Services
What we do
Executive search for people building careers and teams building capability. Permanent, temporary, and everything in between.
Candidates
Your next move, carefully handled
Lawyers, paralegals, legal ops and in-house counsel. We help you explore options without the noise.
Confidential career chats
Talk through timing, positioning and what good looks like for you. No obligation.
Role matching
Live and unadvertised opportunities that match your practice, level and values.
Interview & offer support
Prep, feedback and guidance through negotiation and resignation.
Speculative registration
Send your CV even when nothing live fits. Plenty of our best matches start that way.
Clients
Talent that lasts
Law firms, corporate legal teams and in-house departments. Partner with us when quality of fit matters more than speed alone.
Permanent search
Exclusive, retained or contingency search from associate through to partner and GC.
Contract & interim
Experienced cover for projects, leave, regulatory programmes and surge demand.
Market mapping
Quiet insight into available talent, competitor moves and realistic timelines.
Inclusive hiring support
Wider sourcing, structured shortlists and practical advice on process design.
Engagement types
Permanent, contract & interim
Pick the model that fits. We will say if another approach would serve you better.
Permanent
Full search for long-term hires with a clear process, stakeholder alignment and offer support.
Contract
Fixed-term or project-based placements with clear scope and a proper handover plan.
Interim
Senior cover for critical gaps. People who can land quickly and deliver from week one.
Search models
Exclusive, retained & contingency
For permanent mandates we agree the commercial model up front so both sides know what dedicated capacity and exclusivity the search will get.
Exclusive
You work with Thornton Pierce alone for an agreed window. Clear ownership of the brief, focused market activity, and one accountable partner—without competing agencies confusing candidates.
Retained
A staged fee funds a full dedicated search. Best for partner, GC, leadership and sensitive hires where mapping, discretion and process management matter as much as the shortlist.
Contingency
Success-based engagement: our placement fee is due when we fill the role. Flexible when you want access to our network with lighter exclusivity; we still prioritise lasting fit.
Prefer to talk it through first? Start a brief or contact the team.
Specialist areas
Practice areas we cover
We stick to where we know the market. If your need sits next door, still talk to us. We will say if we are not the right fit.
Looking for something specific? Contact us or browse live roles.
Tell us how we can help
Candidates and clients start in different places. Both are welcome.