Paul Wingfield

Founder and CEO, William James Recruitment

Paul Wingfield is the Founder and CEO of William James Recruitment, a specialist legal recruitment consultancy operating across the UK and internationally. He has over 20 years’ experience in legal recruitment, advising law firms on partner moves, team builds, senior lateral hires and long‑term growth strategy.

Paul has previously run legal recruitment offices in Ireland and Scotland, giving him a broad perspective on regional and national legal markets. Based in Manchester, he works closely with managing partners and leadership teams across a wide range of practice areas, including private wealth, litigation, real estate, and insurance.

Prior to his recruitment career, Paul was a professional rugby player, an experience that continues to shape his people‑first leadership style and his focus on performance, resilience, and team culture.

He is an active supporter of the legal profession and is proud to contribute as a judge at the Manchester Legal Awards.