Building a Mission-Driven Legal Team for a Sustainable Infrastructure Investment Company

Key Takeaways:

This case study from MLA’s In-House Counsel Recruiting Practice highlights how we partnered with a publicly traded investment management company to build and strengthen its legal function through nearly a decade of strategic hiring and succession planning. The relationship evolved from individual placements to a long-term talent partnership supporting legal leadership at every level.

• Supported eight placements spanning Corporate Counsel, Senior Counsel, Deputy General Counsel, General Counsel, and interim legal roles.
• Helped the client overcome geographic hiring challenges while maintaining a focus on highly credentialed legal talent.
• Identified candidates aligned with the organization’s mission-driven culture and commitment to sustainable infrastructure.
• Worked closely with legal leadership and the CHRO to align hiring decisions with business objectives and long-term talent needs.
• Supported succession planning efforts, including the transition to a new generation of legal leadership.

The Challenge

A publicly traded investment management company focused on sustainable infrastructure faced ongoing legal hiring needs as the organization evolved and expanded. The company sought highly credentialed candidates with strong law firm pedigrees while operating from a location outside a major legal market. The combination of stringent talent requirements and geographic constraints created challenges in attracting and retaining the right legal professionals. At the same time, the organization’s mission-driven culture meant candidates needed more than the right technical qualifications; they also needed to be genuinely aligned with the company’s commitment to sustainable investment and responsible infrastructure development.

As growth continued, the organization required legal talent at multiple levels, including Senior Counsel, Deputy General Counsel and, ultimately, General Counsel, creating a need for a trusted partner who understood both the business and the culture.

The Solution

Major, Lindsey & Africa developed a relationship with the company’s legal leadership through ongoing business development and market engagement, ultimately becoming a long-term talent partner to the organization. The relationship began with two Corporate Counsel placements and expanded over time to include Senior Counsel, Deputy General Counsel and General Counsel searches, as well as interim legal support. Over the course of eight placements, MLA developed a deep understanding of the company’s hiring standards, succession planning objectives, and mission-driven culture.

In conducting searches, MLA focused on identifying candidates who combined strong credentials and relevant legal expertise with a genuine interest in the sustainable infrastructure space. A key component of the partnership was close collaboration among MLA, the legal department and the company’s chief human resources officer. The CHRO brought valuable strategic perspective to the hiring process, helping align legal, business and talent priorities while serving as a trusted advisor to executive leadership. This collaborative approach strengthened decision-making and contributed to successful outcomes across multiple searches.