Korn Ferry’s Legal Center of Expertise is now one of the largest dedicated groups of legal search professionals in North America. Ms. Kirkland has led hundreds of general counsel, chief compliance officer and corporate secretary searches. Much of her time is spent advising leading law firms on succession planning, expansion and targeted lateral partner recruitment. She also has deep experience identifying functional leaders in operations, marketing, finance, information technology, and talent for law and other professional services firms.

In recent years, Ms. Kirkland’s practice has increasingly focused on serving family offices and family-owned businesses. Her work has included placing senior leaders in pivotal roles such as Board Members, Presidents, General Counsel, and Chief Investment Officers. Ms. Kirkland collaborates with clients to ensure that candidates not only possess the requisite skills and experience, but also align with the unique values and long-term vision of the family. While each family client is distinct, these leadership roles often demand executives who are focused on driving sustained success, fostering stability, and enabling empowered decision-making.

Ms. Kirkland is actively involved in broader firm-building initiatives. She chairs the firm's North American Promotions Committee (Senior Associate to Principal), has acted as faculty for new partner training and leads development sessions for consultants across lines of business. Externally, she serves as faculty for the Women General Counsel Canada GC University and advisor to the selection committee of the Canadian Business Hall of Fame.

Ms. Kirkland is a lawyer and before starting her career in search, she practiced commercial litigation. She was admitted to the Ontario Bar in 2004.

Ms. Kirkland holds a bachelor of arts in philosophy and music (with First Class Honours) from Queen’s University and both civil and common law degrees (with Distinction) from McGill University.