as the second president and CEO of The Federalist Society, the influential U.S. conservative legal organization. The assignment was led by partner Andrea McDaniel Smith and associate partner Gerri Williams. He will succeed Eugene B. Meyer, who has served as executive director, CEO, and/or president of the organization for more than 40 years. “Sheldon is a superb choice to take over as President of the Federalist Society,” said co-chairman of the board of directors Steven Calabresi. “His boundless energy and enthusiasm and deep engagement with all segments of the legal community, including different strands of the conservative and libertarian legal movement, make him the right person to lead the Federalist Society at this time.”
“Sheldon is both a thinker and a doer,” said co-chairman of the board Leonard Leo. “His unmatched strategic sense, entrepreneurial mindset, leadership qualities, and vision make him uniquely qualified for leading the generational change the Society is poised to begin while preserving the Society’s core assets and commitments.”
“We are delighted to welcome Sheldon, who is joining the organization at a pivotal moment,” said Mr. Meyer. “He shares a deep commitment to our mission and purpose, to provide a forum for fair, serious, and open debate about the role of the courts in saying what the law is rather than what they wish it to be, and to the centrality of the rule of law in protecting individual freedom and traditional values. It’s been an honor to have served over many decades. I am grateful to my colleagues, our members and those who have supported this mission over the years.”
Mr. Gilbert previously served as Walmart’s senior lead counsel for strategic initiatives. Before that, he served as vice president for content and development and senior fellow for constitutional studies at the National Constitution Center, as director for the Institute for Justice’s Center for Judicial Engagement, and as associate chief counsel for litigation at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Litigation Center.
“The Federalist Society’s strength comes from our members, and I’m proud to work alongside them to promote the society’s founding principles and provide a thoughtful forum for discussion and debate,” said Gilbert. “It’s an honor to serve our members—including law school students and faculty, public servants in every branch of government, and private sector and non-profit lawyers—who tirelessly and fearlessly work to defend the Constitution, preserve freedom, and promote the rule of law.”
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Founded in 1982, the Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies is a group of conservatives and libertarians dedicated to reforming the current legal order. They are committed to the principles that the state exists to preserve freedom, that the separation of governmental powers is central to the Constitution, and that it is emphatically the province and duty of the judiciary to say what the law is, not what it should be.
Building Senior Leadership Teams
CarterBaldwin is a retained executive search firm that partners with its clients to build senior leadership teams. Since its inception in 2001 as a corporate firm, they have expanded its client portfolio to include the non-profit and academic sectors, serving both domestic and international clients from the firm’s headquarters in Atlanta, GA and our Washington, D.C. office. CarterBaldwin is listed among a variety of rankings published by Hunt Scanlon Media, including its Top 50, Private Equity Power 100, and Top 50 Higher Education Search Firms.
CarterBaldwin Recruits President for Langham Partnership USA
CarterBaldwin Executive Search has recently assisted in the recruitment of Carl Moeller as new president of Langham Partnership USA. “Carl Moeller will be a marvelous addition to Langham Partnership,” Joel Carpenter, LPUSA board chair, said. “He will bring an extraordinary range of experience in international Christian work and a servant’s heart to this role. We are grateful for his eagerness to join our team.” The ministry notes that Dr. Moeller has both a heart for and experience serving the global church that honors founder John Stott’s vision to raise the standard of biblical preaching around the world. He comes to Langham with decades of ministry experience and will succeed president Ben Homan, who will retire in December 2024 after more than 14 years of leading Langham.
Ms. McDaniel Smith directs CarterBaldwin’s office in Washington, D.C., and serves social sector clients including non-profit organizations, universities, foundations, and social enterprises. She joined CarterBaldwin in 2015 following more than 15 years of distinguished work in public service, and non-profit organizations. Ms. McDaniel Smith served in the White House Office of Presidential Personnel, advising George W. Bush on his appointments to government agencies.
Ms. Williams brings a combination of real-life experience, recruiting, and search management expertise to her work at CarterBaldwin. Since joining the firm, she has led higher education cabinet and global non-profit searches, partnering with key leaders, boards of directors, trustees, and search committees. Ms. Williams began her career as a K-12 school administrator before pivoting to higher education, where she served in leadership positions in program implementation, admissions, and financial aid at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Central Carolina Community College, North Carolina State University, Lamar University, Our Lady of the Lake University, and the University of Texas at San Antonio.
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Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
