Deacon The name in headline legal moves since 1999

Deacon is one of the leading legal recruitment teams in London and Sydney and is the name behind many ‘headline’ partner and team moves. In 2024 we are celebrating our 25th successful year.

Meet our team
Celebrating 25 years of Deacon

We are part of one of the largest independent companies in the global legal recruitment sector and have advised on office launches, mergers and numerous practice group and sector-specific build-outs in the UK, Europe, Middle East and USA.

Our associate team specialises in placing assistant, associate and partner-designate lawyers in London and Sydney and has an unparalleled network across the international legal market.

Our team’s reputation, stability and longevity has made us a trusted adviser to both lawyers and law firms.

Honesty and transparency are at the heart of our ethos. We are fiercely independent, and not answerable to any external shareholders.

  • Meet the Team

    Dan Wilkins

    Dan is Managing Director of Deacon and places partners and teams at leading UK and US law firms.

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  • Meet the Team

    Jonathan Bower

    Jonathan has experience working with partners in the London legal market and focuses on both retained search and advising individual partners/teams.

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    Juhi Muqtadir

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    Cara Wilkins

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    Hugo Tang

    Hugo recruits lawyers for a wide range of law firms in the UK.

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    Scott Lesner

    Scott is a senior member of the team who has been active in the partner/team market since 2000.

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    Leigh Griffin

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    Harry Austin

    Harry focuses on legal moves ranging from the newly-qualified to counsel level.

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    Gideon Krotosky

    Gideon places associates and partners across different City firms and multiple practice areas.

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    Elliot Jackson

    Elliot has 15 years’ experience in the London legal market and focuses his practice on placing partners and teams into leading US and UK law firms.

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  • Meet the Team

    Paul Deacon

    Making headline London partner and team moves happen since 1999.

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    Angus Brocklesby

    Angus places newly-qualified associates to counsel level lawyers across a wide range of firms in London.

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    Peter Vrljic

    Peter heads Deacon Australia and specialises in recruiting private practice lawyers at all levels.

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  • Meet the Team

    Gita Odedra

    Gita represents partners looking for their next role, solely and/or as part of a team, and advises law firms on strategic lateral hires.

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  • Meet the Team

    Chris Payne

    Chris has a strong track record in facilitating partner and team moves.

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Testimonials

  • I have enjoyed building my relationship with Deacon Associates. They are a pleasure to deal with and they have presented us with some really interesting candidates.

    Solomon Wifa, Willkie Farr & Gallagher,

  • I would happily recommend Deacon Associates. I found them to be professional, commercial, focused and driven in securing the right and best candidates.

    Daniel Levy, Mishcon de Reya,

  • Scott has been an excellent recruitment business partner over many years. He strikes a great balance between keeping a process on track and at the same time being alive to the inherent sensitivities.

    David Collins, Managing Partner, Business Advisory & Transaction Services, Charles Russell Speechlys,

  • Thanks for your help. You have rekindled my faith in recruiters.

    John B. Quinn, Founding Partner, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP,

  • As you can imagine, I get bombarded with calls from a variety of recruiters. However, I always take Deacons’ calls – they are insightful, know the market and produce some really interesting candidates.

    Michael Francies, Weil, Gotshal & Manges,