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Law Firm Risk & Governance

Specialist Recruitment for Risk & Governance Professionals within the Legal Sector

Rutherford Search is a specialist recruitment firm focused on Law Firm Risk & Governance recruitment across London and the UK. We partner with UK and international law firms to recruit professionals across Risk Leadership, Compliance, Financial Crime, Professional Responsibility, Conflicts and Information Governance. As regulatory requirements become increasingly complex, law firms require experienced professionals who can strengthen governance frameworks, manage regulatory risk and support compliance with legal and regulatory obligations.Law Firm Risk & Governance professionals play a vital role in helping legal practices manage regulatory compliance, operational risk, financial crime, professional responsibility and information governance. As regulatory requirements continue to evolve, these specialist functions are increasingly central to protecting law firms, maintaining client confidence and supporting sustainable business growth.​


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Law Firm Risk & Governance Roles We Recruit

Law Firm Risk & Governance encompasses the specialist functions responsible for managing regulatory compliance, operational risk, financial crime, professional responsibility, conflicts and information governance within law firms. Rutherford Search recruits across each of these specialist areas, supporting UK and international law firms in building experienced teams that strengthen governance frameworks, manage regulatory risk and support compliance with Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) requirements.

Risk Leadership

We recruit senior Risk Leadership professionals responsible for developing governance strategies, overseeing enterprise risk and advising leadership teams on regulatory and operational matters. This includes appointments such as General Counsel, Chief Risk Officer (CRO), Head of Risk, Director of Risk, Risk & Compliance Director and General Counsel & Risk Partner.

Compliance & Financial Crime

Compliance and Financial Crime professionals help law firms maintain regulatory compliance, prevent financial crime and strengthen internal controls. We recruit across Compliance, Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Financial Crime, sanctions, regulatory reporting and compliance monitoring, including appointments such as Compliance Partner, COLP, COFA, MLCO, MLRO, Deputy MLRO and Head of Financial Crime.

Conflicts & Client Intake

Conflicts and Client Intake teams oversee client acceptance, conflict checking, due diligence and onboarding processes before new instructions are accepted. We recruit professionals including Heads of Conflicts, Conflicts Partners and Heads of Client Acceptance who help firms manage legal, commercial and regulatory risk.

Governance, Information & Professional Responsibility

Governance professionals support the policies, systems and controls that underpin regulatory compliance and operational resilience. We recruit Heads of Information Governance, Data Protection Officers (DPOs), Heads of Professional Indemnity & Claims and other specialists responsible for information governance, professional responsibility, records management and data protection.

Recruit Specialist Talent

Build high-performing teams with professionals who bring the expertise, leadership and technical knowledge your organisation needs. Rutherford Search partners with businesses across financial and professional services to identify and recruit exceptional talent through specialist executive search and recruitment solutions.

What We Cover

Rutherford Search specialises in Law Firm Risk & Governance recruitment, supporting UK and international law firms across the full spectrum of governance, compliance and risk management appointments. We recruit professionals responsible for Risk Leadership, Regulatory Compliance, Financial Crime, Conflicts & Client Intake, Information Governance, Data Protection and Professional Responsibility, helping firms strengthen governance frameworks and meet evolving regulatory requirements.

Our consultants recruit across permanent and retained search assignments, partnering with firms to hire professionals at every level, from specialist Compliance and Governance roles through to senior leadership appointments. This includes General Counsel, Chief Risk Officer (CRO), Head of Risk, Risk & Compliance Director, Compliance Partner, COLP, COFA, MLRO and Heads of Information Governance, alongside specialists supporting financial crime, regulatory compliance and operational resilience.

By combining specialist legal market knowledge with an extensive network of Risk & Governance professionals, Rutherford Search helps law firms build resilient teams that support regulatory compliance, effective governance and long-term business performance.

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Law Firm Risk & Governance Roles We Recruit

Law Firm Risk & Governance encompasses the specialist functions responsible for managing regulatory compliance, operational risk, financial crime, professional responsibility, conflicts and information governance within law firms. Rutherford Search recruits across each of these specialist areas, supporting UK and international law firms in building experienced teams that strengthen governance frameworks, manage regulatory risk and support compliance with Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) requirements.

Risk Leadership

We recruit senior Risk Leadership professionals responsible for developing governance strategies, overseeing enterprise risk and advising leadership teams on regulatory and operational matters. This includes appointments such as General Counsel, Chief Risk Officer (CRO), Head of Risk, Director of Risk, Risk & Compliance Director and General Counsel & Risk Partner.

Compliance & Financial Crime

Compliance and Financial Crime professionals help law firms maintain regulatory compliance, prevent financial crime and strengthen internal controls. We recruit across Compliance, Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Financial Crime, sanctions, regulatory reporting and compliance monitoring, including appointments such as Compliance Partner, COLP, COFA, MLCO, MLRO, Deputy MLRO and Head of Financial Crime.

Conflicts & Client Intake

Conflicts and Client Intake teams oversee client acceptance, conflict checking, due diligence and onboarding processes before new instructions are accepted. We recruit professionals including Heads of Conflicts, Conflicts Partners and Heads of Client Acceptance who help firms manage legal, commercial and regulatory risk.

Governance, Information & Professional Responsibility

Governance professionals support the policies, systems and controls that underpin regulatory compliance and operational resilience. We recruit Heads of Information Governance, Data Protection Officers (DPOs), Heads of Professional Indemnity & Claims and other specialists responsible for information governance, professional responsibility, records management and data protection.

Rutherford in Numbers

94%

of permanent placements made in the last two years are still in position

89

is our Net Promoter Score (NPS) with Candidates

91

is our Net Promoter Score (NPS) with Clients

57%

of our placements so far in 2023 are from a diverse background

Law Firm Risk & Governance FAQs

Understanding the responsibilities and regulatory requirements within Law Firm Risk & Governance can be complex, particularly as firms continue to strengthen their compliance and governance functions. Below are answers to some of the most common questions about Risk & Governance roles, responsibilities and regulatory obligations within UK law firms.

Contact Our Law Firm Risk & Governance Recruitment Specialists

Law Firm Risk & Governance Consultants

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Jackson Baker

Director, Legal & Compliance

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Jonathan Skerrett

Director

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Octavian Donnelly

Senior Principal Consultant, Legal & Strategic Hires

Search for Law Firm Risk & Governance jobs

Testimonials

​We have worked with Rutherford Search on a number of occasions to find candidates for regulatory/compliance positions and I’ve always found their London compliance recruitment team to be professional and helpful. They’ve done a great job of helping us find the best possible candidates and we have always been very pleased with the service offered.


Their compliance recruiters is proactive and reliable, invested in understanding and meeting our needs as a client and, most importantly, they are able to find and suggest great candidates which meet our specific briefs. The quality of service and candidates that we have received has always been high and this is indicative of Rutherford’s well-deserved reputation in the market.

Global Head of Compliance & Regulatory, FTSE 250 Asset Manager

I have worked with Rutherford on a number of compliance and legal searches over the years.


They have consistently helped recruit top quality individuals into the firms I have worked for. Their knowledge of the market is fantastic and, importantly, they spend time getting to know the vacancy and the firm to ensure that they put forward the right candidates.


Highly recommend their compliance recruitment firm.

COO, TT International

​There aren't enough words to express my sincere gratitude and thanks to Rutherford for their assistance in helping me land an amazing role at a phenomenal private equity firm.


Rutherford's Compliance recruitment consultants were friendly, proactive, encouraging, and extremely helpful in guiding me through the recruitment process. I never once chased them and was consistently on the receiving end of calls, getting regular updates on the progress made. They kept an open and honest line of communication and spent a considerable amount of time prepping me at each stage of the process.


Their technical knowledge coupled with their down-to-earth personality makes Rutherford undoubtedly an amazing choice of a compliance recruitment firm if you're considering a career move in the legal or compliance sectors.

Compliance Associate, Leading European Private Equity Firm

​During the time I have known Rutherford, their compliance recruitment team have shown a combination of efficiency, consistency and a frankness which is rarely found amongst their competitors. I have been consistently impressed by my compliance headhunter's attitude whenever we have interacted. He was very encouraging and patient, just a genuinely nice person too. Would highly recommend him and Rutherford, and will be eternally grateful to them for helping me secure a role at my dream firm.

Compliance Director, Generation Investment Management

Rutherford's compliance recruitment team knows the market extremely well. They know all the players in the space and can speak to each's professional history and personality. They are very open and honest when communicating roles as well as any feedback a firm has after reviewing your resume or an interview. They always make a case for their clients and are extremely thoughtful in the roles they put you up for. Without them, I wouldn't have been able to move to London! I would recommend them to any colleague or friends in the Compliance space.

Vice President - Compliance, SoftBank Investment Advisers

​Working with Rutherford was an absolute pleasure, helping me secure my new position. They were very responsive and gave a lot of support throughout each stage of the recruitment process.


I would definitely recommend their compliance recruiters to those seeking a professional move!

Compliance Professional, Lansdowne Partners

I approached Rutherford in September 2020 looking for a new role and they couldn't have been more attentive. They kept me updated, ensured clear communication through the process - from introduction to offer - and ensured I moved to the best opportunity. The team is highly attentive and hard working.

Control Room Analyst, Citadel

​Rutherford recently placed me into my future role. At all stages of the recruitment process, they has been extremely positive, has provided excellent guidance with regards to interview preparation, and ensured I was kept up to date with news from the company throughout the selection process, providing timely feedback after the end of each stage. They have been an absolute joy to work with, and if you are looking for a new Compliance role, I can’t recommend them enough!

Financial Crime Manager

Having worked in the interim MLRO/Financial Crime market for more than 10 years, I have worked with a number of recruiters and sourcing agencies. However, amongst them I found Rutherford to be more professional than most I have encountered.

I have no hesitation in recommending associates to contact them if they are looking to recruit, as I am at times when in an interim role, or if they are looking for AML or other financial crime roles in the financial services sector.

Interim MLRO, DNB

​Having made two excellent Compliance hires for our firm in London, Rutherford will be my go-to recruitment partner in the future. They fully understood our briefs and the culture they were recruiting for, which made the process efficient and transparent. My candidates were also happy with their interactions with the team, which were professional yet friendly. It was a pleasure working with them, and they would be the first firm I would recommend to others embarking on a recruitment process.

Chief Legal Officer, Eton Park International LLP

​Rutherford was instrumental in assisting Liquidnet Europe Limited in our search for a Head of Regulatory Compliance and Legal Affairs. They presented a selection of candidates with a range of experience. Each CV was a match to our requirements and to our cultural fit. This was no small feat considering the hybrid legal and compliance profile we were seeking. In the end, each area of our spec was met and the incumbent in the role is settling in nicely.

Subsequent to this search, Rutherford has also placed a contract surveillance person - again, superb match of skills to spec. The Rutherford team is personable, responsive and I highly recommend their services.

Head of HR - Global Talent Engagement, Liquidnet Europe Limited

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