Closed Search Archives - The Alexander Group

Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP strengthens firmwide talent strategy with the appointment of Lisa Featherson.

Client: Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP | Role: Chief Talent Officer | Candidate: Lisa Featherson

Executive Search Consultants: John Lamar, Sarah Mitchell, Pamela DeLuca

Overview

Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, a leading international law firm with a strong presence across eight global offices, engaged The Alexander Group to lead the search for a Chief Talent Officer. The firm required a proven executive to drive firmwide strategic initiatives related to executive search, retention, professional development, and overall talent performance.

Key Leadership Need

Katten sought a high-impact executive capable of elevating its talent function across legal and business services. The firm needed a leader with experience managing talent strategy at scale, aligning cultural values with firm objectives, and fostering a best-in-class experience for attorneys and staff alike.

The Alexander Group’s Approach

Drawing on deep expertise in legal executive search, Managing Directors John Lamar, Sarah Mitchell, and Pamela DeLuca launched a national search focused on candidates with a demonstrated ability to lead transformational talent strategies in global law firm environments.

Key steps included:

Developing a customized search strategy aligned with Katten’s firmwide talent and leadership development goals.
Conducting comprehensive market research to identify proven talent executives with experience in global law firm environments.
Evaluating candidates for strategic leadership capability and cultural fit, ensuring alignment with Katten’s entrepreneurial and client-centric culture.

Successful Placement and Impact

Lisa Featherson, previously Chief People and Development Officer, US at Norton Rose Fulbright, was appointed Katten’s Chief Talent Officer. She brings extensive experience in strategic human capital initiatives across law firms, focusing on recruiting, professional development, and retention.

Immediate benefits:

Unified Leadership Across Talent Functions: Lisa oversees talent development and acquisition, human resources, performance management, professional development and training, leadership programming, and other areas, ensuring a cohesive strategy across all offices.
Alignment with Firm’s Strategic Objectives: Her role includes spearheading the creation and implementation of a human capital strategy that syncs with Katten’s strategic objectives, enhancing overall organizational effectiveness.
Enhanced Employee Satisfaction and Retention: Lisa is responsible for maintaining employee satisfaction by managing benefits, fostering a positive cultural environment, and leading compensation efforts, contributing to improved retention and morale.

Insights from the Executive Search Director

“Lisa is a dynamic, strategic, and high-energy talent executive with an exceptional track record of success in large law firm environments. She is the ideal leader to continue elevating Katten’s talent function.”

— Sarah J. Mitchell, Director, The Alexander Group

About Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP

Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP is a prestigious and dynamic international law firm with approximately 670 attorneys across eight global offices. The firm provides full-service legal counsel to a third of the Fortune 100, as well as government entities, nonprofit organizations, and individuals. Katten is recognized for its entrepreneurial culture and commitment to aligning legal service delivery with each client’s business goals.

About The Alexander Group

Specializing in executive search for law firms and financial leadership roles, The Alexander Group delivers strategic, results-driven placements tailored to each client’s unique needs.

Interested in learning more about our executive search services? Contact The Alexander Group today.

Lauren Elkhoury has joined Vinson & Elkins as Director of Pricing and Rates. Ms. Elkhoury is a cross-functional leader with extensive experience identifying and planning strategic initiatives to maximize revenue and profitability competitively.

Prior to joining Vinson & Elkins, Ms. Elkhoury Director, Practice Operations for Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP in Houston, Texas. Ms. Elkhoury received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Tulane University.

“Lauren is a seasoned legal professional who will bring years of legal project management, pricing, and practice operations experience to Vinson & Elkins. She is known for her ability to plan strategic initiatives to maximize revenue and profitability competitively,” said Anthony Ott, Senior Associate, The Alexander Group.

Managing Director John Mann and Senior Associate Anthony Ott conducted and completed this search.

Vinson & Elkins LLP is one of the largest and most successful law firms in the United States, with approximately 700 attorneys. V&E consistently ranks as one of the most profitable law firms and is ranked 25th in the Am Law 100 with respect to 2023 based on profit per equity partner.

Collaborating seamlessly across 11 offices worldwide, V&E provides outstanding client service. The Firm’s lawyers and other professionals are committed to excellence, offering clients experience in handling their transactions, investments, projects, and disputes across the globe. Established in 1917, the Firm’s time-tested role as trusted advisor has made V&E a go-to law firm for many of the world’s leading businesses and investors.

Jeremy LeBlanc has joined Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP as Director of Technology Services.

Mr. LeBlanc has over 20 years of multi-industry, innovative information technology executive experience, including senior technology leadership roles with major law firms, investment banking, and technology consulting firms. Before joining Fried Frank, Mr. LeBlanc served as Regional Head of Information Technology for the U.S. for Withersworldwide.

“Jeremy has an outstanding record of strategic and operational information technology experience and has been a key member of business leadership with the firms he has served with throughout his career,” said Bill Lepiesza, Director of The Alexander Group.

Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP is an elite Wall Street law firm with approximately 700 attorneys in New York, Washington, DC, London, Frankfurt, and Brussels. Fried Frank’s origins date to the turn of the 20th century, and it is well known for representing global financial institutions, investment banks, private equity firms, hedge funds, real estate investors and developers, and Fortune 500 corporations.

Consistently highly ranked in league tables and legal directories, including Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500, the firm is well recognized for providing highly effective solutions to sophisticated business challenges.

This search was conducted and completed by Director Bill Lepiesza and Associate Pam DeLuca.

Brian Sakala has joined Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP as Chief Financial Officer.

Mr. Sakala is a highly regarded accounting and finance executive with a proven track record of delivering client value by leveraging key technologies, providing financial analyses and creating efficiencies.

Learn more about Mr. Sakala here.

Managing Directors John Lamar, Jean Lenzner and Director Sarah Mitchell conducted and completed this search.

Frost Brown Todd LLP appoints Truda Chow to lead strategic operations across its national platform.

Client: Frost Brown Todd LLP | Role: Chief Operating Officer | Candidate: Truda Chow

Recruiters: John C. Lamar, Managing Director; William V. Lepiesza, Director

Overview

Frost Brown Todd LLP, a full-service law firm with offices across the United States, partnered with The Alexander Group, a global executive search firm, to recruit a Chief Operating Officer. As the firm continued its strategic growth across key markets, it sought a proven operational leader to unify systems, elevate performance, and guide it through the next phase of scale.

Key Leadership Need

Frost Brown Todd sought a candidate with a global mindset and deep law firm operational experience. Their role required a leader able to manage firmwide strategy, optimize cross-office performance, and serve as a key advisor to executive leadership on infrastructure, client service delivery, and growth planning.

The Alexander Group’s Approach

Led by John C. Lamar and William V. Lepiesza, the search targeted operational leaders with experience across law firm management, consulting, and professional services. The focus was on candidates with cross-functional expertise and the ability to lead in complex, distributed organizations.

Search priorities included:

Proven success leading national or global operations at law or professional services firms.
Experience in legal process improvement, operational alignment, and firm scalability.
Strategic insight into business growth, M&A, and systems modernization.

Truda Chow emerged as the standout candidate, having served in COO roles at Clyde & Co and Michael Best and senior consulting roles at LawVision and Hildebrandt International. Her cross-industry background—from legal to global consulting to high-tech—gives her a unique lens on optimizing firm operations across borders and functions.

Successful Placement and Impact

Truda Chow will lead operational performance, firm integration, and strategic execution across a 14-office footprint. She will partner with firm leadership to drive scalable solutions in service delivery, infrastructure, and internal operations.

Immediate Impact:

Aligns firmwide operational strategy with business and client priorities.
Modernizes administrative systems and workflows for performance and efficiency.
Strengthens internal leadership collaboration across practice and business units.
Supports scalable infrastructure as the firm continues national expansion.

Insights from the Recruiters

“Truda is a highly accomplished, senior executive who has led significant growth, innovation, and business transformation for major law firms throughout her career.”

– William Lepiesza, Director, The Alexander Group.

About Frost Brown Todd LLP

Frost Brown Todd LLP is a full-service law firm with more than 575 attorneys across 14 offices nationwide. The firm serves clients in key industries including financial services, energy, technology, health care, and manufacturing. Known for a strong commitment to collaboration, client service, and forward-thinking legal solutions, the firm is consistently recognized as one of the top firms in the U.S.

About The Alexander Group

The Alexander Group is a global executive search firm based in Houston. With a strong track record of placing operational and strategic leaders across Am Law 200 firms and professional services organizations, the firm specializes in helping clients build the leadership infrastructure needed to grow and compete.

Operational clarity starts with executive alignment. The Alexander Group helps law firms find the leadership that powers performance.

The Alexander Group, a leading financial executive search firm, recently completed a successful placement for Lisinski Law. This effort highlights our expertise in sourcing top legal talent and matching it with leadership needs within law firms.

Key Points:

The Alexander Group demonstrates expertise as a top financial executive search firm.
Successful executive recruitment for a financial role at Lisinski Law by The Alexander Group.
Introduction of Jill Yutzy Coen at Lisinski Law as Vice President of Legal Operations.

Strategic Financial Executive Placement for Leadership Excellence

Jill Yutzy Coen has joined Lisinski Law as the newly created Vice President of Legal Operations. Ms. Coen is an experienced operational leader with a core skill set that includes regulatory expertise, compliance, risk management, litigation, and reporting. Before joining Lisinski, Ms. Coen was the Executive Director of Regulatory Operations at JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Learn more about Ms. Coen here.

C-level Financial Placement for Law Firms

The Alexander Group’s expertise as a financial executive search firm has allowed us to understand the complexities of placing top-tier financial talent in leading roles. The Alexander Group worked closely with Lisinski Law to identify key competencies required for executive recruitment for a financial role. This ensured that Jill Yutzy Coen was an ideal fit for their firm’s strategic needs.

“Jill’s experience as a practicing attorney and an operations leader made her an ideal candidate for this role. As the assignment progressed, it became clear that there was a strong alignment in philosophy between Jill and the team at Lisinski, and we look forward to seeing the impact that Jill can have now that she has joined Angel and her team at Lisinski Law,” said Jonathan Verlander, Managing Director, The Alexander Group.

Established in the fall of 2020, Lisinski Law is a swiftly expanding immigration law firm that has already served over 15,000 clients and built a strong record of success in handling complex immigration cases. The firm’s dedicated attorneys bring extensive trial and immigration expertise and impeccable reputations to clients nationwide—often representing those turned away by other firms.

With a team of 700 professionals, Lisinski Law primarily assists clients in securing legal status through humanitarian-focused immigration cases, such as T-Visas for victims of human trafficking, U-Visas for crime victims, and VAWA relief under the Violence Against Women Act for survivors of abuse or extreme cruelty.

Financial Executive Search Firm Specializing in Legal Sector Leadership Placements

As a top financial executive recruiter, The Alexander Group takes pride in delivering outstanding recruitment services that meet the specific needs of the legal industry. Our track record with Lisinski Law is a testament to our commitment to excellence in executive placement for law firms.

We are dedicated to cultivating enduring partnerships with our law firm clients. This relationship affords us a profound understanding of each firm’s distinct culture and requirements, enabling us to employ innovative strategies that transcend conventional legal boundaries in order to secure the most suitable candidates.

This search was conducted and completed by Managing Directors John Mann and Jonathan Verlander. Read more about our expertise as a financial executive search firm.

Leading Midwest law firm, Ice Miller LLP, appoints Leslie Diorio to drive legal recruitment strategy and talent growth.

Client: Ice Miller LLP | Role: Director of Legal Recruitment | Candidate: Leslie Diorio

Recruiters: John M. Mann, Managing Director; Jonathan Daniels, Associate

Overview

Ice Miller LLP, a full-service law firm with offices across the Midwest and East Coast, partnered with The Alexander Group, a global executive search firm, to recruit a Director of Legal Recruitment. As the firm continues to expand its national footprint and strengthen its practice groups, it needed a strategic leader to modernize lateral recruiting efforts, enhance attorney onboarding, and align talent acquisition with long-term business goals.

Key Leadership Need

Ice Miller sought a Director of Legal Recruitment with deep expertise in lateral hiring, attorney development, and market intelligence. The ideal candidate would bring leadership in full-cycle legal recruitment, the ability to drive DEI-focused hiring initiatives, and a strong understanding of aligning recruiting strategies with firm growth objectives.

The Alexander Group’s Approach

Managing Director John M. Mann and Associate Jonathan Daniels led a national search for legal recruiting leaders with experience in building scalable hiring programs and leading teams in law firm environments.

Search priorities included:

Expertise in lateral partner and associate recruitment
Ability to leverage market trends, competitive insights, and strategic sourcing methods
Strong leadership skills to oversee recruiting teams and align hiring with practice needs

Leslie Diorio emerged as the top candidate due to her extensive experience leading legal recruitment efforts at Axiom and Fish & Richardson, as well as her track record of aligning hiring initiatives with the firm’s strategic priorities.

Successful Placement and Impact

Leslie Diorio joined Ice Miller LLP as Director of Legal Recruitment. She brings over 15 years of experience overseeing attorney and lateral recruitment, developing scalable recruiting strategies, and building collaborative talent acquisition teams.

Immediate Impact:

Implemented enhanced recruiting processes to attract top-tier lateral partners and associates
Strengthened the integration of market intelligence into hiring strategies
Streamlined recruiting team operations and summer associate program management
Aligned hiring initiatives with Ice Miller’s strategic practice group expansion goals

About Ice Miller LLP

Ice Miller LLP is a full-service law firm founded in 1910, with offices across Chicago, Columbus, Indianapolis, Philadelphia, and other U.S. cities. The firm provides legal services to corporations, government entities, and nonprofits, and is recognized for its focus on innovation, collaboration, and client partnerships.

About The Alexander Group

The Alexander Group is an executive search firm in Houston. The firm serves industries including legal services, life sciences, healthcare, financial services, energy, technology, consumer goods, and nonprofit organizations, delivering strategic, results-driven leadership placements tailored to each client’s needs.

Interested in learning more about our executive recruitment services? Contact The Alexander Group today.

Global law firm, Holland & Knight LLP, appoints Patrick O’Connor to lead business development and marketing strategy.

Client: Holland & Knight LLP | Role: Chief Business Development & Marketing Officer | Candidate: Patrick O’Connor

Recruiters: John Lamar, Managing Director; Jean Lenzner, Managing Director; William Lepiesza, Managing Director

Overview

Holland & Knight LLP, an internationally recognized law firm renowned for its collaborative culture and strategic growth, has partnered with The Alexander Group, a global executive search firm, to recruit a Chief Business Development and Marketing Officer. As the firm continued to grow and evolve in an increasingly competitive global market, it required a proven leader to build integrated marketing strategies, enhance client engagement, and align business development initiatives with practice group priorities.

Key Leadership Need

The firm needed a Chief Business Development & Marketing Officer who could design and execute firmwide growth strategies, elevate branding efforts, and strengthen cross-practice collaboration. The ideal candidate would combine deep experience in business development leadership with the operational excellence needed to support attorneys across diverse practice groups and geographies.

The Alexander Group’s Approach

Managing Directors John Lamar, Jean Lenzner, and William Lepiesza led a targeted search across professional services and consulting firms for senior executives with proven experience leading complex marketing and business development initiatives.

Search priorities included:

Expertise driving cross-practice collaboration, client engagement strategies, and brand evolution
Success leading marketing operations at scale within sophisticated, matrixed organizations
Ability to align marketing, sales, and business development functions around strategic goals

Patrick O’Connor emerged as the ideal choice due to his extensive leadership at EY, where he served as Principal and Americas Chief Operating Officer for the Forensic & Integrity Services Practice, as well as his proven success designing and executing business development initiatives across global teams.

Successful Placement and Impact

Patrick O’Connor brings nearly two decades of business development leadership, sales management, and strategic planning expertise within global professional services organizations.

Immediate Impact:

Launched integrated business development strategies aligned with firmwide priorities
Strengthened internal collaboration between practice groups and client-facing teams
Implemented scalable marketing operations systems to support global brand visibility
Enhanced strategic targeting and client engagement initiatives across industries

About Holland & Knight LLP

Holland & Knight LLP is a global law firm with more than 2,200 lawyers and professionals in 34 offices across the United States and internationally. The firm is recognized for its experience in real estate, litigation, energy, and government matters, and is known for fostering strong client partnerships through collaborative legal solutions.

About The Alexander Group

The Alexander Group is an executive search firm in Houston. The firm serves industries such as legal services, life sciences, healthcare, financial services, energy, technology, consumer goods, and nonprofit organizations, delivering strategic, results-driven leadership placements tailored to each client’s specific needs.

Interested in learning more about our executive recruitment services? Contact The Alexander Group today.

Leading legal network, PilotLegis, appoints Ryan Kovach to strengthen risk management, compliance, and member services.

Client: PilotLegis | Role: Assistant Executive Director | Candidate: Ryan Kovach

Recruiter: Amanda K. Brady, Managing Director/Chief Client Officer

Overview

PilotLegis, a national network of independent law firms focused on risk management and collaborative growth, partners with The Alexander Group, a global executive search firm, to recruit an Assistant Executive Director. As PilotLegis strengthens its service offerings and member engagement programs, the organization needs a dynamic leader to drive operational enhancements and lead compliance initiatives across its member base.

Key Leadership Need

PilotLegis sought an Assistant Executive Director who could oversee risk management programming, conduct member firm reviews, develop educational initiatives, and collaborate closely with the Board of Directors and standing committees. The ideal candidate would bring a proven track record of success in legal compliance, auditing, policy development, and risk mitigation, along with strong operational leadership skills.

The Alexander Group’s Approach

Amanda K. Brady, Managing Director and Chief Client Officer, led a specialized search targeting candidates with legal operations expertise, risk management leadership, and experience supporting national legal networks or complex law firms.

Search priorities include:

Experience in legal compliance, auditing, and policy development
Ability to design and implement risk management programming for law firms
Collaborative leadership style capable of working closely with boards and committees

Ryan Kovach quickly stood out as the right candidate, bringing a wealth of operational experience from leadership roles at PilotLegis and Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, along with a strong background in compliance, auditing, and risk mitigation for professional services organizations.

Successful Placement and Impact

Ryan Kovach joins PilotLegis as Assistant Executive Director. He oversees risk reviews, member services, and the development of industry-leading compliance programming, helping PilotLegis members adopt best practices across operations, risk management, and practice growth.

Immediate Impact:

Conducts in-depth risk assessments for members and prospective firms
Leads strategic initiatives to strengthen member compliance programs
Coordinates education programs and national conferences for member engagement
Supports membership growth and operational innovation across the network

About PilotLegis

PilotLegis is a collaborative network of independent law firms committed to excellence in legal services, risk management, and firm leadership. Through education, peer engagement, and operational best practices, PilotLegis supports its member firms in delivering superior client service while minimizing operational risks.

About The Alexander Group

The Alexander Group is an executive search firm in Houston. The firm partners with organizations across industries—including legal services, life sciences, healthcare, financial services, energy, technology, and nonprofit sectors—to deliver leadership placements that drive operational excellence and strategic growth.Looking for proven leadership to help your organization grow and thrive? Contact The Alexander Group to learn how we deliver transformative executive talent.

National law firm, Carlton Fields, appoints Maria Anderson to lead attorney recruiting, development, and retention strategies.

Client: Carlton Fields | Role: Director of Legal Talent Management | Candidate: Maria Anderson

Recruiters: John Mann, Managing Director; Michael Doering, Senior Associate

Overview

Carlton Fields, a nationally recognized law firm serving a wide range of industries, partnered with The Alexander Group, a global executive search firm, to recruit a Director of Legal Talent Management. As the firm continued its strategic growth, it needed a proven leader to oversee attorney recruitment, professional development programs, and long-term retention strategies across its offices.

Key Leadership Need

Carlton Fields sought a Director of Legal Talent Management who could lead full-cycle recruiting, design structured professional development initiatives, and strengthen the firm’s attorney engagement and retention programs. The ideal candidate would bring a blend of operational leadership, recruiting expertise, and a focus on attorney career advancement within a client-focused law firm environment.

The Alexander Group’s Approach

Managing Director John Mann and Director Michael Doering conducted a targeted search, focusing on legal recruiting executives with strong leadership backgrounds in midsize and large law firms.

Search priorities include:

Deep experience in lateral partner, associate, and summer associate recruitment
Strong focus on talent development, retention programming, and DEI initiatives
Ability to build scalable frameworks to support attorney engagement and firm culture

Maria Anderson stood out due to her nearly two decades of leadership at Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP, where she served as Director of Legal Personnel and Recruitment, overseeing attorney hiring, training, and career progression programs.

Successful Placement and Impact

Maria Anderson joins Carlton Fields as Director of Legal Talent Management. She will oversee attorney recruiting, design professional development initiatives, and collaborate with leadership to align talent strategies with the firm’s long-term growth goals.

Immediate Impact:

Enhances lateral hiring and summer associate recruitment processes
Develops formalized career development frameworks for attorneys at all levels
Launches attorney retention and engagement programs tailored to practice group needs
Strengthens the firm’s overall attorney experience and internal mobility opportunities

About Carlton Fields

Carlton Fields is a national law firm with offices across the Southeast and nationwide, serving clients in sectors including financial services, healthcare, construction, and technology. The firm is recognized for its commitment to client service, collaboration, and legal innovation.

About The Alexander Group

The Alexander Group is an executive search firm headquartered in Houston. The firm specializes in placing senior leadership across legal services, life sciences, healthcare, financial services, energy, technology, consumer goods, and nonprofit sectors, helping clients achieve growth through strategic talent acquisition.

Ready to transform your leadership team with proven talent? Partner with The Alexander Group to find the executives who will drive your growth.