Karen A. Andersen Rejoins Major, Lindsey & Africa as a Managing Director in Partner Practice Group

Hanover, MD (January 28, 2019) — Major, Lindsey & Africa (MLA), the world’s leading legal search firm, today announced that Karen A. Andersen has rejoined as a managing director in the Partner Practice Group, focused on the Southern California market. Karen will assist individual partners and groups navigate the lateral marketplace.  

After opening the Seattle office of MLA in 2003, Karen left in 2008 and has spent the last 10+ years serving as chief lateral recruitment officer for two leading law firms – first Perkins Coie, and most recently, Pepper Hamilton. In these roles, she worked closely with practice group chairs, office leaders and firm management and oversaw all aspects of the sourcing, recruitment and hiring of lateral partners and Of Counsel throughout the country.

“In the decade since I left MLA, I have recruited and hired over 200 partners for two major law firms, including opening three offices,” said Karen. “In rejoining the Partner Practice Group in the Southern California market, I am looking forward to applying my experiences to help both candidates achieve their career objectives and firms address their strategic growth priorities.”

“We are delighted to welcome Karen back,” said Laurie Caplane, senior executive director and managing partner of Law Firm Partner Search. “She has extensive firsthand knowledge of all aspects of partner recruiting, including compensation and conflicts analysis, and can adeptly identify opportunities as well as potential issues for both partners and firms. We are excited that our law firm clients and partner candidates will benefit from Karen’s experience.”

Before opening the Seattle office of MLA, Karen served as managing director and general counsel to the advisor of two Bechtel Enterprises and GE Capital-sponsored venture capital funds. Prior to that, she practiced corporate securities law as an associate at Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison in San Francisco and as a partner at Davis Wright Tremaine and Summit Law Group in Seattle.

Karen earned her J.D. and MBA from the University of Washington and her B.A. from the University of Pacific.