Biographies

                          

Julie Q. Brush, Founding Partner
Silicon Valley & San Francisco Offices

julieq@solutuslegal.com

 

Selected as one of the Best and Brightest Business Leaders of "40 Under 40" by the Silicon Valley/San  Jose  Business Journal and the recipient of the YWCA Tribute to Women & Industry Award, Julie Brush is   recognized as a leading legal search and industry expert to corporate and law firm executives throughout the  globe.

 

Julie’s practice includes the representation of corporations and law firms, with an expertise in retained partner and General Counsel searches.  Her corporate clients are among the world’s finest organizations which include Cisco Systems, Juniper Networks, Barclays Global Investors, Oracle Corporation, Borland, Brocade, EMC Corporation, Intuit, Sharper Image Corp, JDSU, Equity Office Properties Trust (EOP), LiveOps and salesforce.com. Her law firm retained partner search roster is equally impressive. A small sampling of her retained partner success includes Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, Latham & Watkins, Cooley Godward, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, K&L Gates, Thelen Reid & Priest, Fish & Neave (now Ropes & Gray), Perkins Coie, Bryan Cave and Shook Hardy Bacon.

 

Julie is recognized in the industry for her impeccable client service, vast knowledge of the legal market and uncompromising integrity. Clients request Julie’s assistance when they want the highest caliber experience and quickest results.

 

As the co-founder of Solutus Legal Search, Julie’s background incorporates an impressive mix of business and legal experience.  She earned her BA from UCLA where she was a member of the Women’s Varsity Tennis Team and professional tennis tour. She received her JD from Golden Gate University School of Law where she served on the law review and worked full-time while attending law school in the evening.  Julie practiced real estate law with Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison and served in a corporate/business role at Levi Strauss & Co. before founding Solutus. 

 

Julie is on the Board of Advisors for the Women's Intellectual Property Lawyers Association (WIPLA) and the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs & Executives where she is also the Co-Chair for the organization’s General Counsel Network.  She also frequently lectures to law students at the country’s finest law schools providing insight on current legal market conditions and job strategies.

 

W. Jon Escher, Founding Partner
Silicon Valley & SF Offices

jon@solutuslegal.com

 

Jon received his A.B. from Stanford University in 1977 and his J.D. from Hastings College of Law in 1980. Before establishing Solutus in January of 2000, Jon worked as a Principal in the Palo Alto office and as the Managing Partner of a national legal search firm. He has over fifteen years of experience in the legal search business helping lawyers at all levels with the advancement of their careers. Jon also practiced law for many years, both as an associate in a major Boston law firm and for six years as in-house counsel to Tyco International.

During his legal search career Jon has placed hundreds of attorneys in both in-house and law firm positions in Silicon Valley and throughout the nation. At the General Counsel level, Jon has placed lawyers at dozens of clients including, Stanford University, TiVo, Netflix, Cadence Design Systems, Polycom, Kintana Software, Blockbuster Video, and many others. He has forged close ties with many of Silicon Valley's finest companies and continues to help these clients fill positions across a wide seniority spectrum.

Jon is a trusted advisor to law firms and lateral partner candidates throughout California. He works on retained and contingency searches for some of the nation's and the region's finest firms. He is known for his discretion and for providing reliable and honest advice to firms and candidates in all practice areas. Jon's relationships with the region's law firm decision makers provide candidates with unique access to appropriate opportunities.

Jon is a frequent speaker at law schools and forums around the nation, including engagements at Harvard Law School, Stanford Law School, University of Michigan Law School, Northwestern, and Santa Clara Law School.

 

Kelli K. Denning, Director of Recruiting Kelli Denning Walker, Director of Recruiting
San Francisco Office

kelli@solutuslegal.com

Kelli is a Director of Recruiting in Solutus' San Francisco office, where she specializes in law firm associate and in-house counsel placements. Prior to joining Solutus, Kelli was a litigator in the life science and litigation groups at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, LLP's San Francisco office. At Pillsbury, she gained extensive understanding of the legal issues specific to Fortune 500 clients from various industries including biotechnology, technology, energy, banking and finance.

Kelli received her B.A., magna cum laude, in Communications with a minor in English from UCLA in 2000. As an undergraduate, she spent a summer abroad studying in Stratford-upon-Avon, England and a semester in Washington, D.C. interning for CNN. At CNN Kelli worked closely with Greta Van Susteren and Roger Cossack, co-hosts of the legal program Burden of Proof. Kelli went on to receive her J.D. from Georgetown University in 2003. While at Georgetown, she worked on the Law and Policy in International Business Journal, and was a member of the William B. Bryant American Inn of Court.

As a native San Franciscan, Kelli appreciates all that is special about living in the Bay Area; especially when she can take advantage of the close proximity to Lake Tahoe's downhill skiing and hiking.                                                                          

                   

Karen L. Kupetz, Director of Recruiting
Los Angeles Office

karen@solutuslegal.com

Karen brings to Solutus in-depth recruiting experience in large and boutique law firms throughout California, Washington, Nevada, Alaska, Arizona, and Utah, with particular expertise in relocating attorneys cross-country. She has conducted exclusive in-house searches for private equity firm Ares Management and has placed attorneys with leading law firms, including Latham & Watkins, Simpson Thacher, Preston Gates, Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw, Sheppard Mullin, and Weston Benshoof. Karen launched Solutus' Los Angeles office in 2005, continuing her dedication to providing candidates and law firms with the highest level of integrity, market knowledge, and service.

Karen earned her B.A. in 1992 from UC Berkeley where she graduated with Phi Beta Kappa Honors. She received her J.D. from Loyola Law School in 1997 and served on the Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review where she published an article on constitutional law issues. Karen then practiced bankruptcy law in the New York office of Mayer Brown & Platt (now Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw) and in the Los Angeles office of Hennigan Bennett & Dorman. Before joining Solutus, Karen was a Senior Recruiter at the Los Angeles office of a national legal search firm.

Karen grew up in Northern California and currently lives in Claremont with her husband of 10 years and two young sons. Karen was nationally-ranked among the top 10 recreational downhill skiers and hopes to instill her passion for skiing in her children.

                                          

Rebecca A. Netter, Director of Recruiting
San Francisco Office

rebecca@solutuslegal.com

       

Rebecca is a Director of Recruiting in Solutus' San Francisco office, specializing in the placement of associates, partners, and in-house counsel at elite law firms and companies throughout the country.  Prior to joining Solutus, Rebecca was a litigator at Quinn Emanuel Oliver Urquhart & Hedges, LLP in San Francisco. 

Rebecca graduated from Columbia Law School with high honors in 2007.  She received her B.A., magna cum laude, in Government from Georgetown University, while interning on Capitol Hill.  At Georgetown, Rebecca was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa and Pi Sigma Alpha national honor societies.  Before starting her career as an attorney, Rebecca studied and worked in the U.K., Greece, Spain, The Netherlands, and New Zealand.

Rebecca originally hails from Westchester County, New York, but she loves her adopted home in the Bay Area with equal fervor.  She enjoys travel to unusual places, skiing in Lake Tahoe, and puzzles of every variety.

 

Lisa Orlandi, Director of Recruiting
Los Angeles Office

lisa@solutuslegal.com

Lisa brings an impressive law firm and recruiting career to Solutus Legal Search. She received her B.A. with honors from USC and her J.D. with honors from Southwestern University School of Law. At Southwestern, she served as a member of Moot Court and the Law Review Executive Board.

Following her legal studies, Lisa practiced as a litigation associate in the Los Angeles office of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison and the Century City office of Kaye Scholer. Prior to joining Solutus, Lisa was a Senior Recruiter in the home office of a national legal search firm.

Lisa enjoys working closely with her candidates and is respected not only for keen industry knowledge and accessibility, but also for her integrity and the discretion she maintains with her candidates and clients. She has placed attorneys of all levels, including partners, at some of the nation's and region's premier firms including Skadden Arps, Sheppard Mullin, Munger Tolles, Paul Hastings, and Winston & Strawn.

As a devoted Trojan, Lisa attends USC football games with her friends and family. She enjoys spending her spare time reading mystery novels, wine tasting with her husband, and doting on their dog, Henry.

 

James M. Smith, Director of Recruiting
Silicon Valley Office

jim@solutuslegal.com

Jim is a Director of Recruiting in Solutus’ Silicon Valley and San Francisco offices. Jim’s search practice      includes the representation of attorneys including lateral law firm partners, associates and in house counsel at all levels seeking a strategic career change. He also represents the world’s finest law firms and corporations in finding talented attorneys to help their businesses grow.

Jim brings 20 years of experience in the practice of law, including over 13 years as a partner in regional and international law firms. His practice focused on litigation and counseling, with a special focus on intellectual property issues. During his legal career, Jim served both as the hiring partner for the Silicon Valley office of Squire, Sanders and Dempsey L.L.P., an international law firm of over 800 attorneys, and on the management committee of Wise & Shepard L.L.P., a prominent Silicon Valley firm (now merged with Manatt). Jim’s knowledge of the legal business and the marketplace and his absolute commitment to integrity allow him to provide excellent service to candidates and clients alike.

Jim received his A.B. with High Distinction and his J.D. from the University of California at Berkeley (Boalt Hall). Jim is a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Jim has been an avid Giants fan since the days of Mays, Marichal and McCovey, and fondly remembers being taken to Kezar Stadium by his father to watch John Brodie lead the 49ers. Jim’s passions include time spent with family and friends, history, politics, and the San Francisco Opera and Ballet, which he regularly attends.

 

Lindsay B. Smith, Director of Recruiting
San Francisco Office

 lindsay@solutuslegal.com

Lindsay is a Director of Recruiting in Solutus’ San Francisco office, where she specializes in the        placement of associates and partners in prominent law firms and corporations.  Before joining Solutus, Lindsay served as Managing Director for an international legal search firm.  She began her career as a practicing attorney and worked as a business litigation associate for five years.   She then joined Kurtzman Carson Consultants in Southern California as the Director of Litigation Support Services where her primary role was to assist top-tier law firms with their e-discovery needs. 

 

Lindsay received her J.D. from Loyola Law School in 2001 and B.A. in Communications from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1997.   She also studied European Union law and Bio-ethics at James College in Oxford, England.  After her undergraduate studies, Lindsay worked as a Senate Intern for Senator Joe Biden in Washington D.C.  Lindsay is a native of California and spends her free time participating in various mountain activities.

 

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