Job Details

About Phaidon International

Established in London in 2004, Phaidon International was founded with the ambition to deliver talent solutions backed by deep industry expertise. Since then, we have consistently ranked among the fastest-growing recruitment firms globally and are currently the 10th largest direct-hire agency in the world.

We partner with a wide range of businesses - from Fortune 500 companies to venture-backed start-ups - to deliver the right talent for mission-critical roles. Operating through global hubs, our consultants offer localized knowledge combined with international reach, helping clients navigate regional complexities and achieve both immediate and long-term hiring goals.

About the Role

We are seeking a strategic, commercially astute, and highly experienced Head of Private Practice Legal Recruitment to lead and grow our private practice division. This role is ideal for a senior recruitment professional with deep market knowledge, strong leadership capabilities, and a proven track record of placing high-caliber legal talent into top-tier law firms.

Key Competencies

• Leadership & Strategy
• Develop and execute the strategic vision for the private practice recruitment division.
• Lead, mentor, and manage a team of legal recruitment consultants.
• Drive performance, set KPIs, and ensure delivery of revenue targets.
• Client Development & Relationship Management
• Build and maintain strong relationships with leading law firms, boutique practices, and legal teams.
• Act as a trusted advisor to clients on hiring trends, market intelligence, and talent strategy.
• Negotiate terms of business and manage key accounts.
• Candidate Engagement
• Oversee candidate sourcing, screening, and placement processes.
• Ensure a high-quality candidate experience and maintain a strong talent pipeline.
• Provide career guidance and market insights to senior legal professionals.
• Market Intelligence & Brand Building
• Stay abreast of legal market trends, salary benchmarks, and regulatory changes.
• Represent the firm at industry events, networking functions, and thought leadership forums.
• Collaborate with marketing to enhance brand visibility and thought leadership in the legal sector.

Requirements:

• Proven experience in legal recruitment, ideally with a focus on private practice.
• Strong network within the legal industry, particularly among law firms and senior legal professionals.
• Demonstrated success in leading teams and driving commercial outcomes.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
• Strategic mindset with the ability to identify growth opportunities and innovate.

Desirable Requirements:

• Background in law or legal practice.
• Experience working in a fast-paced, high-performance recruitment environment.
• Familiarity with CRM and recruitment platforms.

What We Offer

• Well-established database: built over 20 years with 24,000+ sets of terms signed.
• Immediate access to top-tier clients: Work with leading industry clients.
• Market experts: Specializing in senior-level placements with significant fee sizes, making a real impact.
• Best-in-class commission structure: Recently revamped, no split commission or rolling deficit – uncapped and paid monthly.
• PTO: 26 days of annual leave plus national holidays, winter holiday and a half-day off on your birthday.
• Benefits & Wellbeing: medical, dental, and optical insurance, along with access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), from your first day.