Case Study: Regulatory & Energy Recruitment – Manchester and Cheshire
The Assignment: An Exceptionally Niche Search in a Competitive Market
Our client, a high-profile organisation based in Manchester and Cheshire, approached Think Legal with a specific and challenging requirement. They were seeking a qualified Solicitor to join as their first senior in-house counsel.
The brief was exceptionally niche: the ideal candidate needed to possess a potent blend of Commercial Litigation expertise, ideally experience within the Energy sector, and a strong grasp of Regulatory compliance. Beyond the technical legal skills, the candidate needed to demonstrate a specific set of values that aligned with the company’s unique internal culture.
The Challenge: Picking up the Pieces
When Think Legal was instructed, the role had already been live for two months with another legal recruitment firm. The client felt the previous search lacked the necessary depth and breadth; they weren't seeing the calibre of candidates required for such a multifaceted role.
The "triple-threat" requirement of Litigation, Energy, and Regulation, situated in the North West, meant that the pool of active candidates was virtually non-existent. We weren't just looking for a lawyer; we were looking for a sector specialist who wasn't necessarily looking for a move.
The Think Legal Approach: Strategic Headhunting
Recognising that traditional advertising would not suffice for a role this specific, we built a bespoke search project from scratch. Our strategy shifted from reactive recruitment to proactive headhunting.
We mapped out the market across Manchester and Cheshire, specifically targeting individuals within the right sector and top-tier litigation departments. Our team meticulously identified and approached passive candidates who met the exact technical criteria, selling the unique long-term benefits of the client’s opportunity. On the plus side, candidates with this experience, outside of the more regular commercial contracts skillset, were genuinely pleased to hear from a recruiter about such an interesting opportunity to be sole and first legal counsel.
Managing a Rigorous Process
The client utilised a three-stage interview process with different teams in the business, designed to test both technical acumen and cultural fit. This required significant commitment from the candidates and precise coordination from our in-house legal recruitment team.
We acted as the bridge, managing expectations on both sides. We prepared our candidates for the intensity of the sessions and provided the client with detailed feedback after each stage, ensuring the momentum of the search stayed high despite the time-consuming nature of the process.
The Offer Stage: Navigating the Final Hurdle
The most delicate part of this assignment occurred during the offer stage. Having tracked the market closely, we advised the client on the current salary benchmarks for this level of niche expertise.
When the initial offer was extended at a level below the candidate's expectations, we utilised our role as a consultant to manage a strategy. By leveraging the trust we had built with the candidate and providing the client with clear evidence of the candidate’s market value, we successfully navigated two rounds of negotiations (and still kept the final offer within budget). An offer was secured that reflected the complexity of the role.
The Result
Despite the initial delays before our involvement and a complex negotiation phase, Think Legal successfully placed a specialist Solicitor who met every niche requirement.
By taking a proactive, search-led approach and providing honest, data-driven consultancy during the search and offer stages, we delivered a result where others had failed. I had serious concerns at the start of this process, however if you dive deep enough, even the most difficult "needle in a haystack" roles can be filled with the right methodology.
