What Does a Compliance Professional Do?

The person leading a compliance regulatory function will have to internalise conflicts and exercise supreme judgement in balancing the need to allow its business to flourish in an increasingly complex regulatory environment, whilst avoiding the potentially devastating consequences of non-compliance.

Why Is Regulatory Compliance Recruitment Important?

The regulatory compliance sector is one that is constantly evolving, making it a very interesting field to work in. Every year, new regulations and rules are being introduced, meaning compliance professionals must always be on top of the ever-changing sector to properly assess how any regulatory update can affect a business and its activities.

Rutherford Strengthens its Private Practice Offering with Strategic

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release

Rutherford Strengthens Private Practice Offering with Strategic Senior Hires

London, January 2026
Rutherford Search is pleased to announce the continued expansion of its Private Practice recruitment team, reinforcing the firm’s position as one of the City’s most specialised legal recruitment providers. This growth reflects the natural evolution of Rutherford’s platform, following more than 15 years advising top lawyers on the in-house side across the UK, US, and Europe.

This progression has brought together two complementary areas of the legal market: private practice and in-house. With deep relationships across both, Rutherford now represents one of the largest specialist legal recruitment teams in the City, offering clients and candidates a holistic advisory perspective shaped by market movement, career transitions, partnership dynamics, and institutional hiring trends.

A Team Built for a Modern Legal Market

The expanded Private Practice team has been developed with senior, specialist capability at its core.

	Jago Verna joined Rutherford as Senior Partner and now heads the Private Practice division. With more than 15 years of experience in Partner and Associate recruitment across major US, UK, and European firms, Jago brings recognised market insight, leadership, and immediate strategic impact to the team.

	Chinello Nwakwesi, Consultant, supports private practice hiring across European markets, contributing targeted search expertise and strengthening the team’s international reach.

	Josh Ryan, Senior Consultant, focuses on Associate-to-Counsel placements for leading UK, US, and West End firms, maintaining close engagement with both candidates and hiring partners across core practice areas.

	Lucinda Mueller, Senior Consultant, works closely with private practice lawyers and prominent UK and international law firms, bringing detailed market knowledge and a relationship-led approach to candidate engagement.

	Varun Nair, Senior Consultant, advises candidates across all levels of seniority and supports clients with highly skilled legal talent across key practice groups, contributing breadth and continuity across the hiring lifecycle.

	Pascale de Froberville, Associate Consultant, contributes analytical insight informed by her background as an attorney, supporting research, market mapping, and candidate assessment across private practice mandates.

	Triston van Rensburg, Associate Consultant, joined in early 2026 and brings experience as a former practising lawyer, further strengthening the team’s technical understanding of private practice hiring and delivery capability.

	Michael Daya-Winterbottom joined as Associate Consultant, specialising in newly qualified and qualified solicitor placements within leading London law firms and supporting early-career lawyers navigating entry into private practice.

Jonathan Skerrett, Founder, commented:

“We are delighted to welcome these outstanding new colleagues to the team. Their arrival significantly strengthens the support we provide to clients, adding real depth of expertise and capability across our platform. Their experience enhances our ability to deliver meaningfully on clients’ hiring priorities, and we look forward to working together as the practice continues to grow.”

With decades of combined experience, Rutherford’s Private Practice division is positioned as a trusted partner for law firms seeking informed, strategic recruitment support in an increasingly competitive market. Drawing on extensive legal recruitment experience and direct relationships with many of the world’s leading law firms, Rutherford’s strengthened Private Practice division supports clients navigating talent shortages, lateral hiring strategies, career transitions, and competitive partnership dynamics.

About Rutherford Search

Rutherford is a specialist recruitment firm headquartered in London, advising across the legal, compliance, financial crime, risk, and regulatory sectors. Recognised for its consultative model and deep market expertise, Rutherford partners with leading UK, US, and European institutions to identify and place top legal talent.

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