MLA Names Deborah Ben-Canaan as Senior Practice Leader of In-House Counsel Recruiting in the U.S.

Hanover, MD (May 4, 2019) — Major, Lindsey & Africa (MLA), the world’s leading legal search firm, today announced that Deborah Ben-Canaan, a partner based in Washington, D.C., has been named senior practice leader of In-House Counsel Recruiting in the U.S.

Deborah is a seasoned legal recruiter and subject-matter expert on the legal recruiting market. Since 2001, she has placed more than 900 senior-level legal leaders in corporate legal departments across the U.S. and assisted her U.S. clients in making strategic placements overseas with the support of our EMEA and APAC teams. She brings this deep experience into her role as senior practice leader, where she works with CEOs, CHROs and general counsel at organizations of all sizes to help them shape, grow and develop their legal departments. She also serves as a mentor to more junior recruiters within the firm helping them learn the intricate details of recruiting and career advising.

“Despite the challenging circumstances we face in the world today, it is important to us to help our clients continue to evolve and grow their legal departments to meet the on-going development and needs of their organizations,” said Greg Richter, vice president, In-House Counsel Recruiting.  “Deb’s ability to issue-spot and solve clients’ problems makes her an ideal candidate for this senior practice role which focuses on advising clients on hiring and law department optimization.”

Prior to returning to the Washington, D.C., area in 2011 to head In-House Counsel Recruiting, Deborah spent 11 years as a recruiter and leader of our Southern California In-House team. She was instrumental in opening our San Diego office in 2001. She is a former business litigator who practiced in the San Diego office of Gordon & Rees and with the well-established San Diego-based law firm Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch before entering legal recruiting. Deb earned her J.D. from The American University Washington School of Law.