Trusted Legal Executive Search
Senior Legal, Governance & Compliance Leadership
Appointing senior legal and compliance leadership is one of the most consequential decisions a business can make. These hires shape risk, culture, governance and strategic decision-making at the highest level.
Beacon Legal’s Executive Search practice focuses exclusively on the identification and appointment of senior legal, governance and compliance leaders across international markets. We advise boards, CEOs, founders and investors on leadership appointments where discretion, judgement and absolute confidence in the outcome are critical.
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Our Executive Search Capability
We specialise in senior and executive appointments across:
Legal Leadership
Chief Legal Officer (CLO) | General Counsel | Head of Legal | Legal Director
Compliance Leadership
Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) | Head of Compliance | Compliance Director
Governance Leadership
Head of Governance | Company / Board Secretary
Our mandates are truly international, supporting clients across the Middle East, UK, Australia, Europe, Asia and other global markets.
get in touch with usHow We Work
Our executive search approach is high-touch, research-led and discreet.
We work in close partnership with our clients to:
- Clearly define the leadership brief, reporting lines and success criteria
- Map and assess global talent pools, not just active candidates
- Conduct detailed technical, commercial and cultural assessment
- Manage confidential approaches, shortlisting and offer processes
- Provide informed counsel throughout the appointment and onboarding process
Every search is partner-led from start to finish.
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Your Executive Search Experts
Alex Gotch
DirectorAlex Gotch is the Director of Beacon Legal who specialises in international legal recruitment across Australia, London, the United States, Asia, the Middle East and key offshore markets.
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Matthew Edwards
DirectorMatthew Edwards is a Director at Beacon Legal and leads Australia’s largest dedicated In-House legal recruitment team.
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Jonathan Berry
Director - In-House, Middle EastJonathan is Director and Head of Beacon Legal Middle East, a qualified lawyer turned recruiter who specialises in building in-house legal teams across the Gulf region.
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Trusted by legal professionals
across the globe
Matt was great to work with – I would definitely recommend him and would engage him/Beacon again if we have another legal recruitment. Ours was a challenging brief but he presented a number of strong candidates and we ended up with a great result.
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER -
LOGISTICS
Delighted to recommend Jonathan. Outstanding professional (together with his team) and instrumental in helping us build out our quality in-house team. Always available and keen to assist. Great chap to boot.
CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER -
FINANCIAL SERVICES
Aleisha delivered an excellent search for our Head of Legal during a key phase of our growth. She demonstrated a strong understanding of the commercial and regulatory environment of elite sport and presented a well-judged shortlist. The appointment has been a clear success and we look forward to working with her again.
GENERAL COUNSEL -
SPORT
Couldn’t have asked for better service – Matt clearly understood the qualities we were looking for in candidates and worked tirelessly to help us fill this role. At the same time Matt managed our expectations regarding timing (given the tricky time of year to be in market), and communicated proactively through the process.
GENERAL COUNSEL -
ASSET MANAGEMENT
Jonathan is one of the very best in the Middle East market and if you deal with him, it shows. He is very knowledgeable about the way the wind is blowing in the market for senior hires and has been a very useful sounding board for me in the past. I would recommend him without reservation.
GENERAL COUNSEL -
OIL & GAS
Aleisha was a trusted advisor throughout my appointment process, offering guidance and a clear understanding of both the role and the wider business context. She was well-informed and discreet, and ensured the process was efficient and well managed from start to finish. I would have no hesitation in recommending her to senior legal candidates or clients alike
GENERAL COUNSEL
UTILITIES
Frequently asked questions
Executive search is designed for senior, business-critical leadership appointments where discretion, judgement and long-term impact are paramount. Instead of relying on active jobseekers, we conduct bespoke market mapping and targeted headhunting to identify proven legal leaders, including those not considering a move. This approach provides clients with access to the full leadership talent landscape and is particularly effective for executive, niche and confidential appointments.
Success-only recruitment is typically reactive and market-driven, focusing on candidates who are already available. Executive search is a structured, advisory-led process built around a clearly defined leadership outcome. We are formally engaged, work exclusively on the assignment and invest significant time in market intelligence, assessment and stakeholder management. This results in a more rigorous process and materially reduces the risk of a mis-hire at senior level.
Executive search is most appropriate when appointing senior legal leaders where influence, credibility and cultural fit are critical. It is commonly used for General Counsel, regional legal leadership, first in-house appointments and succession-driven hires, particularly during periods of growth, transformation or heightened risk. Clients choose executive search when the cost of getting the decision wrong is simply too high.
Our executive search mandates have an exceptionally high completion rate, with the majority concluding successfully within the agreed timeframe. We work on a limited number of searches at any one time, ensuring senior-led delivery, disciplined market coverage and continuous client engagement. Our measure of success is not just making the appointment, but delivering a leader who creates lasting value for the business.