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Jonathan Skerrett

Jonathan Skerrett

Director

About Jonathan Skerrett

Jonathan Skerrett is a Director at Rutherford, a London-based recruitment firm that specialises in compliance, financial crime, legal and cyber security searches within financial services. After working for a global recruitment PLC where he managed large Investment Banking account relationships and placed candidates at all levels for companies ranging from Credit Suisse to Goldman Sachs, Jonathan founded his own firm, Rutherford, in 2011.

With more than 14 years of experience in Compliance and Legal recruitment, Jonathan specialises in placing MD and Executive-level candidates within the financial services sector.

How would you describe your management style?

At Rutherford, we have quite a flat structure, so I try to manage in more of a collaborative style. I try to recognise that I do not have all the answers, and that even where I think I might be right, there must be degrees and scope for healthy disagreement. So much of what we do, like determining a candidate’s cultural fit for a client, is about nuance: I therefore prefer debate over diktat. I also want to empower my staff to have a high level of autonomy and trust that within the requirements, they will deliver what is being asked of them.

How do you build a team? What are the key qualities you look for when bringing people together?

There are some key qualities I usually look for: mental toughness, resilience, accountability and ownership. I like what Buffet says about hiring for integrity and Ray Dalio about interviewees being almost as inquisitive about the interviewers – great questions can be more important than great answers, and it shows intellectual curiosity. I also believe that, fundamentally, like in any relationship, there needs to be alignment of philosophy and goals.

What changes within the Financial Services space have surprised you the most in recent years?

I have always wanted financial services to shout more about the good the sector does in the world. People sometimes just see the big fine or interesting tax structures, not mortgages that allow families to get their first home or the capital raising that allows a green-tech firm to grow.

I believe firms in the US and UK are taking infrastructure more and more seriously. Legal and Compliance are now almost investor-facing functions. What I find refreshing is that this is now not just a regulator-led issue, customers and shareholders of financial services firms are demanding more rigour and controls. The rise of interest in ESG is part of this trend – people want good corporate citizens and growth.

How would you describe the work environment at Rutherford?

We are a small firm: our size naturally fosters an atmosphere of teamwork. Everyone always helps each other out. We are also always talking: discussing ideas, profiles, clients, etc. Another advantage of our size is we are all highly invested as a team in the searches we undertake.

Everyone is working for each other, which means the client gets all these unseen extra resources and a better process.

How do you define success?

I obviously want commercial success for Rutherford, but that isn’t the end in itself. I believe business growth allows us to make a positive difference to more clients and candidates, all while offering greater opportunities for personal growth to our own staff.

Finding a legal or regulatory professional their dream job potentially impacts their life in such a profound way: this can’t be underestimated. I firmly believe many of our CEO and COO clients sleep better at night knowing they have the best lawyer or compliance officer available in position.

Jobs by Jonathan

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M&A Lawyer/Senior Associate (4-7 year...
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Private Funds Counsel - Elite Law Fir...
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​Our Client ​Our client, an elite US Law Firm, seeks an experienced Lawyer to join their highly ranked and expert practice. ​ The Role Manage relat...

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M&A Lawyer/Senior Associate (4-7 year...
Dubai

​​Are you interested in relocating to the Middle East with a prestigious international law firm? Our client is established and rapidly expanding th...

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Mid-Level Private Funds Lawyer (Elite...
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​Our Client ​Our client is a major elite US firm with a significant (and growing) London presence, ranked highly in the private funds space and see...

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Partner - Renewables, Energy & Utilit...
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​Our Client Our rapidly-growing client is a law firm with very high Partner retention, where one can feel like they are actually part of a transpar...

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Associate, Fund Formation - Leading U...
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​​Our esteemed client, a leading US Law Firm, is actively seeking a high-caliber mid-level Associate to join their team. NY Bar is not essential bu...

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Junior Fund Associate - Prestigious L...
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​Are you a dynamic legal professional looking to launch your career with a renowned US Law Firm? Our esteemed client, a Cravath-scale law firm, is ...

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Legal and Compliance Vice-President
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​Our Client Our client, a prominent global private equity firm, is actively seeking an accomplished professional to join their Legal & Compliance t...

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Fund Lawyer (4-7 PQE) - Elite US Law ...
London

​​Our Client Our US Client’s award-winning Funds & Investment Management team is recognised as a global market leader in providing legal services t...

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