JW Michaels & Company

06/04/2026

Six months into 2026, the in-house counsel market has flipped.

72 percent of legal leaders planned to expand headcount in the first half of the year. 97 percent say they cannot find the talent.

The catch: 83 percent of in-house attorneys are highly satisfied and 98 percent feel fairly compensated.

Yet 46 percent are actively job hunting.

They are not on the job boards. They are taking quiet calls through trusted networks.

If your second-half hiring strategy relies on posted positions, you are seeing a fraction of the market.

Read more in our latest article on what's driving the surge and how the strongest legal departments are winning the talent.

If you are responsible for building a legal team at a financial services firm, a Fortune 500 company, or a high-growth technology business, two numbers define your hiring landscape right now. According to Robert Half's 2026 Demand for Skilled Talent report, published in February 2026, nearly thre

05/22/2026

As Memorial Day approaches, we take a moment to recognize and honor those who served and the sacrifices they made on our behalf.

From all of us at JW Michaels & Co., we hope you have a safe and restful long weekend with the people who matter most to you.

05/20/2026

"The AI tool may be your agent, but you are still the principal."

In our latest Captains of Industry interview, Tim Nagle, Associate General Counsel (Privacy) at dentsu Americas, shares this principle on adopting AI responsibly.

His framework is simple: Consider AI a resource, not a substitute. Always be the human in the loop. Stay close enough to the work to answer any question about it.

For privacy leaders, GCs, and anyone navigating AI adoption, the reminder lands: the tool changes, the accountability does not.

Full interview available on our website: https://jwmichaels.com/tim-nagle-associate-general-counsel-privacy-at-dentsu-americas-captains-of-industry-interview/

05/19/2026

Tim Nagle's path spans military service, national security, financial services, and global advertising and marketing.

Including roles as head of Navy international law at the Pentagon, legal advisor to NSA development teams, in-house counsel at a major financial institution, and most recently, Associate General Counsel (Privacy) at dentsu Americas.

In our latest Captains of Industry interview, Tim shares what actually transfers across those environments, why a little paranoia is a good thing when working alongside regulators, and his framework for adopting AI responsibly: the AI tool may be your agent, but you are still the principal.

Read the full interview: https://jwmichaels.com/tim-nagle-associate-general-counsel-privacy-at-dentsu-americas-captains-of-industry-interview/

05/13/2026

A highly accomplished New York founder whose ventures span fashion, real estate, and private investments is hiring a Chief of Staff. The role is newly created and reports directly to the CEO, serving as the strategic right hand across both business priorities and a sophisticated UHNW personal ecosystem.

We are looking for a senior operator with at least seven years of experience supporting a founder, CEO, or ultra-high-net-worth principal, bringing exceptional judgment, discretion, and project management ability to a fast-paced, high-visibility environment. The role is based in SoHo, in-person Monday through Friday, and open to Manhattan-based candidates only. Compensation is set at $190,000 to $250,000 base, with a discretionary bonus and benefits.

Learn more: https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/4409986498

05/12/2026

38% of financial institutions are now running their entire compliance function with just one or two people.

In the $1 billion to $10 billion asset range, a quarter of institutions are doing the same.

Three forces compounding the gap:

• 24 percent of institutions say up to a quarter of their compliance team is retirement-eligible within five years (Ncontracts)

• 80 percent of CCOs say their performance is constrained by inadequate resources or staffing (BarkerGilmore 2025 CCO Compensation Report)

• Nearly 90 percent of compliance executives say their responsibilities have grown over the past three years (PwC Global Compliance Survey 2025)

Compensation alone is not solving it. The candidates you need are already employed and receiving inbound calls every month. Reaching them takes a search built on access, not posting.

Read more: https://jwmichaels.com/why-hiring-a-chief-compliance-officer-has-never-been-harder-what-the-best-firms-are-doing-differently/

04/29/2026

The Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance published its top five governance priorities for 2026. Number one on the list: CEO succession and leadership pipelines.

CEO turnover is rising while executive tenures are getting shorter.

& The gap between when boards begin succession planning and when they actually need a successor has widened.

The analysis frames succession planning as a continual process, not an episodic task triggered by a retirement letter. That single shift, taken seriously, changes how a board thinks about everything from interim leadership benches to GC, CCO, and CFO development paths.

Link in the comments below.

04/27/2026

We're partnering with a multi-manager hedge fund on a Sector Data Analyst search to support its Healthcare investment team.

This is a seat embedded directly in the investment process, where alternative data is used as a primary input to drive decision-making. The hire will work alongside the existing Healthcare analyst to expand coverage across Medical Services and MedTech, with a clear path toward greater investment responsibility over time.

Location: San Francisco or NYC (4 days on-site)

We're looking for 1 to 4 years of experience in investing or data-driven research, strong Python and SQL proficiency, and hands-on work with alternative datasets. Healthcare exposure (claims, scripts, hospital data) is a plus.

If this aligns with your background, or you know someone who fits, please reach out.

🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/4403628261

04/23/2026

JW Michaels & Co. is partnering with a well-regarded Boston-based wealth management firm on a 3-4 month contract attorney engagement. This is an opportunity to join a dynamic in-house legal team working within a highly collaborative environment.

The ideal candidate brings 8-10 years of legal experience across financial services, wealth management, trusts & estates, and general corporate matters. The role is hybrid, with three days per week in the Boston office.

Qualified candidates are invited to apply directly below, or to reach out confidentially to Jamie Weiss for more information.

Learn more: https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/4396333050/

04/17/2026

Our client, a global FinTech platform, is seeking a Bank Regulatory Counsel to join its growing legal and regulatory function.

This is a newly created individual contributor role with direct engagement with U.S. banking regulators, high visibility with senior leadership, and meaningful ownership from day one.

Ideal candidates have 4–8 years of post-JD experience (JD 2021 and senior only), a JD from a top 50 U.S. law school, AmLaw 100 training, and demonstrated focus on bank regulatory matters. Financial services or payments experience required; prior in-house strongly preferred.

You can reach out to Lawrence Brown directly or tag someone in your network who fits this profile.

Learn more: https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/4402141323