Meet the Team

Simon Chadwick, Founder

Simon has worked in professional services recruitment for many years, in the legal and financial markets, both in the UK and globally. His unrivalled knowledge of the legal and financial markets, accompanied by his industry contacts, have led him to build a leading executive search practice. With Espero Consulting, Simon is able to capitalise on his experience and provide services to clients in the global professional services markets.

He has been a board member of two law firms and the local leader of the Managing Partners’ Forum in the UK (www.mpfglobal.com).  Simon is best known for starting the leading legal recruiter Chadwick Nott –  the company he sold to what is now Impellam Group plc; the second largest staffing company in the UK, owned by Lord Ashcroft. Simon is a passionate leader and Chadwick Nott achieved remarkable levels of staff engagement (it reached Number 18 in the Sunday Times Top 100 Best Small Companies to Work For).

Andrew Roberts, Director

Andrew has enjoyed a long and varied career within the legal executive search and M&A sectors.

Until 1998 he was Director of Private Practice at Longbridge plc, the London based AIM-listed legal search consultancy. He then became a Partner at the UK’s largest privately owned financial headhunting organisation, Alexander Mann, where he successfully opened the profitable Legal desk. He established SSG Legal in 2000 and from 2000 to 2018 he specialised in headhunting senior lawyers, key laterals and teams for a client base of growing progressive law firms.

His experience of the legal search market plus his market intelligence and contact network enable clients and candidates to achieve their commercial priorities quickly and discreetly.

In June 2018 SSG Legal and Espero Consulting merged when it became clear that by combining formally they would have greater strength, knowledge and resources and so would be able to offer their joint clients a better level of service.

Andrew has developed a leading M&A practice in the legal market, both in the UK and internationally.

Lillian Bishop, Specialist Consultant

Lillian has recruited for over 18 years for regional and leading UK law firms, multinationals, nationals and start-up companies.  She established her own specialist legal recruitment business in 2001 which has grown to cover operational and corporate roles in the UK and wider EEA.

Her in-house legal work crosses a broad range of industry sectors including hospitality, travel, leisure and technology. Partnering with law firms and companies to fill their mid and senior level roles, she is recognised as passionately having the best interests of her candidates and clients at the centre of everything she does.  A wealth of experience has been gained in talent acquisition – from candidate identification, attraction and short listing through to successful placement using a range of recruitment services. These include retained search and flat fee based consultancy services.

Lillian is a specialist consultant with Espero Consulting, where her exceptional experience benefits our clients and candidates alike.

Charlie Chadwick, Executive Search Consultant

Charlie is engaged on executive search assignments for law firms in the UK and across Espero’s international markets.

He adds depth to Espero’s highly experienced team and brings a fresh perspective to the business. Charlie’s interpersonal skills are shown to their full value during his approach work on searches. He also adds strength to our rigorous research process on behalf of our clients.

Gary Malbin, Talent Acquisition, New York

Gary has an extensive background in talent acquisition, sourcing and recruiting top level professionals for companies based in the USA.

He is a respected leader who has hired, trained, and managed talent acquisition and marketing teams. He additionally built and sold an Information Technology professional services business. He credits his success to building strong business relationships based on integrity, work ethic and follow through.

Gary is excited to be helping Espero Consulting expand services in the US marketplace.

Samantha Low, Head of Research

Samantha built exceptional knowledge of the legal market and recruitment whilst working at Chadwick Nott with Simon. As Espero Consulting’s Head of Research, Samantha provides thorough talent mapping and market information to Espero and select clients. With varied interests and a range of experience behind her, Samantha also assists in several other essential areas of the business.