Melinda, a Partner based in London, focuses on the recruitment of partners into elite international firms in the UK and Europe. In the course of her 25-year career, she has placed hundreds of partners and partner-teams into AmLaw 100 and UK 20 firms and has launched numerous offices for law firm clients. She successfully represents candidates across a wide range of practice areas and has particularly deep expertise in private equity and related areas.

Prior to joining Macrae in 2018, Melinda was a Partner at Major, Lindsey & Africa. She spearheaded the firm’s international expansion between 2000 and 2008, founding its Hong Kong and London offices, and led its EMEA Partner Practice Group from 2008 to 2018. Before moving into recruitment in 1997, she practised corporate law with Gilbert + Tobin in Sydney.

Leveraging her market knowledge and network together with the collective intelligence generated by Macrae recruiters firmwide, Melinda has developed a reputation for getting deals done and getting them right. She is known among candidates and clients for her integrity, discretion and straightforward approach as well as her ability to articulate the differences between law firms from a strategic, financial and cultural perspective.

Melinda’s enduring commitment to advancing women's careers has led her to undertake dozens of initiatives to this end, lending her a keen understanding of what law firms and teams are the most welcoming and supportive of women as well as other diverse attorneys. She co-founded and is a board member of the Reignite Academy,  and serves on the boards of the Women in Law Empowerment Forum and Black Women in Asset Management.

Melinda routinely shares insight into market trends with journalists and as a speaker at industry events. She has been recognized by Lawdragon as one of the “Global 100 Leaders in Legal Strategy & Consulting” each year since 2020.