HQ Recruits

HQ Recruits is a legal recruiting company that specialises in navigating the complex world of lateral moves within AmLaw 100 and 200 firms and boutique law firms, connecting top tier attorneys with premier law firms across the country. Its team of experienced recruiters says it understands both the particular demands of top tier legal talent and the changing needs of prestigious firms, and it provides tailored recruitment solutions for attorneys seeking their next step and for firms looking to add seasoned professionals. The company is fronted by its two recruiters, Nance and Vivian, who make the case that a lateral move is about more than finding a new job and requires aligning an attorney's skills, experience and career goals with the right firm. HQ Recruits states that it operates with the highest level of integrity and that every interaction is transparent, honest and respectful.

The specialisation is legal and specifically lateral. The company's job listings focus exclusively on lateral opportunities with top tier law firms, and matches are personalised to the attorney's goals, expertise and cultural fit, whether the move is into a new practice area or a step up in a new city. Around the placement itself HQ Recruits provides career coaching, salary negotiation guidance and insight into firm cultures, and its recruiters hold deep relationships with law firm leaders and decision makers, which it says gives candidates access to the most sought after and to exclusive roles. It then makes carefully selected introductions with the insight both sides need to decide, and facilitates salary and contract negotiations through to placement. Confidentiality runs through the whole process, from initial discussions to final negotiations.

HQ Recruits lists locations in Laguna Beach, Irvine and Newport Beach in California, with its Irvine address at Central Park West, and states that it works with law firms in various states. Beyond southern California the cities and states it names include San Diego and San Francisco, Denver, Dallas, Seattle, Chicago and Las Vegas. Candidates are asked to email a resume to either recruiter directly or to apply online, and can text or call the same number for both. The company also publishes guidance for each side of the market, including pieces on navigating the job hunt for candidates and on selecting the right candidate for employers, under the line discover, connect and elevate your journey.