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.