Establishment and Development of a Transactional Department
The brief
Cyan Partners was instructed by a longstanding client to find a Head of Corporate and subsequently build a Transactional team around this individual.
The challenge
This client had an excellent reputation in many practice areas but its corporate practice was less developed. The role therefore required an individual with the personality, vision and drive to grow a transactional practice. This required an experienced partner, so a particular challenge of this placement was going to be to persuade an established partner, likely in a secure role and large team, to join what was in essence a well-supported start-up.
The results
We took an extensive and detailed brief from the client to establish the nature, market size and sector focus required of their ideal transactional team. We also established potential synergies with other practice areas within the firm. We undertook a detailed market mapping exercise focused on this segment of the market and presented a long list which included candidates from the London market – both within practice and in-house.
We then undertook a search and selection exercise, speaking to and/or meeting in excess of 100 corporate partners, providing feedback to the firm to manage expectations and refine the brief.
Having found the preferred candidate, we worked with all sides to ensure a rigorous process, providing constructive feedback to both the client and candidate and inputting into business planning. We assisted in negotiating an offer and acceptance that worked well for both sides.
Subsequently we worked closely with the firm to build a well-rounded transactional practice which also came to include banking, corporate and commercial partners and associates.
