He joins Knights after leaving his role as European director at Carlyle Executive Search in London.

Leading recruitment professional James Taylor has joined the team at professional services firm Knights to head the company’s ambitious strategy to double staff numbers across all three of the firm’s offices in the next two years.

James joins Knights after leaving his role as European director at Carlyle Executive Search in London. Prior to that, he was head of professional services and associate partner at Green Park Interim and Executive Search.

James felt the time was right to make the move to an in-house role. At Knights, James’ strategy will be the recruitment of new partners and lawyers at the firm’s offices in Gloucestershire, Cheshire and Staffordshire.

He will also oversee the company’s HR.

James said: ‘Knights is a trailblazer in the legal sector, being the first professional services firm in the UK legal sector to have raised capital through private equity investment – and I was keen to become a part of that success.

‘We want to double the size of the business and break into the top 100 professional services firms by 2017.’

Knights CEO David Beech said: ‘James has the experience and expertise we require as we continue to grow our firm and we are delighted he has joined us.

‘We will also continue with our recruitment drive to attract the very best legal and “non-law” talent into our business which is central to our future growth plans. At the same time we are mindful that we need to project our culture and ethos and maintain what is a fantastic place to work.  

‘We aim to attract talented people who aspire to be in a business which supports their career path and rewards them immediately on delivery.’

Originally from Birmingham, James has moved back to the Shropshire area. He went into the army from university, leaving in 2000 following an injury. He has worked in London ever since.

Today, Knights employs more than 200 people across all three offices.

Topics