Josh Dull, a Senior Partner in the New York office at CenterPeak, knows about building a top-flight team.
Before he started his legal career, Dull was a four-year letterman at the University of Iowa, playing tight end in the powerful Big Ten conference. Following a professional football career that took him to Europe, he decided to go to law school.
After working at law firms in Denver and Italy, Dull called an audible and went into the legal recruiting field.
Over the last 20 years, Dull has helped elite global law firms add partners in far-flung international markets ranging from London, Hong Kong, Sao Paulo, Bogota and Mexico City to major U.S. markets like New York, Chicago, Boston, Miami, Charlotte and Atlanta. He has also represented high-profile candidates in Milan, Madrid and Paris.
With his global perspective and experience, firms looking to expand their practices by opening offices in new cities have worked closely with Dull to successfully identify talent and execute market-entry strategies.
Dull now teams with senior leadership from a handful of elite law firms to search for blue-chip talent to add to their roster. One recent example was Dull's placement of Brian Hamilton from Sullivan & Cromwell to Willkie Farr & Gallagher. Hamilton served as co-head of S&C’s private equity group and is widely considered one of the top M&A dealmakers in New York.
Dull was recently recognized in Lawdragon’s 100 Global Leaders in Legal Strategy & Consulting.
Lawdragon: What do you do as a recruiter?
Josh Dull: I work closely with elite law firm leadership on their most mission-critical partner recruiting needs. We represent high-value law firm partners in their lateral moves to the world’s most profitable law firms, helping them maximize their compensation and leverage bigger and better platforms to expand their practices.
LD: What parts of your job are professionally satisfying? You are a lawyer. Do you like helping to guide other lawyers’ careers?
JD: When I meet a law firm partner who has reached a plateau at their current firm, or has been undercompensated, I am highly motivated to help that partner get to a better place.
Lawyers are increasingly becoming savvier and more sophisticated – and less risk-averse when it comes to positioning themselves and their clients for greater success. Often, that means making a lateral move. I am a firm believer of the saying, “Sometimes you’ve got to move on to move up.” I also love getting to know partners on a personal level. We make the process fun for our clients and candidates.
LD: From your vantage point as a consultant, what trends are shaping the business and keeping you busy?
JD: The stratification and widening gap between the most profitable law firms and the rest of the AmLaw 100 has accelerated lateral partner movement in the war for talent. Many law firm leaders tell us they believe there will be eight to ten law firms that will eventually emerge as “the global elite” and will dominate market share. We have aligned ourselves with those firms and are doing their most important work.
When I meet a law firm partner who has reached a plateau at their current firm, or has been undercompensated, I am highly motivated to help that partner get to a better place.
LD: How has what you do changed since you started doing this?
JD: This is still a relationship business where building trust with clients and candidates is paramount. What has changed is that the stakes are much higher. Partner compensation has exploded in recent years, with numerous firms attempting to modernize comp structures and compete for talent at the highest levels. Firms now pay their top-performing partners (and top of the market laterals) well into the $20-$30M range and beyond.
LD: What makes your firm unique in a competitive consulting environment?
JD: There is no other search firm in the legal space that has the relationships and direct access to law firm leaders of the most profitable and prestigious law firms than CenterPeak. There is also no other search firm that has the track record we have of placing the most high-profile lawyers with these elite firms. You can view some of our placements on our website.
LD: What do you do for fun when you’re outside the office?
JD: When I am outside the office, I like to enjoy anything outdoors – hiking, hanging at the beach, fishing or just going for a walk.
