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T: 020 7332 6322
His tenacious approach - always in pursuit of the best outcome for all concerned - and enjoyment of recruitment is aligned to thorough market knowledge and an open, straight-forward manner. Clients find that Chris's passion for the business and for recruitment makes him a useful man to have in their corner.
Chris began his recruitment career in 1996 following a career as a lawyer with Cameron Markby Hewitt (now CMS Cameron McKenna) in London and then Bristol. His years in recruitment working in London, nationally and internationally give him a unique perspective on the market. He is one of the founding directors of First Counsel and also heads the in-house team.
Chris' focus is on the placement of lawyers into partner and senior in-house legal counsel roles.
Linked In profile:-
Employment Partner with National Firm
Having worked with First Counsel since their very early days, they have consistently had something almost all of their competitors lack - the ability to really listen to your needs and then take the time to ensure they find exactly the right recruitment solution for you, not them. Far too many recruitment firms say they are listening but in reality they are often just trying to get candidates in to a job as soon as possible, as long as it appears to be a reasonable fit. This is what I call the quantity not quality approach.
I have used First Counsel both as a candidate; they have placed me twice in senior management positions, and also as a client when I have been looking for lateral hire partners. They adopt a quality not quantity approach, by investing the time to understand all your requirements, not just the tangible but the intangible ones, so that the 'fit' between individual and organisation is as close as can be expected, and both parties don't spend hours wasting each others' time.
What is boils down to is the quality of their people. They are very experienced, know their markets inside out, think strategically and genuinely build long term relationships. Mark Brandon, Chris Cayley and Tim Skipper are the three with which I have had most contact and all of them embody the qualities of what I would consider to be the ideal recruitment agency partner.
Chris has advised me twice on career moves and, in both instances, he has produced a wide variety of options for me to consider, was extremely helpful in helping me to prepare my business plan and has been invaluable in formulating my plans. Chris' knowledge of the market has, on both occasions, been first class. But perhaps what I like most about Chris is his honest and straightforward - but strategic - approach. Above all, this gave me the confidence that my interests were being looked after. I would whole-heartedly recommend First Counsel, and Chris in particular, to anyone else seeking to make a move.
I was a partner at a mid-sized City firm. When unexpectedly I found myself in the job market a friend's HR department recommended that I get in touch with First Counsel. So I did. I met with Chris Cayley who was very knowledgeable about my market, was extremely helpful when I was preparing my business plan, and arranged meetings and liaised with the firms that we had together selected. With Chris' support I was able to focus on obtaining the position I wanted to take my career forward. If/when I need recruitment consultants in the future I definitely will contact First Counsel.
Chris Cayley
T: 020 7332 6322
Chris Cayley • chris.cayley@firstcounsel.com
Chris specialises in the recruitment of senior lawyers into private practice law firms, in particular national firms.His tenacious approach - always in pursuit of the best outcome for all concerned - and enjoyment of recruitment is aligned to thorough market knowledge and an open, straight-forward manner. Clients find that Chris's passion for the business and for recruitment makes him a useful man to have in their corner.
Chris began his recruitment career in 1996 following a career as a lawyer with Cameron Markby Hewitt (now CMS Cameron McKenna) in London and then Bristol. His years in recruitment working in London, nationally and internationally give him a unique perspective on the market. He is one of the founding directors of First Counsel and also heads the in-house team.
Chris' focus is on the placement of lawyers into partner and senior in-house legal counsel roles.
Linked In profile:-
Testimonials
Chris Cayley and his team handled the whole process faultlessly. Chris is completely down to earth and straightforward. He kept a firm handle on the process. He provided very insightful input throughout and instinctively knew when to push and when to pedal softly, making the whole, lengthy recruitment process a friendly and smooth one. I can't thank him enough.Employment Partner with National Firm
Having worked with First Counsel since their very early days, they have consistently had something almost all of their competitors lack - the ability to really listen to your needs and then take the time to ensure they find exactly the right recruitment solution for you, not them. Far too many recruitment firms say they are listening but in reality they are often just trying to get candidates in to a job as soon as possible, as long as it appears to be a reasonable fit. This is what I call the quantity not quality approach.
I have used First Counsel both as a candidate; they have placed me twice in senior management positions, and also as a client when I have been looking for lateral hire partners. They adopt a quality not quantity approach, by investing the time to understand all your requirements, not just the tangible but the intangible ones, so that the 'fit' between individual and organisation is as close as can be expected, and both parties don't spend hours wasting each others' time.
What is boils down to is the quality of their people. They are very experienced, know their markets inside out, think strategically and genuinely build long term relationships. Mark Brandon, Chris Cayley and Tim Skipper are the three with which I have had most contact and all of them embody the qualities of what I would consider to be the ideal recruitment agency partner.
Chris has advised me twice on career moves and, in both instances, he has produced a wide variety of options for me to consider, was extremely helpful in helping me to prepare my business plan and has been invaluable in formulating my plans. Chris' knowledge of the market has, on both occasions, been first class. But perhaps what I like most about Chris is his honest and straightforward - but strategic - approach. Above all, this gave me the confidence that my interests were being looked after. I would whole-heartedly recommend First Counsel, and Chris in particular, to anyone else seeking to make a move.
I was a partner at a mid-sized City firm. When unexpectedly I found myself in the job market a friend's HR department recommended that I get in touch with First Counsel. So I did. I met with Chris Cayley who was very knowledgeable about my market, was extremely helpful when I was preparing my business plan, and arranged meetings and liaised with the firms that we had together selected. With Chris' support I was able to focus on obtaining the position I wanted to take my career forward. If/when I need recruitment consultants in the future I definitely will contact First Counsel.