Partners
Make smarter, less risky lateral hires
Successful partner recruiting is tough. To recruit and integrate the best, firms need a smart approach to lateral recruitment. Montresor Legal’s Partner & Strategic Hire practice has built an enviable track record combining client led intelligence with close personal relationships with partners and those that instruct them.
Why Montresor
Access to the best emerging partner talent
Key insights from existing and target clients
Leading rates of engagement from shortlisted partners
Inside knowledge of the partners that clients will follow
Best-in-class new hire integration
Meet our Partner Team
Tom Balmer
FounderTom founded Montresor Legal in 2012 and has worked within the legal recruitment industry since way back in 2001. Having spent a number of years working with In-House clients within Financial Services, Tom's practice is now focused on recruiting lateral partners for law firm clients.
Outside work Tom enjoys exploring new ways to battle his waistline and pretending to be knowledgeable about wine.
+44 (0)7876746728
Freddie Lawson
Partner Search LeadFreddie leads our Partner Search practice, placing partners into US and English firms, in London, Europe and Asia. Freddie qualified as a banking lawyer in 2008, before moving to search in 2010.
When not talking to lawyers, Freddie can be found on a golf course, a ski slope, coaching his children at rugby and cricket or trying to cook one meal his whole family will enjoy.
+44 7702 518 365
David Carbery
Senior DirectorDavid joined Montresor in 2024, as a lead Partner consultant. Having over 15 years of experience across private practice and financial services, David has completed some of the highest profile searches in the market.
Outside of work, David moonlights as a personal chauffeur to his two daughters and working on his golf handicap.
+44 (0)7789546880
Caiti Simpson
Senior ConsultantCaiti is one of the leading partner specialist headhunters in the City, having worked on partner and high end in-house assignments for the past six years. With deep expertise across Financial Services, Technology, Energy and Real Estate, Caiti is adept at understanding client needs and closing complex searches. She leverages her long-standing in-house relationships to run intelligence-led searches.
In her spare time, Caiti enjoys exploring London culture including galleries, new restaurants and live music.
+44 (0)7961079790
Roger Barron
Senior AdvisorRoger’s career as an M&A lawyer spanned over 30 years, and has included time as a Linklaters Partner, Vice-Chair of M&A at Paul Hastings and Senior Advisor to Eversheds Sutherland.
Roger’s role at Montresor Legal involves providing counsel to Montresor consultants, clients, and individual partners represented by the firm.
Roger is also a passionate supporter of the arts. He has been a trustee of the London Music Fund, served on various committees at the Royal Opera House and is currently Chair of the London Philharmonic Orchestra's Advisory Council, having been a director since 2016.
Hamish Drake
Senior DirectorHamish is a Senior Director at Montresor Legal and leads the law firm practice recruiting partners and associates on behalf of US and UK law firms in London and abroad. Prior to entering legal recruitment over 8 years ago, Hamish practiced as a debt finance lawyer with national and international law firms in Australia and his home country, New Zealand.
+44 (0)7400346101