About EOLIS
Inventor of the Legal Search Industry
A Pioneering Spirit
In 1967, while still a student, Wendeen H. Eolis established her attorney-search business in her basement apartment, principally as a vetting resource, providing reference reports on lawyers and law firms as a consultant to big companies seeking legal talent as counsel for special projects and to assist in hiring decisions, mostly for corporate counsel.
In 1969, with retainer-based search assignments from Cravath, Swain, and Moore and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Wendeen abandoned her plan to complete a PhD, deciding to focus on growing her fledgling legal search business. She moved her office to a tonier commercial space in the heart of Manhattan.
EOLIS Looks to Law Student Interns for Help
EOLIS soon added experienced recruiters and then reached out to law students as research interns to complete her initial two assignments. The EOLIS law student intern program has continued in place since 1969.
EOLIS Makes a Big Move
In 1984, long before home offices and remote work were concepts adopted by small business owners or anyone else, Eolis moved her workplace to her penthouse at 50 Sutton Place South in New York City. She chose that venue for client meetings and dinner parties, believing that she could grow the business best by developing loyal relationships and a robust contact network. Additionally, she rented inexpensive space convenient to subways to provide a bullpen environment for her growing recruiter team.
EOLIS Upends the Goalposts Again
In 1985, Wendeen concluded that there was more to gain from owning an office building than renting space and looked for a suitable property to serve as both an office and residence, a five-story limestone townhouse in Murray Hill, fit the bill. This move allowed executive leadership to collaborate more effectively and provided suitable space to convene project directors, consultants and researchers as needed for brainstorming sessions around the proverbial water cooler
EOLIS Uses the PEP Principle
EOLIS's methodology is Probe deeply for information, then Evaluate it with sharp fcous on separating gossip from information and outdated information from current facts. Armed with this ammunition, EOLIS leadership Performs with confidence.
EOLIS is an Ever-Evolving Company
Over the years, EOLIS has both expanded and streamlined its operations in response to market conditions and opportunities. Today the company's executive offices are at 45 Rockefeller Center. They house a lean and highly productive executive leadership team and a rotating roster of affiliated project directors, experienced consultants and law student researchers for meetings on specific projects.
Our Principal Lines of Business
EOLIS International Group's business activities include retainer-based searches, career transition services, boardroom directorships, and legal marketplace consulting services (including the company's expert witness reports). They are fueled by a competitive drive that values excellence as its own reward. EOLIS services are grounded in a belief system that combines a commitment to productivity and kindness as an asset to deploy generously, within our ranks, with our clients, and with the public.
Our Numbers Add Up
EOLIS boasts 320,000+ experienced lawyers in its sophisticated database, which includes 3,000 repeat clients over the years, more than 7,600 retainer-based assignments, and countless "contingency-based partner placements" for discerning employers, throughout its history. EOLIS brings to the table 50+ years of experience as a leading force in legal talent management.
Legal Search Industry Leadership
In the spirit of a commitment to community, Wendeen invited legal recruiters from around the country to meet with her in 1984 at her New York City home office. She had a plan. With enthusiastic support from the attendees, Wendeen led the formation of the National Association of Legal Search Consultants. She was elected the Association's first president and chair of its board of directors. During her term of office, the NALSC ratified an ethics code and held its first annual educational conference. She remained in the Association until the late 80s when she recast the EOLIS business model to emphasize retainer-based law firm and in-house recruiting services--and attorney career transition services for individual lawyers seeking positions beyond legal practice.