August 2026 Case Study: General Counsel

The Opportunity

Handler conducted a retained search for a global electrical contracting and engineering firm in Atlanta seeking to hire its first in-house General Counsel with significant experience in construction and employment law.

This critical leadership role required an accomplished legal executive capable of establishing an internal legal function while serving as a trusted advisor to the President and executive leadership team.

Our Approach

From the outset, this search required a thoughtful balance of strategic leadership assessment and cultural alignment.

Handler partnered closely with the client to develop a comprehensive understanding of the organization’s business objectives, leadership expectations, and the qualities that would define success in this newly created role. Through collaborative discovery, we developed a targeted position profile that enabled focused market engagement and attracted high-caliber executive talent.

This strategic alignment allowed the search to launch with clarity, purpose, and momentum.

The Internal Launch

Leveraging Handler’s proprietary Quick Start model, our team rapidly mobilized the search.

Within seven days, Handler identified a highly qualified executive whose experience, leadership style, and strategic capabilities closely aligned with the client’s vision for this important position.

This early momentum established a strong foundation for an efficient, disciplined, and successful search process.

The Execution

Handler executed a focused, consultative search process designed to identify General Counsel candidates with relevant industry experience who were located within the Atlanta market.

Through:

Proactive outreach to targeted General Counsel executives
Continuous calibration and strategic partnership with the client
Ongoing market intelligence and comprehensive candidate assessment

our team developed a pipeline of 72 candidates, carefully evaluating each individual for legal expertise, executive leadership capability, industry experience, and cultural alignment.

This disciplined process provided the client with a highly qualified slate of executive talent while maintaining speed, transparency, and strategic partnership throughout the engagement.

The Result

Handler successfully placed an accomplished General Counsel with the executive leadership experience, legal expertise, and strategic vision needed to establish the organization’s first in-house legal function.

The successful placement provides the executive team with a trusted legal advisor who will help mitigate risk, support business growth, strengthen corporate governance, and serve as a strategic partner across the organization.

Search Statistics

Length of Search: 36 Days
Time to Candidate Identified: 7 Days
Total Candidates in Pipeline: 72

At Handler, success is more than roles filled—it’s about delivering Leaders Worth Following who create lasting organizational impact.