Paul Hastings Welcomes RJ Williams as Chief Marketing Officer

NEW YORK – Paul Hastings LLP announced today that RJ Williams has joined the firm as chief marketing officer, based in its New York office.

A seasoned business development and marketing leader with more than 25 years in the legal industry, Williams brings extensive experience in client development, content strategy, communications, digital marketing, knowledge management, and creative services.

“We are delighted to welcome RJ to the firm. His wealth of experience in marketing strategy and business development will be instrumental in driving opportunities to further elevate our market presence and creating deeper connections with new and existing clients across our global platform,” said firm Chair Frank Lopez. “His arrival comes as we continue to attract premier legal and business services talent, which is critical to our success on behalf of our clients.”

Williams joins from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom LLP, where he served as director of global marketing, communications, and alumni initiatives. Williams also was responsible for scaling the firm’s global marketing team through proactive recruitment and talent development efforts and served as an ex-officio member of the firm’s diversity committee.

Joining alongside Williams as managing director of business development and marketing is Lisa Searing, who brings over 20 years of experience building and executing marketing and business development strategy in the professional services space.

“I’ve admired the impressive gains that Paul Hastings has made in the legal market, particularly over the past several years,” said Williams. “I am honored to join the firm at such an exciting time in its journey and look forward to collaborating with its talented team of lawyers and business professionals to further elevate a brand that is known for its collective ambition, collaboration and exceptional client focus.”

Prior to Skadden, Williams worked in academia, primarily at New York University as assistant director of university events and in the school’s office of institutional advancement. He graduated magna cum laude from Drew University and earned an M.A. in higher education administration at New York University.

Williams succeeds Kristen Zadourian, who has been named chief strategy officer at the firm to work with leadership in developing and driving priority firmwide strategic initiatives.

About Paul Hastings

With widely recognized elite teams in finance, mergers & acquisitions, private equity, restructuring and special situations, litigation, employment, and real estate, Paul Hastings is a premier law firm providing intellectual capital and superior execution globally to the world’s leading investment banks, asset managers, and corporations.