About Carl Hopkins & Partners

Carl Hopkins is Hong Kong and China’s leading law firm partner recruiter. He has specialised in representing both law firms and law firm partners for twenty years.

Carl is a Hong Kong Permanent Resident and has been based in Hong Kong since 2007. Prior to establishing the firm in 2023, he spent seventeen years as a specialist partner recruiter at Major Lindsey & Africa. During his tenure he served on the MLA's global executive committee, was the managing partner of the APAC Law Firm group, assisted the firm in its opening of their Beijing, Singapore and Sydney offices, and was at the time of his promotion, the youngest to be so in the firm's history. 

Carl specialises in partner level search, representing individual partners, as well as advising and representing US and UK firms establishing offices in Asia; 12 offices across the region to date. 

Since making the transition from private practice to legal search in 2004, Carl has placed partners both in and out of top US and UK Magic Circle firms in London and Asia. He has a particular expertise in placing partners with corporate, private equity, investment funds, FCPA, litigation and finance backgrounds.

Carl has placed over 100 partners in Asia, many as part of substantial team moves, this includes more than 10 in Beijing, 12 in Shanghai, 5 in Singapore and the remainder in Hong Kong. Examples of his work include: 

assisting six AmLaw 50 firms in opening their first offices in Hong Kong, two AmLaw 50 firms in opening a Shanghai office, one AmLaw 50 firm opening a Singapore office and five AmLaw 50 firms in opening a Beijing office. 

These mandates involved both strategic advice and consulting on entry into a new market in conjunction with the placement of managing partners, partners and their teams to initially staff and grow those offices. Carl also has assisted a number of US firms in establishing their Hong Kong Law practices. 

In addition, his strong client relationships have served him in placing partners at Wall Street firms such as Cleary Gottlieb, Kirkland & Ellis, Debevoise & Plimpton, Milbank, Sullivan & Cromwell and Skadden Arps and Magic Circle firms Allen & Overy and Linklaters

At Carl Hopkins & Partners we are dedicated to providing unmatched legal recruiting services to law firms and law firm partners in Hong Kong, China, and Singapore. 

We pride ourselves on our ability to successfully navigate every legal recruiting situation and on our unparalleled dedication to our clients’ needs. We are committed to finding the most qualified talent for each particular role, and developing bespoke strategies to meet the unique needs of law firms. Additionally, we offer advice and assistance to law firms looking to open new offices and build out additional practice areas, providing both strategic insights, local connections and support to ensure success.

We understand that the legal recruiting process requires attention to detail and comprehensive market knowledge. We have a deep understanding of the legal landscape in each of the countries we serve and strive to provide the most up-to-date and accurate information about each individual jurisdiction, law firm and practice area. We also have a commitment to integrity and confidentiality, and will respect each law firm’s privacy throughout the process.

We are confident that we are the best and most successful choice for legal recruitment. Our team will go above and beyond to ensure that you get the most qualified candidates for each opening and that you are always well-informed throughout the process.

Allen & Overy, Beijing (Corporate M&A)

Allen & Overy, Hong Kong (Financial Services and Regulatory)

Allen & Overy, Hong Kong (US M&A and Private Equity)

Allen & Overy, Hong Kong (Two partner HK M&A team)

Allen & Overy, Hong Kong (Litigation)

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, Hong Kong (Three Partner M&A/ECM Team)

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, Beijing (China M&A and Private Equity)

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, Beijing (M&A and Private Equity)

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, Hong Kong (Capital Markets)

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, Hong Kong (Hong Kong Law Practice) #

CMS Cameron McKenna, Hong Kong (Hong Kong Law Practice) #

Debevoise & Plimpton, Hong Kong (Hong Kong Law Practice) #

Debevoise & Plimpton, Hong Kong (Private Equity & M&A)

Dechert, Beijing (Managing Partner Corporate M&A) *

Dechert, Singapore (Corporate Partner)

Eversheds, Hong Kong (IP Partner)

Gibson Dunn, Hong Kong (M&A Partner)

Goodwin Procter, Hong Kong (Hong Kong Law Practice) #

Goodwin Procter, Hong Kong (Two Partner Private Equity Team)

Herbert Smith, Hong Kong (F.C.P.A. and Investigations) #

Hogan Lovells, Shanghai (Three partner Corporate Group)

Jones Day, Beijing (Two Partner Energy Team)

King & Spalding, Singapore (Power M&A and Project Finance)

K&L Gates, Hong Kong (TMT Partner)

Kirkland & Ellis, Hong Kong (HK ECM/M&A)

Kwok, Yih & Chan, Hong Kong (Fund Formation Partner)

Linklaters, Hong Kong (Private Equity)

Loeb & Loeb, Hong Kong (Three Partner Corporate Team) *

Loeb & Loeb, Hong Kong (Two Partner Hong Kong ECM Team)

Loeb & Loeb, Hong Kong (IP Partner)

Mayer Brown, Hong Kong (Private Equity Partner)

Mayer Brown, Hong Kong (M&A and private equity Partner)

Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy, Hong Kong (Hong Kong Law Practice) 

Paul Hastings, Shanghai (Investigations Partner)

Proskauer Rose, Hong Kong & Beijing (Co-Managing Partners Private Equity / Corporate) *

Proskauer Rose, Hong Kong (Two Partner M&A Team)

Proskauer Rose, Hong Kong (FCPA and Hong Kong Litigation) #

Proskauer Rose, Hong Kong (US Capital Markets)

Reed Smith, Beijing (Co-Managing Partners Corporate) *

Reed Smith, Beijing (M&A and Capital Markets)

Reed Smith, Shanghai (Investigations Partner)

Reed Smith, Shanghai (Managing Partner Corporate) *

Ropes & Gray, Hong Kong (Leveraged Finance) #

Ropes & Gray, Hong Kong (Managing Partner Corporate / Private Equity) *

Skadden Arps, Hong Kong (Banking and Finance)

SNR Denton, Hong Kong, Beijing (Six Partner Corporate and Disputes Team) *

SNR Denton, Shanghai (Managing Partner, Two Partner Corporate Team) *

Stephenson Harwood, Hong Kong (Energy M&A partner)

Sullivan & Cromwell, Hong Kong (Two Partner Corporate Team) #

Sullivan & Cromwell, Hong Kong (Restructuring) #

Warburg Pincus, APAC General Counsel

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Hong Kong (Managing Partner Corporate) *

* Denotes office opening

# Denotes establishment of new practice area

Executive Search

Carl has successfully closed many exclusive retained searches in his twenty years of practice. Such mandates involve the mapping and analysis of a given practice area and market, market diligence and the subsequent recruitment of senior law firm partners. These mandates have included the opening of offices for law firms in new markets as well as key strategic hires. 

Representation of Partners and Groups

Through Carl's extensive network his is sought out by senior lawyers for career advice and representation. He actively maintains these relationships throughout a lawyer's career, being therefore able to offer advice as their market evolves and their career develop. 

Due Diligence

With twenty years of representing law firms and law firm partners on lateral moves Carl is uniquely placed to assist law firms in undertaking due diligence on key strategic hires. He provides a confidential, bespoke service to law firms wishing to de-risk lateral investments.