Carlos Pauling is an Executive Director in our Partner Practice Group providing oversight, strategic support and guidance to partner recruiters and practice specialists. He is also responsible for developing a strategy to grow lateral recruiting at a time when law firms are looking to their strategic partners to recruit the best legal talent. He understands the intricacies of working with and for law firm partners, offering a unique perspective many do not have. Carlos’s more than 20 years of business, legal and financial services experience paired with his personal experiences and relationships in the legal industry allow him to bring innovative and resourceful ideas to recruiting and the approach to lateral partner hiring.
A firm believer in the power of community, Carlos is the executive sponsor of our African-American Recruiter Employee Resource Group. He knows the impact that being involved in this group can have on a recruiter’s development and success and the importance of giving everyone a voice.
As the father of two very active daughters, Carson and Clarke, when he's not attending dance competitions or music performances for his girls, Carlos enjoys traveling, singing gospel music, fitness and cooking.
Carlos joined Major, Lindsey & Africa in 2017 as a Director in our Law Firm Management Practice, where he led executive-level searches in marketing, business development, technology, human resources, recruiting, diversity, professional development, finance and firm administration at law firms across the country. He was promoted to Managing Director in 2019 due to his excellence in developing and nurturing relationships in order to make strategic talent decisions for his clients and candidates.
Carlos came to Major, Lindsey & Africa with more than two decades of banking, business and financial services experience representing some of the largest corporations and financial institutions in the world both as associate general counsel for Wachovia Bank (now Wells Fargo) and an associate attorney at Moore & Van Allen, PLLC. Carlos also served in numerous executive roles for private equity firms and their portfolio companies. This robust experience allows Carlos to understand firsthand the unique culture and business challenges of law firms and keenly assess the specific characteristics of professionals who can excel therein. From working within a law firm as an attorney to hiring that firm as outside counsel, Carlos combines a unique set of experiences that inures significant benefits to his law firm clients.
In addition, Carlos has served as associate dean of academic programs and outcomes, vice president, executive in residence and assistant professor of law for a private consortium of independent law schools, providing strategic guidance and direction to law school leadership, faculty, and staff.
Duke University School of Law: J.D.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: B.S., Business Administration
