On the occasion of the opening of a new office in Rome, our client — a well-established Milan-based law firm with a strong national presence — turned to Professional Recruitment to find an Office Manager capable of ensuring autonomy and efficiency from the very first days of operation.
At the launch of the new office, only one partner and several associates were present, but the intention was to further structure the branch by adding additional professional roles and an administrative position, which had been missing until then. This role was essential to ensure a solid start for the new Rome office.
Initially, the client had expressed the need to hire a Junior Office Manager, with a secretarial background and experience gained in a professional firm environment. The role also required a good command of the English language and the ability to handle daily operations independently, with the long-term goal of growing within the firm. However, this request proved difficult to fulfill, both due to budget constraints and the limited availability of candidates who combined a junior profile with prior experience in a law firm.
After a thorough market analysis and ongoing discussions with the client, the team dedicated to Secretary roles suggested a change in perspective, in order to reach a compromise between market availability and the urgency of the hiring process. The consultants proposed searching for an Office Manager with a more senior profile to better meet the partner’s expectations.
The selected candidate, identified after an initial moment of uncertainty, had over twenty years of experience in legal environments, solid operational autonomy, and an excellent ability to work independe
The onboarding proved to be extremely successful. The new Office Manager immediately established an effective working method, bringing order and structure to a firm in its early start-up phase. Her autonomous approach and deep familiarity with the legal environment allowed the professionals to focus on developing the business without having to manage daily operational tasks.
The successful recruitment of the Office Manager highlighted the importance of adapting initial expectations to market realities and the organization’s true priorities. Open and consultative discussions with the client allowed for overcoming an initially rigid perspective, resulting in a solid, sustainable solution aligned with the firm’s medium-term objectives.
The Office Manager has become a key point of reference for the internal organization of the Rome office, actively contributing to the development of the office and its operations.
