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Our legal, risk and compliance practice sits within Hanson Corporate, recruiting the leaders who protect value in organisations where regulation and personal accountability have both grown heavier. We work with FTSE 350 and Fortune 500 groups, financial institutions, fast-growing scale-ups and private equity portfolio companies.

With consultants embedded across London, Europe, the USA and the Middle East, we recruit General Counsel, Chief Risk Officer, Head of Compliance, Company Secretary, Data Protection Officer and Head of Legal, whether the brief is a single senior appointment or a function built from nothing.

Every mandate is led personally by a senior consultant, so the person who takes your brief is the person who delivers it.

Our Legal, Risk and Compliance Executive Search Approach

Built on more than twenty years of relationships across these markets, our process begins with a partner taking the brief in detail, agreeing the role specification and mapping the market before any approach is made.

From there we run systematic outreach across primary, secondary and tertiary targets, presenting a shortlist of four to six qualified candidates with full profiles and a clear consultant recommendation.

Because these appointments carry board exposure, we look further than the CV. Competency-based interviews and structured scorecards run through the process, and Hogan assessment is available where clients want a considered read on cultural fit, led by a qualified leadership coach.

Our involvement does not end at the offer. We manage negotiation and counter-offers through to acceptance, then return at thirty, sixty and ninety days to check in with client and candidate alike.

Our Expertise in Legal, Risk and Compliance Recruitment

Regulation has expanded in almost every sector we cover, and demand for genuinely senior legal, risk and compliance professionals has outpaced the supply of people able to do the work. Boards increasingly want advisers rather than gatekeepers, which narrows the field considerably.

Our coverage runs across general counsel and commercial legal, enterprise and operational risk, financial crime, regulatory affairs and corporate governance, in sectors including financial services, technology, energy, consumer and professional services.

Alongside the search itself, clients receive market intelligence and salary benchmarking as a matter of course rather than as a paid extra, giving them a clearer view of the talent available before decisions are made.

Why choose Hanson Search as your Recruitment Partner

Hanson Search Group is an independent, employee-owned consultancy, and that ownership shapes the way we work. Clients get the attention of a boutique alongside the networks of a global firm, with partners leading searches themselves rather than passing them down.

More than twenty years of search experience sits behind a 100% completion rate on retained mandates, and our approach has always been advisory rather than transactional.

We also recognise what these roles now demand of the people who hold them. Senior risk and compliance leaders work under individual accountability regimes with real personal exposure, and we assess candidates with that in mind.

As a certified B Corp, we hold ourselves accountable for purpose as well as profit.

Hire Exceptional Legal, Risk and Compliance Talent

If you are hiring General Counsel, risk, compliance or governance and regulatory affairs leaders in the UK or internationally, we would welcome the conversation. We are equally glad to hear from senior leaders in these markets who are weighing up their next move.

Contact our specialist consultants for a confidential discussion.

Legal, Risk and Compliance Executive Search FAQs

What legal, risk and compliance roles do you recruit for?

We recruit senior legal, risk and compliance professionals, from General Counsel and Chief Risk Officers to Heads of Compliance, Company Secretaries and Data Protection Officers.

What makes legal, risk and compliance recruitment difficult?

The strongest candidates combine technical expertise with commercial judgement and the ability to advise senior leadership. They are often already in demand, so a targeted approach and strong understanding of the market are essential

How does Hanson Search approach legal, risk and compliance recruitment?

We combine market mapping, our international network and direct outreach to identify the right talent. Every search is led by a senior member of our team, with candidates assessed against the specific requirements of the role and wider business.

Explore our Legal, Risk and Compliance Specialisms

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    Our team possesses a unique blend of industry expertise, advanced recruitment acumen, and professional assessment skills on a global scale. With an in-depth understanding of the market, we are perfectly positioned to help you hire the best talent that you need

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    Hanson Search’s knowledge of the market is up to date and accurate, they understand day to day needs for their clients, but their real USP is the ability to introduce talent that enables ambition & growth.

    Talent Partner, Blakeney

    Hanson Search is a trusted and valued recruitment partner to MHP Group. They know the business and the teams they work across well and always strive to provide us with the most high-quality candidates.

    Talent Partner, MHP Group

    The Hanson Search team truly places quality over quantity and it’s refreshing. Their robust screening process means that you may only view a handful of candidates but each one of them has something to offer the role.

    Head of Campaigns, Third Bridge

    Hanson Search has been instrumental in identifying and recruiting senior executives for RAK Tourism. They deeply understood the nature of the roles and people we need and provided excellent candidates.

    CEO, RAK Tourism

    Hanson Search quickly ‘got’ us. They were proactive in their search and responsive in their service right from the outset. Very happy client.

    MD, firstlightPR, Paul Davies

    Hanson Search understands our business and is able to identify very strong candidates at all levels.

    Managing Partner, Brunswick Group - Gulf, Rupert Young

    I’ve worked with headhunters for the past 20 years, but I’ve found Hanson Search has a better understanding of how to attract and secure the right talent for our market.

    CEO, Hanover, Charles Lewington