Matthew Bersani Joins Macrae as Partner in New York
Macrae today announced that Matthew Bersani has joined the firm as a Partner in its New York office. Matthew joins Macrae from Cliff Group, the boutique legal search practice he founded in 2020, and brings more than two decades of experience as a law firm partner and management leader to his recruiting practice.
Two Decades Leading a Global Practice
Before moving into recruiting, Matthew spent 26 years at Shearman & Sterling, rising to Global Head of Corporate Finance, the firm's largest practice group, and serving as Asia Managing Partner based in Hong Kong. He was elected to the firm's global board of directors and sat on its global executive group, giving him a direct hand in shaping the firm's own lateral hiring and partner strategy. Over his career he led IPOs for PetroChina, China Mobile, and Hutchison entities, including the largest IPO ever out of Thailand, and regularly advised Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and Citibank on complex securities offerings.
That management-side experience has carried directly into his recruiting career. Since founding Cliff Group in 2020, Matthew has focused exclusively on partner-level placements, drawing on firsthand knowledge of how law firms make lateral hiring decisions particularly in the ever-evolving transatlantic market. That management background adds a valuable dimension to a Macrae team that already includes a number of former practicing lawyers among its recruiters.
Growing Into a Larger Platform
Joining Macrae marks a natural evolution for Matthew's practice, growing from an independent boutique into a broader platform. He now works alongside Macrae's dedicated research team and knowledge managers, and draws on Macrae+, the firm's proprietary data platform covering the leading AmLaw and UK elite firms, adding new depth and reach to the practice he has built.
"What drew me to Macrae was the team — senior recruiters with the same caliber of experience and market relationships I've spent my career building, backed by dedicated research, knowledge managers, and data most firms simply don't have access to," said Matthew. "The way I work with clients and candidates doesn't change. What changes is how much more I can bring to those conversations."
Deepening Macrae's New York Team
New York remains one of the most active and competitive markets for law firm partners. What motivates a partner to consider a move differs from one to the next, and firms themselves are shifting strategy just as quickly. Matthew's appointment adds further depth to Macrae's New York office.
“The variables partners are weighing today, whether it’s equity structure, practice group strategy, or where a firm is heading strategically, change constantly, and New York is as competitive and fast-moving a market as there is,” said Melinda Wallman, Chair of Macrae. “Matthew has sat on the other side of the table for decades, making these calls himself as a firm leader, and that gives him a perspective very few recruiters can offer. He was already one of the most experienced partner recruiters in the market before joining us; with Macrae’s platform behind him, he’ll be able to do even more for the partners and firms he advises.”
Strengthening Leadership Across Macrae's Global Network
Matthew's appointment follows a shift in Macrae's leadership structure in the UK. Siobhán Lewington has stepped up as Office Managing Partner of Macrae's London office, a role she previously held jointly with Melinda Wallman as Co-Office Managing Partners. Melinda continues as Chair and Global Practice Leader, with her focus turning to strengthening the connectivity between Macrae's offices — London, New York, Washington, DC, and the West Coast — and the relationships that link the firm's clients and candidates across all four markets.
"London and New York, and increasingly DC and the West Coast, don't operate in silos — the best advice we give clients and candidates draws on what's happening across all of our markets," said Melinda Wallman. "Stepping back from co-leading London day-to-day gives me the space to focus on that connectivity, while Siobhán leads a hugely important office in her own right."
London remains one of the most important legal markets globally, and under Siobhán's leadership, the office continues to build on its position as a key player in the lateral market across leading AmLaw and UK firms, working closely with clients and candidates across the region.
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