December.02.2014
New York – Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP announced today the appointment of Siobhan Handley to Chief Talent Officer, effective January 1, 2015. Ms. Handley steps into this role on a full-time basis, after maintaining a dual focus for the past several years on her complex litigation practice and her role as partner-in-charge of the firm’s associate and of counsel talent programs.
"Law firm success depends on attracting, retaining and inspiring top talent. We are very pleased to have Siobhan step into this role full time. She brings a deep understanding of the lawyer and staff talent we need based on her leadership of litigation teams for top Orrick clients," said Orrick Chairman & CEO Mitch Zuklie.
As Chief Talent Officer, Ms. Handley will lead and execute Orrick’s talent strategy, overseeing lawyer training and development and associate and of counsel compensation, as well as recruiting, human resources and benefits for lawyers and staff. She will also oversee paralegal and document review services programs.
Most recently, Ms. Handley served as Orrick’s Managing Director for Resources while she maintained an active litigation practice as a partner in the firm’s Mass Torts & Product Liability group. As Managing Director for Resources, she headed the firm’s associate talent committee (a role in which she will continue) and was one of the principal architects of Orrick’s unique merit-based associate advancement model.
Under her leadership, Orrick has established one of the most robust associate performance feedback programs of any law firm. The firm also leads the market with programs like on-ramping and senior associate mini-MBA and trial academies. Ms. Handley brings to the Chief Talent Officer role deep knowledge of client expectations, having led complex litigation matters for clients such as Union Carbide Corporation, The Dow Chemical Corporation and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
"The past two decades as a litigator with the Orrick team has been an extraordinary professional experience for me. I have had the benefit of some of the best mentors and training available and I have been truly honored by the trust Orrick's clients have placed in me. I'm excited to draw on that experience and work with the firm's leadership to continually build and improve on our talent strategies and programs -- which are one of the firms distinctive strengths," said Ms. Handley.
"Orrick’s commitment to developing talent is fundamental to our culture," added Laura Saklad, Orrick’s Chief Administrative Officer. "We are thrilled to have Siobhan's leadership as we continue to develop new approaches to keeping the best millennial talent in the profession, advancing women and developing client service teams that can deliver truly commercial advice."