When we launched our New York office in 2023, it marked a pivotal moment in SSQ’s evolution as a global legal recruitment leader. Our Associate Ryan Spencer‘s move to the New York team this year reinforces our commitment to the US market and to providing the same seamless, consultative service in NYC that has driven our success globally. We caught up with Ryan to learn his thoughts on the move, the unique dynamics of the US legal recruitment market, and SSQ’s natural advantages in supporting lawyers and firms across geographies.
I saw this as a unique opportunity to join a growing US team and work at the heart of our clients’ businesses. New York is the epicentre of the global legal market, and being here allows me to build on SSQ’s incredible track record, expanding our presence in one of the most fast-paced and exciting cities in the world.
On a personal level, the chance to live in a new country, experience a new culture, and travel around North and South America was too good to pass up. I also got married just before the move, so this has been an adventure for my wife and me to embark on together!
SSQ’s USP has been our role in the export of US law firms worldwide, launching and helping build their businesses across geographies and their teams both at partner and associate level, facilitated by our global network of offices and full-service offering. This experience gives us unparalleled insight into firms’ strategic needs, culture, and growth ambitions.
Now that we’re on US firms’ home turf, we can build on these relationships but also utilise them to deliver an elite level of service both to clients and candidates. Put simply, what SSQ has done to date allows us to provide deeper market insights, handle more complex mandates, and offer candidates the unique benefit of both global expertise and a thorough understanding of the local market.
One of the most noticeable differences is the more transactional nature of some US recruitment businesses that clients and candidates have become used to accepting.
In the UK, candidates and clients alike benefit from a more consultative model. Through SSQ, we’re hoping to bring that consultative approach to the US market, offering career counselling for lawyers and strategic advice for firms. We don’t just place lawyers, we act as partners in their and firms’ long-term success.
There are also differences in career trajectories. While the end goal is often the same – partnership – the route can be more varied. In the US, we’re seeing a greater trend of in-house lawyers returning to private practice, often leveraging strong client relationships they’ve built. There’s also a larger market here, and therefore more nuances between firms, meaning recruiters and true market insight are even more critical.
I’ve walked into a very busy market and have already been able to help several lawyers find new homes with some of our best clients. What excites me the most is the opportunity to build on SSQ’s partner network and therefore find the perfect fit for associates where it may be less obvious. But this is just the beginning – our goal is to continue developing our client relationships across the US, provide a full-service offering across geographies and practice groups, mentor new recruiters and contribute to the growth of the team here in New York.
It’s an exciting time to be part of the team, and I’m looking forward to building on our early success to hopefully establish myself as a leader in the legal recruitment associate market here.
Walking past the Empire State Building every day is something I don’t think I’ll ever get used to – though the novelty of 25-degree sunshine in November I certainly could do! The $1 pizza, on the other hand, still seems to be eluding me…
Reach out! The market is busy and we are receiving multiple new mandates every day. That said, whilst it is important to have a trusted advisor to ensure your candidacy is well-represented, it is even more important to build this relationship while you may well not be ‘looking’. We develop relationships over years, so that when you might want to chat, we know you better and you trust that we have your best interests at heart.
