Chris Holtzhauer

I’m an attorney headhunter. I help attorneys and law firms find the right match for each other.

I work at Holtz & Bernard, a legal recruiting firm based in Miami. Most of my searches are for litigators and transactional attorneys moving between private firms, from mid-level associates through lateral partners with a book of business.

How I work

I’d rather make fewer placements that last than a lot of placements that don’t. That means I spend more time on the first conversation than most recruiters do, I tell candidates when a role isn’t right for them, and I tell firms when their offer is below market.

Everything a candidate tells me stays confidential. I never send a resume to a firm without the attorney’s permission for that specific firm.

ClearWage

I also run ClearWage, where attorneys can anonymously share what they earn. Outside the largest firms, associate pay is hard to compare, and I think lawyers negotiate better when they can see the range.

This site

This is where I write. Thoughts are short pieces on lateral moves, hiring, the legal job market and other random thoughts I find interesting. Book notes are my notes on books I’ve found useful, mostly about work, decisions, and people.