PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Professional Services Executive Search in New Zealand
The Managing Partner who built the firm is rarely the same one who scales it.
Law firms, consulting practices and advisory partnerships are run by leaders who carry technical credibility and commercial discipline equally. From our Auckland executive search firm we partner with professional services firms across New Zealand on retained search for Managing Partners, Practice Leads, senior advisors and non-executive directors. We treat every partnership-board engagement with the governance lens it deserves and start with a board-grade brief.
The Market
New Zealand's professional services sector is consolidating, specialising and rethinking the partnership model.
Legal, consulting and advisory firms are facing fee pressure, talent mobility, the rise of in-house teams and growing client demand for specialist depth. Strong leaders are needed at the top of practice groups and at the head of the firm, and the partnership model itself is under quiet scrutiny.
Where the sector is shifting.
Specialisation wins.
Boutique practice groups are outperforming generalist firms. Lateral partner moves are accelerating across legal and consulting. Cross-firm mergers and book-of-business plays are reshaping the mid-tier.
Succession at the top.
Many firms have not built deep enough second-tier leadership. Managing Partners are increasingly asked to be commercial operators not just senior practitioners. Retaining female and Maori partners remains a priority.
Leaders willing to professionalise the business.
Demand is strong for partners who can run a P&L, not just a practice. Advisory firms are bringing in CFOs and COOs from outside the partnership for the first time. Boards are appointing independent chairs to navigate generational change.
Who We Place
Leadership roles we search across legal, consulting and advisory firms.
- Managing Partner
- Practice Group Lead
- Senior Advisor
- Chief Operating Officer
- Chief Financial Officer
- Head of People and Culture
- Head of Business Development
- Head of Marketing
- Director of Risk and Compliance
- Independent Chair
- Non-Executive Director
- Audit and Risk Committee Chair
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
01. Do you recruit across both legal and consulting and advisory?
Yes. We recruit across the full professional services spectrum. That includes law firms, consulting practices, accounting groups, management consultancies, engineering advisories and boutique specialist firms. Our retained search engagements cover both leadership and specialist roles.
02. Can you find chairs and non-executive directors with law, consulting, accounting and advisory backgrounds?
Yes. We maintain a curated Board & NED Network that includes operators, finance specialists, governance veterans and senior leaders with deep professional services experience. We can build a chair shortlist, refresh a board, or place a single non-executive director.
03. What does an Infinitas professional services search engagement look like?
Retained search. Every engagement begins with a board-grade brief covering role architecture, success measures, the operating context and the cultural lens. From there we run a structured market map, a long-list of identified candidates, structured interviews and competency assessment, references and a written shortlist report. Engagements typically run 8 to 12 weeks and respect partnership governance.
04. Where in New Zealand do you operate?
We are based in Auckland and run searches nationally. That includes Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Tauranga, Hamilton, Dunedin and the regions. Where a role requires a trans-Tasman or international map, we extend the search accordingly.
Related Sectors
Where leaders cross over.
Investment professionals, operating partners and CEOs for funds and the portfolio companies they back.
CTOs, Product Directors and Heads of Transformation across NZ tech, telco and digital.
Independent chairs, NEDs and successor CEOs for founder-led and private businesses navigating handover, governance and growth.
Ready to Talk
Ready to build your next professional services leadership team?
Partner with Infinitas to recruit Managing Partners, Practice Leads and senior advisors who lift client outcomes and grow the firm.