James Shenton is Co-founder and Managing Consultant at Opus Resourcing, with 29 years of experience placing executive leadership across commercial, business development, and technology functions. In partnership with Onward Recruiting, James runs exclusive search mandates for senior business development, innovation, and technology professionals at AmLaw and elite boutique firms across the US, bringing a caliber of executive search methodology that the legal industry rarely sees applied to these roles.

That expertise is grounded in 19+ years of C-suite and Director-level search across global organizations, with more than half of his current work focused on commercial and BD leadership. The same discipline that drives law firm growth, client development, and competitive differentiation.

Legal Sector Placements

In partnership with Onward Recruiting, completed placements include:

• A Data Analyst/Architect for a boutique IP litigation firm, focused on building a proprietary LLM application

• Director of Practice Development, Investment Funds Group at a global AmLaw 20 law firm

• Associate Director of Practice Development, Corporate Finance at a global AmLaw 20 law firm

Broader Executive Search Experience

James has delivered search engagements for global brands including NET-A-PORTER, Paddy Power Betfair, Sky, Apple Europe, and Three Mobile, alongside high-growth companies across SaaS, legal tech, luxury eCommerce, and professional services. For one pioneering SaaS provider, strategic hires he sourced enabled 15% workforce expansion in under two years, positioning the company for a successful VC exit.

Approach

James brings a consultative, research-led methodology grounded in market intelligence and deep understanding of organizational culture. A model that translates directly to the nuanced, relationship-driven nature of law firm hiring. His practice carries a 95%+ client repeat rate and a 31-day average time to placement, reflecting a process built for precision, not volume.

Beyond Work

Father of three, avid cyclist and golfer. Completed the John O'Groats to Land's End charity ride for Macmillan Cancer Support.