1. People make
the difference.
Legal Risk Compliance Finance Human Resources

2. About Aquis Search
Aquis Search is a boutique executive search and selection firm focused on recruiting Legal, Risk, Compliance Human
Resources and Finance professionals. From our base in Hong Kong we work at all levels, recruiting and managing talent
across the corporate, legal and financial community. We operate within a consultative framework and have developed a
long standing reputation for our industry knowledge and for providing a high level of personalised service.
At Aquis we help people and organisations realise their potential. By focusing on areas of business where our skills and
resources deliver timely and effective solutions we connect talent with opportunity in a complex global market.
As an applicant searching for a new challenge or an employer looking for the right individual, Aquis Search is uniquely
positioned to aid our partners in the decision making process.
For our applicants we provide outstanding career opportunities, market insights and trusted career guidance and advice.
For our clients we offer bespoke recruitment services designed to meet the needs of each assignment.
Our geographical coverage extends beyond our offices in Hong Kong, utilising our extensive networks in many of the
world’s major financial centres.
www.aquissearch.com 1

3. Legal
The Aquis Search Legal team delivers specialist recruitment solutions to the corporate, practice and financial markets.
Our experienced consultants have an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the legal sector and provide a range of
advisory services including market insights and salary information.
Legal infrastructure is fundamental to business. Legal rules and systems are constantly created, changed and moulded to
fit particular situations in business and as a result elaborate rights and responsibilities in a variety of ways. In the global
economy most legal systems deal with similar issues, each country categorising and identifying its legal standards and
principals in different ways. These differences are increasingly visible and create complex systems for businesses to
interpret. The legal practice market is constantly evolving and for partners the challenge remains one of managing internal
resources whilst balancing the demands of clients. As the finance industry shows signs of recovery in Asia, key hiring
managers in legal departments are faced with similar pressures.
The Aquis Search legal team provides private practice and in-house opportunities for applicants. We work with applicants
who are able to help build global legal infrastructure for our clients, and with clients who value the importance of these
systems in business. Our team services the full spectrum of law firms, domestic and international companies, as well as the
financial services sector.
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4. Legal
We partner with the leading names within each of the industries we serve and have developed long standing relationships
with our clients.
Typical assignments include:
• Partners – equity and salaried
• Counsels
• Associates
• Professional Support Lawyers (PSL)
• Business Development and Marketing professionals
• Paralegals
Recent assignments include:
• Regional Head of Legal – European Corporate Bank
• Senior Associate, Litigation – US law firm
• Head of Legal, Consumer Bank
• US Securities Partner – US law firm
• Head of Legal, Global Markets – Regional Bank
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5. Risk
The Aquis Search Risk team delivers specialist recruitment solutions to the corporate, legal and financial markets.
Our experienced consultants have an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the risk sector and provide a range of
advisory services including market insights and salary information.
Given the current economic climate much of the vocabulary of risk management is well established. At Aquis we
understand the need for organisations to create a culture where risk management is part of the decision making process,
addresses uncertainty in a systematic and structured way, and creates value based on the best information available.
We work with applicants who have the ability to develop and implement risk management as an integral part of our client’s
organisational processes. The Aquis Search Risk team provides opportunities for dynamic and responsive professionals
to work with organisations that are building transparent and inclusive risk management cultures, capable of continual
improvement and enhancement.
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6. Risk
We partner with the leading names within each of the industries we serve and have developed long standing relationships
with our clients.
Typical assignments include:
• Market Risk
• Credit Risk
• Operational Risk
• Quantitative Finance
Recent assignments include:
• Head of Credit Risk, Private Bank
• Head of Corporate Risk, US Investment Bank
• Vice President, Market Risk, Hedge Fund
• Regional Head of Operational Risk, Regional Bank
• Director, Credit Risk, TMT Group, US Bank
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7. Compliance
The Aquis Search Compliance team delivers specialist recruitment solutions to the corporate, regulatory and financial
markets. Our experienced consultants have an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the compliance sector and
provide a range of advisory services including market insights and salary information.
In recent years we have witnessed dramatic changes to the compliance industry and we understand the strategic
importance of advisory compliance professionals. The central theme of corporate governance issues, both internal and
external, is regulatory compliance.
At Aquis we recognise some of the greatest concerns faced by the global economy centre around responsibilities for
leading enterprise compliance efforts. These responsibilities include: designing and implementing internal controls, policies
and procedures to assure compliance with applicable laws and regulations, responding to requests for information from
regulatory bodies and in light of the recent economic climate, managing audits and investigations into regulatory and
compliance lapses.
The Aquis Search Compliance team understands the nature of developing regulatory frameworks and how these
developments impact the human capital demands of compliance departments. Our team appreciates how regulatory
benchmarks require that adequate human resources are maintained at the appropriate levels of expertise to manage
day-today processes and ad-hoc scenarios.
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8. Compliance
We work with applicants that will bring a strong compliance culture to our clients’ organisations and we are acutely aware
how important it is to match our applicants with clients who heavily invest in regulatory responsibility and understand
the importance of reputational risk. We partner with the leading names within each of the industries we serve and have
developed long standing relationships with our clients.
Typical assignments include:
• Regional Head of Compliance
• Country Head of Compliance
• Compliance Advisory
• Anti-Money-Laundering
• Core Compliance
Recent assignments include:
• Central Compliance, European Investment Bank
• Equity Compliance, US Investment Bank
• Fixed Income Compliance, Regional Investment Bank
• Control Room, Regional Investment Bank
• Head of Compliance, Hedge Fund
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9. Finance
The Aquis Search Finance team delivers specialist recruitment solutions to the corporate, legal and financial markets.
Our experienced consultants have an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the finance sector and provide a range of
advisory services including market insights and salary information.
At Aquis we understand that finance is a core aspect of business management. As the number of financial vehicles and
methods of investment has increased, financial management has become more crucial and complex. In the current climate
the importance of financial control has increased as organisations come under scrutiny.
We work with applicants that will help our clients carefully identify their relevant objectives and constraints, as well as
strategy: institutional or individual goals, time horizon, risk aversion and tax considerations. At Aquis we appreciate that our
client’s fiscal goals and their use of appropriate financial vehicles are more important than ever.
We partner with the leading names within each of the industries we serve and have developed long standing relationships
with our clients. By focusing on areas of business where our skills and resources deliver timely and effective solutions we
connect talent with opportunity in a complex global market.
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10. Finance
Typical assignments include:
• Chief Financial Officers
• Finance Directors
• Financial and Business Controllers
• Finance Managers
• Commercial and Business Strategy Managers
• Planning & Analysis Managers
• Cost Accountants
• Project Accountants
• Treasury or Tax Specialists
• Internal and External Auditors
• Newly-qualified Accountants
• Part-qualified Accountants
• Product Controllers
• Systems Accountants
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11. Human Resources
The Aquis Search human capital development team delivers specialist recruitment solutions to the corporate, legal and
financial markets. Our consultants have an in-depth knowledge, understanding and experience of the human resources
sector and provide a range of advisory services including market insights and salary information.
Aquis understands that an organisation’s human capital plays a major role in defining its character. Corporate culture is developed
by the professionals within the company who contribute much more to a productive enterprise than ‘work’. This means that we
partner with our applicants and clients to identify opportunities that define the individual as well as the organisation.
As a boutique executive search and selection firm we are well positioned to advise on the current and future trends of the
labour market so that internal influences are easier to control, predict and monitor, in an array of organisational cultures,
taking into account demographic, diversity, skills needs, geographic spread and occupational structure.
The Aquis Search Human Resources team provides opportunities for applicants who are able to develop human capital
solutions within our client’s organisations. We work with applicants who understand organisational development and who
are able to build our clients organisational culture, whilst maximising their potential and minimising financial risk.
We partner with the leading names within each of the industries we serve and have developed long standing relationships
with our clients. By focusing on areas of business where our skills and resources deliver timely and effective solutions we
connect talent with opportunity in a complex global market.
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12. Human Resources
Typical assignments include:
• Human Resources Relationship Managers
• Organisational Development Consultants
• Change Management Specialists
• Training and Development Executives
• Industrial and Employee Relations Specialists
• Compensation and Benefits Managers
• Human Resources Information Systems Specialists
• Human Resources Business Partners
• Recruitment and Development
• Performance Evaluation and Management
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13. Our Regional Presence
Beijing
Seoul
Tokyo
Shanghai
Dubai Taipei
Hanoi Hong Kong
Mumbai
Bangkok
Kuala Lumpur
Singapore
Jakarta
Sydney
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14. Our Client Service
Partnership is essential to our recruitment process, defined by trust and communication. By understanding our clients
as individuals and organisations we are able to understand the needs of their businesses, and can then offer bespoke
recruitment services designed to meet the objectives of each assignment.
Aquis works on assignments at all levels. In addition we have specialist teams that work on team moves, partner placements
and assisting international firms move into the region.
In all cases we provide a confidential service that includes:
• a prompt response
• relevant advice to meet particular business needs
• accurate representation of an organisation to the market
• outstanding market insights and intelligence
• presentation of applicants who bring value to businesses
• advice and management when conducting advertising assignments
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15. Our Client Process
Our consultative approach means that we will help define the nature of a role whilst advising on the current market
environment for a particular function. Our research team will systematically identify individuals and institutions by utilising
our excellent database as well as selectively sourcing applicants through our extensive network.
Before we contact potential applicants we develop a long list. At this stage we assess the ideal applicants for required
knowledge and skills base, preferred work experience, personal qualities and projected compensation package. We then
identify a target list of appropriate individuals and begin to inform them of the opportunity. We may also simultaneously
meet professionals who potentially fit our candidate profile to ensure we have covered the target market.
When assessing applicants our objective is to undertake a thorough discussion of each individual’s education, career history
and ability to meet the demands of the role. From these interviews we identify suitable applicants who match our client’s
needs and produce a short list. We then provide our client with detailed resumes together with an assessment of each
applicant’s strengths and weaknesses. Clients may then wish to meet the full range of individuals or to focus closely on a
small number of standout individuals in the first instance. This communication process will continue until an employment
offer is structured and accepted.
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16. Our Client Process
Aquis Search will also assist with compensation negotiations if required. We act as an impartial intermediary between our
applicants and our clients, and report factors that both parties feel will influence negotiations. Should an offer be made,
our involvement depends entirely on the needs all parties involved.
At the end of the interview process our clients may ask for references to be taken. References normally focus on career
history and compensation package, and we will take references from relevant parties if requested. In order to work
sensitively with our applicants, in most cases reference checks are only pursued after an offer has been made, but before
commencement of work. During all stages of the search, we keep in close contact with both the applicant and
client to ensure that communications are effective and productive.
The success of Aquis Search rests on the performance of the applicants our clients hire and it is extremely important to us
that we keep in touch with both parties following an individual’s successful placement.
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17. Our Applicant Service
At Aquis we work in partnership with our applicants and are dedicated to bringing the best opportunities in the market
to them. Our structured approach is designed to build lasting relationships, so that our applicants are able to make better
informed career decisions. To do this our team is accessible and make themselves well acquainted with each individual’s
situation.
We provide a confidential service that includes:
• a prompt response
• trusted career guidance and advice
• outstanding career opportunities, market insights and intelligence
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18. Our Applicant Process
We start building our relationship with an applicant before we discuss a possible move with them. Our process starts with
an initial introduction and we only require an applicant’s career history in order to consider them for an opportunity. Any
information provided by an applicant is confidential until they decide to release it to our clients.
If an applicant is interested in career advice we are happy to provide them with an assessment of the market and the
current options available to them. This normally includes information such as salary advice. If an applicant is interested in
pursuing a role, we will conduct an interview before we agree to approach our client on their behalf. We never forward our
applicant’s details to any third party without their express permission.
Once an approach has been made, our applicants will be kept regularly informed of their progress throughout the interview
process. We act as an impartial intermediary between our applicants and our clients, and report factors that both parties feel
will influence negotiations. Should an offer be made, our involvement depends entirely on the needs of all parties
involved.
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19. Our Applicant Process
At the end of the interview process our clients may ask for references to be taken. References normally focus on career
history and compensation package, and we will take references from relevant parties if requested. In order to work
sensitively with our applicants, in most cases reference checks are only pursued after an offer has been made, but before
commencement of work. During all stages of the search, we keep in close contact with both the applicant and client to
ensure that communications are effective and productive.
The success of Aquis Search rests on the performance of the applicants our clients hire and it is extremely important to us
that we keep in touch with both parties following an individual’s successful placement.
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20. Questions and Answers
How do you treat confidential information?
As the foundation of our network, professional integrity is paramount in our dealings with both applicants and clients.
Our applicants trust us to treat their career information sensitively and act with discretion during the recruitment process.
We have worked hard to earn this trust and we are committed to a strict confidentiality policy.
We will never forward our applicant’s details to any third party, nor discuss privileged information about our client’s
business, without prior express permission to do so.
How do you represent applicants?
Our aim is to establish a close working relationship with all our partners and we value transparent communication.
For applicants the first stage of our process is a thorough interview. We have developed our own assessment
methodologies that capture the skills of each individual so that we fully understand and appreciate their unique qualities.
This ensures that every applicant’s experience and aspirations are represented correctly.
When we represent our applicants, our normal approach includes a specially tailored and formatted resume specific to
each role.
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21. Questions and Answers
What kind of placements do you make?
We have eight core coverage areas outlined on our web-site which are supported by a team of dedicated consultants and
researchers. Our specialist focus means we are uniquely positioned to provide practical and up-to-date market information
for each of the sectors we cover, in particular opportunities within the legal, risk and compliance professions.
Our assignments span the full spectrum of the recruitment market across the Asia Pacific. We work at all levels of an
organisation’s hierarchy from entry level to C-level.
Which clients do you represent?
The consultants at Aquis Search have developed strong relationships with the region’s key decision makers across the
corporate, legal and financial community. Our clients cover a prestigious network of financial institutions, leading UK and
US law firms and many of the largest names within the Fortune 500.
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22. Questions and Answers
What can I expect from the consultants at Aquis Search?
Aquis Search is committed to building long term partnerships. We have developed a reputation for providing a professional
service to our partners which has allowed us to build relationships that are unparalleled in the industries we serve.
Our team is made up of seasoned professionals who have an in-depth understanding and experience of the Asia Pacific
region. They are experts in their fields and will present timely and relevant information to aid our partners in the decision
making process.
Throughout the recruitment process our consultants aim to provide honest, practical advice and feedback. We understand
our applicants’ career goals and appreciate that their success is our success.
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23. About Scott Harrison
Scott Harrison is responsible for the development of the Legal recruitment capability for Aquis. He specialises in middle to
senior level assignments for lawyers across both the private practice and inhouse financial markets. He has also worked for
leading blue chip corporates across a wide range of industry sectors including consumer, manufacturing and technology.
Scott leads a team of professional legal recruiters that specialise within these markets across the major cities in Asia.
He has more than nine years experience in recruitment of which the last six years has been spent in Asia where he has
developed a strong insight into the legal industry, fostered a breadth of client relationships and has access to talent at all
levels. He has worked with major law firms, banks and leading multinationals and has placed legal talent in a variety of roles
from partner level to General Counsel.
Scott holds a Masters in Applied Psychology and trained as an organisational psychologist before moving into the
recruitment industry. He has long recognised the importance of personality fit and is adept at matching people’s individual
styles with the right culture.
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24. About James Hickman
James Hickman is responsible for the development of the Risk and Compliance markets for the firm. He is spearheading the
firm’s innovative approach to client development and candidate management, and will be particularly focused on growing
these platforms across the Asia Pacific.
James has more than ten years of Human Resources experience in Asia and has worked with the region’s largest recruitment
firms. Most recently he has been instrumental in building the Risk and Compliance desk for a global recruitment firm in
Asia. In this role he managed a portfolio of leading professional and financial services sector companies as well as numerous
Fortune 500 multinationals. In other roles James has covered front office positions in corporate finance and equity
derivatives.
Born in Hong Kong, James holds a Masters degree in Chinese Politics, Economics and Law from the University of Sydney
and a Bachelors (Hons) in Chinese History of Art and Archaeology from the School of Oriental and African Studies, the
University of London. He has also spent time at the East China University of Politics and Law in Shanghai and has industry
qualifications in Human Resources and Training.
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25. Contacts
Scott Harrison James Hickman Michael Luckett
Managing Director, Human Resources Managing Director, Human Resources Director
Legal In-house Financial Services Compliance Legal Private Practice
scottharrison@aquissearch.com jameshickman@aquissearch.com michaelluckett@aquissearch.com
Aileen Yu Sam Dakin Gareth Rees
Associate Director Associate Director Associate Director
Legal In-house Corporate Risk Management Financial Control
aileenyu@aquissearch.com samdakin@aquissearch.com garethrees@aquissearch.com
www.aquissearch.com +852 2537 0333 24
19/F, Kailey Tower, 16 Stanley Street, Central, Hong Kong