We aren’t the new kids on the block-- and we believe that’s a good thing. E.P. Dine has been the leader in executive legal search since 1975. Our core values of honesty, integrity, and excellence have driven our success, as well as our focus on developing long-standing partnerships. With a search process that is personalized, collaborative, and efficient, we are trusted advisors to the most successful law firms, corporations, startups, and attorneys nationwide.
We are incredibly proud of our past achievements, but our focus is on the future. We handle searches in cutting-edge legal disciplines and keep pace with the constantly shifting legal market. While strengthening existing relationships, we are also looking to build new partnerships. To share our knowledge, creativity, and integrity with a new generation. To partner with you.
Let’s get started.
"E.P. Dine is our favorite recruiter. Our Firm has relied on and trusted them as they have helped us grow over the last 15+ years. We are a small boutique firm and are quite selective, so it is not always easy to find the perfect candidate. E.P. Dine knows us and the types of candidates we want. They have a knack for sending us very highly qualified, experienced attorneys. It always has been a pleasure dealing with them."
Laurie is the President of E.P. Dine and has been with the firm since 1991. She started her legal career as a corporate lawyer in Boston and realized early on that Big Law was not her path. After spending several years as the General Counsel of a public company in New York, Laurie sensed that her interests and skillset would be best engaged as a legal recruiter. Over thirty years later, she likes to think she was right! Laurie is recognized as an industry leader in national retained general counsel searches. She regularly conducts such searches for leading companies throughout the country. She finds her practice enormously gratifying and has enjoyed building long-term personal relationships with General Counsels across the country. Laurie also has an active Partner placement practice and conducts retained Partner searches on behalf of law firms on a regular basis. Laurie earned her BA from Washington University and her JD, cum laude, from Boston University School of Law. She has been living on the Upper West Side of Manhattan for a very long time and is a devotee of Central Park. Laurie is the founder and Chair of The Beacon Group, a community of women that makes annual grants to smallish not for profits in New York City. She also is the Vice Chair of America on Tech, her favorite not for profit.
Melissa has been a recruiter for over 20 years and is Co-Managing Partner at E.P. Dine and also co-heads E.P. Dine’s In-House Division. During her tenure at E.P. Dine, Melissa has had the privilege to work with the most prestigious companies and law firms throughout the country and attorneys from all walks of the profession. If you speak with Melissa’s candidates and clients, they will inevitably mention her professionalism, integrity, unwavering work ethic, market knowledge, and accessibility. Melissa has an easy manner that makes everyone comfortable, and she feels that everyone has a unique story to tell. Maybe it is the detective in her, but she loves to understand what makes people tick and is a fabulous listener. She is proud that most of her business comes from referrals, many from attorneys to whom she has been a trusted counselor for many years. She derives immense satisfaction from the success of her candidates and enjoys the long-standing professional relationships and friendships that she has developed. Melissa is tenacious and never gives up on a candidate or a search, and her dedication to assisting clients with even the most difficult searches makes her the go-to person for many of the most discerning clients in the market. Melissa earned her B.A. in History from the State University of New York at Binghamton where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa, and her J.D. from New York University School of Law. She came to legal recruiting after working as a hedge fund and derivatives associate at Seward & Kissel. While she enjoyed her colleagues and the professionalism of law firm life, she particularly liked her work as an active member of the firm’s recruiting committee, and as a mentor for the summer associate program. One day while meeting with a recruiter about possible in-house positions, the recruiter turned the interview around and suggested that Melissa might have the skills and temperament to become a recruiter. It was an unexpected pivot, but that conversation was the catalyst for learning about the world of legal recruiting and steered Melissa towards a new career path that still remains as interesting, gratifying, and exciting today as it was on day one. When she is not working, Melissa enjoys foreign and independent films, crossword puzzles, European travel, trying to actually make it through her daily mindfulness practice without checking email, beach vacations in Cape May (her true “happy place”), and binge-watching House Hunters International, as she dreams of owning a home in Italy someday.
As Managing Partner of the Law Firm Partner Placement group at E.P. Dine, David brings to his clients more than thirty years of professional experience, combined from his practice of law and executive recruiting. In the field of executive recruiting, David has primarily focused on Partner placements throughout the United States, conducting retained and contingency searches for several of the most profitable and premier law firms in the AmLaw 100. Prior to executive search, David was an attorney with the Wall Street law firms of White & Case and Skadden, Arps. A Tufts University magna cum laude graduate, David attended Cornell Law School, complemented by studying his third year at Columbia Law School. Outside of work, David is involved in and supportive of various nonprofit and civic organizations including the Jazz Foundation of America, the Joslin Diabetes Clinic, the Battery Dance Company and Temple Emanu-El philanthropic activities. When he's not out with his wife and two daughters or with extended family and friends, enjoying the culinary treats of NYC or the musical culture of Manhattan's jazz clubs, David is most often found strolling in Riverside Park and Central Park with his cuddly canine Coco.
As a legal recruiter, Sarah's focus is on building lasting relationships. She loves getting to know her candidates—their unique interests, career goals, ambitions beyond the office—and matching them with an employer that shares those values. Candidates turn to her for all kinds of support, including job opportunities, market insight, and long-term career planning. With any conversation, she promises thoughtful listening, transparency, honest dialogue, and an open mind. Sarah works with associates and partners on lateral transitions, to AmLaw 100 and elite boutique law firms, and has extensive experience conducting in-house searches for F500 and startup clients. She has also been involved in developing partnerships and informational programming with top law schools. Sarah majored in Neurobiology at Northwestern University, where she served as chapter President for Alpha Phi Omega, a co-ed national service fraternity. Before joining E.P. Dine, she was pursuing a career in physical therapy in Pittsburgh. Her work at a premier sports medicine rehabilitation facility, and her passion for counseling and coaching patients, led her to recruitment. Outside of work, Sarah enjoys conducting NYC-kitchen-sized cooking experiments and adopting way too many plants—next, a dog! Her free time is otherwise spent on hiking, swimming, wandering quiet corners of the Met, Broadway sodas, and long conversations with friends.
Brian Burlant brings to E.P. Dine Inc. over 30 years of experience as a legal recruiter and attorney, including as general counsel for a successfully IPO’d technology company and in international and domestic in-house roles with Avon Products and Times Mirror. Brian comes to E.P. Dine from another leading legal search firm in New York, where he undertook numerous engagements on behalf of AmLaw 100 firms; elite boutiques; and public, portfolio and emerging companies. Brian’s approach to recruiting is characterized by partnering with clients to truly understand their culture, organization and strategy to find candidates that fit in a complete, holistic way. Brian’s placements reflect the breadth of his domestic and international legal experience, having counseled C-suites on matters ranging from securities regulation, corporate governance, mergers & acquisitions and joint ventures to IT, privacy, real estate, employment and licensing. Brian has frequently organized and hosted forums for Partners and General Counsel on topics of importance, including team management, launching an IPO and managing information security breaches. He regularly publishes on recruitment and talent management trends and is a source for several leading industry publications. Brian earned his B.S., Economics/B.A., Political Science, cum laude from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania and his J.D. from the George Washington University Law School. Brian’s community service has included serving as a team volunteer at Ronald McDonald House New York and as a weekly instructor at The George Jackson Academy in downtown Manhattan, a non-profit school founded to serve academically talented boys of all incomes from across New York City’s underserved neighborhoods.
Ankana started her career as a legal recruiter in 2018 and specializes in the placement of attorneys at law firms, corporations and financial institutions. Navigating the legal market can be both intimidating and tiring - a reality she knows well from her transitions throughout her own legal career. Before her career as a recruiter, Ankana was a practicing lawyer with both law firm and in-house experience. Her experiences allowed her to develop a deep understanding of the legal market and enabled her to find her passion for helping others identify and successfully transition into new roles. Ankana’s focus is on building lasting relationships. Her goal is to get to know YOU and your career aspirations, and to be your trusted advisor in helping you build your long-term legal career. Her international background has been instrumental in developing her ability to relate to and connect with people of varied backgrounds and interests. Ankana received her B.A. from Mount Holyoke College, MA and her LL. B from SOAS University of London. Ankana began her legal career as a corporate associate at leading law firms in New Delhi, India and then worked as in-house legal counsel at FedEx in Mumbai and Dubai. Ankana is a travel enthusiast, a movie buff and enjoys long walks with her puppy and toddler. When she is not on the phone, you will find her exploring new restaurants with family and friends, or curled up on a couch either reading fiction, or watching one of the old classics.
Foulematou is a recruiting coordinator at E.P. Dine who helps her colleagues place attorneys at public and private corporations, as well as AmLaw 200 and boutique law firms. Foulematou enjoys forming relationships with lawyers and helping them determine which opportunities can best enrich their professional and personal lives. Foulematou graduated from American University with a B.S. in business and entertainment in 2021. During her collegiate experience, she was fortunate enough to complete an internship with the HR team of a NYC law firm. Through this experience she was able to connect with lawyers of various backgrounds and was inspired to pursue a career in the legal field. As an NYC native, Foulematou enjoys spending her time exploring the diverse culinary options the city has to offer, with Caribbean and Japanese cuisine being her favorites. She loves fashion and art, enjoys thrifting with friends and self-identifies as a shopaholic.
Amy understands making your next move is not just about finding another job; it is about finding the unique match that is compatible with a candidate’s strengths, personality, and long-term career and life goals. She is passionate about guiding and advocating for her candidates and clients during the search process, in order to help facilitate a successful outcome. With a distinctly individualized approach and commitment to developing authentic relationships, Amy has developed a loyal following from employers and candidates alike. As co-head of E.P. Dine's In-House Division, Amy devotes most of her time to recruiting top-level talent for legal departments throughout the US., working hand-in-hand with the country’s leading corporations to help them build powerhouse legal teams. In addition to her in-house practice, she recruits partners, counsels and associates on behalf of AmLaw 200 firms and specialty boutiques. Prior to becoming a recruiter, Amy practiced real estate and land use and zoning law at two boutique law firms in NYC and in White Plains. She was a speaker at the 2017 National Association for Law Placement presenting on the topic of partnering with law firms to help associates navigate the move in-house titled "Navigating the Next Chapter: Strategies for In House Placement of Law Firm Associates". In her spare time, Amy enjoys hiking near her home in Westchester, learning to perfect her golf swing, and playing with her newest grandchild. She is also active in several community organizations and serves on the Board of the Chappaqua Summer Scholarship Program.
As E.P. Dine’s Director of Operations, Anthoula plays an integral part in the day-to-day operations of the firm, as well as in its recruiting efforts. She is involved with the planning and execution of the firm’s strategic, financial, and administrative functions, as well as spearheading special projects. Anthoula also spends a significant amount of her time identifying and recruiting candidates for in-house counsel and general counsel roles. In 1999, as her second summer at Fordham University School of Law was fast approaching, Anthoula opted to explore opportunities outside of law and joined E.P. Dine as a Recruiting Coordinator. She remained in that role throughout her final year of law school. After earning her J.D., Anthoula decided against practicing law and so began her career at E.P. Dine. Although she has worn many hats throughout her years at the firm, Anthoula most enjoys watching candidates grow into successful professionals in law and beyond. Prior to law school, Anthoula earned her B.A. from New York University. While earning her undergraduate degree, Anthoula also worked at the University’s Law School Career Counseling and Placement Office. Anthoula is the mom of 14-year-old triplets and much of her free time is spent convincing them that she does not have a favorite (though we all know her real favorites are Coco and Gracie, her two Shetland Sheepdogs). Any other free time is spent on the NYT crossword, crocheting and reality competition shows of all kinds.
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Nancy transitioned from practicing law to legal recruiting over twenty years ago. She was drawn to recruiting as a result of her interest in helping lawyers make career choices that will satisfy both their professional and personal interests. (No wonder her favorite book as a young person was Working by Studs Terkel.) She applies the skills acquired in her earlier careers as a social worker and a litigator to her work with lawyers through all stages of their careers. Working with young associates the first question is, where do you hope to be in your in career five years from now. And bear in mind, those hopes will likely change frequently over time. Now let’s think about your next career move and how it might lead to the one after that. Working with young and mid-level attorneys interested in leaving law firm life often means lots of talking, reflecting and creative thinking. Let’s think outside the box to open as many doors for you as possible. Finally, over the last ten years Nancy has been working extensively with law firm partners. The challenge of helping these senior attorneys develop a business plan that accurately describes their practices and client relationships is one that never gets old. Some partners tend to be too modest. Others tend to be too creative. The goal, however, remains the same. Finding the best fit for the partner and law firm client, from personality, firm culture and business development perspectives. In her spare time, Nancy enjoys long walks in Central Park with her beloved dog, Floyd; open water swimming upstate, followed by her kayaking husband; laps in the pool; working in her vegetable/flower garden; and creating audio personal histories for families through her project, “It’s Personal, Conversations with Nancy Greene”. Nancy is training for the next post-pandemic Kinneret 4K swim in Israel.
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Ree is a recruiting coordinator at E.P. Dine who works with attorneys interested in both in-house and law firm roles. She values working alongside passionate colleagues, and enjoys utilizing her strategic communication and analytical skills to help place candidates in environments where they will excel. A 2022 graduate of Saint Louis University with a degree in Political Science, Ree’s passion for people and interest in law led her to E.P. Dine. Undergraduate experiences with a legal nonprofit and other advocacy organizations shaped her desire to pursue a career in the legal industry. Outside of work, Ree loves perusing independent bookstores for her next non-fiction read, trying every single iced oat milk latte the city of New York has to offer, and going for runs in Central Park.
Rosemary has been placing lawyers at E.P. Dine for 35 years. She prides herself on the excellent reputation she has built in the legal community through her honesty, integrity and commitment to serving both her clients and her candidates. She is a careful listener and works hard to make matches that will last. She focuses on litigators and employment lawyers of all levels and has made placements at most top firms and boutiques and many leading corporations. She is always ready to offer counsel and perspective even if she does not have a candidate or job that fits. Due to this approach, and her longevity, she has an expansive network of friends and connections throughout the legal world. Rosemary majored in English at Smith and earned her JD at Fordham University School of Law. The highlight of her legal career was her clerkship for the Hon. Inzer Wyatt in the Southern District of New York. After a few years at a major NY firm, she joined a non-profit that promoted Alternative Dispute Resolution. In 1986, she decided she would rather bring people together than help with disputes and she joined E.P. Dine as a recruiter. She has never looked back except to appreciate how lucky she was to find recruiting. It has been a very rewarding career and a wonderful match for her natural talents and interests. When she is not on the phone or in a meeting, Rosemary can be found pursuing one or more of her passions: tennis, biking, hiking, theater and movies, word games, travel and volunteering. She is especially happy when these activities give her opportunities to enjoy friends and family, bring friends together, or make new friends.
Michelle became a legal recruiter at E.P. Dine in 2018. Before arriving at E.P. Dine, Michelle practiced as an associate in the New York offices of two global AM law firms where she spent a decade gathering experience in several corporate transactional departments. In order to diversify her legal experience, Michelle transitioned from law firm practice to become an associate general counsel at (formerly) The Bank of New York, Inc. There she partnered with outside counsel to effect the acquisition of The Bank’s entire commercial portfolio by Chase, and The Banks merger with Mellon to become BNY Mellon. Experience working at these diverse environments informed Michelle’s perspective on the general practice of transactional corporate law. Finding herself the unofficial career advisor and mentor to friends, colleagues, and law students, Michelle discovered that she derived great satisfaction and excitement in partnering with individuals as they journeyed through transitions in their legal careers. After taking time to complete a masters degree in counseling psychology, Michelle decided to combine both her passions, law and counseling, by becoming a legal recruiter and has never looked back. Michelle works with attorneys at all levels but focuses on those wishing to make lateral transitions to other firms or to in house positions. The heart of recruiting is to effect a positive, productive, and lasting match between an individual and employer that will have a significant impact on both for the life of the union and beyond. With so many directions from which to choose, the process can seem daunting for both parties involved. Michelle’s approach is to spend quality time partnering with both employers and candidates from the outset to clearly establish a list of priorities they feel will bring about the best outcome of a search or transition. Always being on the same page as employers and candidates, while bringing her personal experience and perspective to the process, has helped Michelle build authentic and lasting relationships and is one of the most satisfying parts of the job for her. Michelle is a graduate of Haverford College where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology. She received her law degree from the New York University School of Law, and her degree in Psychological Counseling from the New York University Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. Michelle started her legal career as a corporate associate in the New York office of Cravath, Swaine & Moore and then joined Allen & Overy as a corporate associate in their New York and London offices before joining BNY Mellon as Associate General Counsel. When not conversing with employers or candidates, Michelle can be found practicing yoga, taking dance classes, indulging in foreign film marathons, hiking with her 3 dogs, or moonlighting as an unpaid personal assistant to her three children.
As a Senior Recruiting Consultant at E.P. Dine, Mary Ellen Reilly is a key member of our placement team. She is responsible for sourcing, recruiting and interviewing candidates, as well as liaising with clients throughout the search process. Mary Ellen joined E.P. Dine in 1999 part-time while pursuing her master's degree in Business Management at Marymount University. After a brief stint in handling administrative and operational matters at the firm, Mary Ellen transitioned over to recruiting. She initially joined our litigation team, recruiting litigation associates at Amlaw 100 and 200 firms, as well as at elite litigation boutiques. Since then, she has spent a significant amount of time recruiting law firm partners and is currently consulting on associate placement for our in-house clients. There is not a person Mary Ellen could not strike up a conversation with. That has translated into a long and successful career at E.P. Dine connecting the right candidates to the right opportunity. She excels at developing relationships with attorneys at all levels and really listening to their wants, needs and aspirations. Prior to joining E.P. Dine, Mary Ellen attended Marymount University and earned her B.S in Business Management. Mary Ellen served as Director of Business Card Development at Mastercard where she was instrumental in the implementation of the company's Internal Business Card program. In her free time, Mary Ellen likes to exercise, explore the boroughs, and travel with family.
Emmett is a recruiting coordinator at E.P. Dine who works with attorneys at all levels and stages of their careers. He helps place attorneys in-house at a variety of public and private companies, and also supports colleagues in their work with law firm associates and partners. He strives to ensure candidates and their prospective employers receive consistent, clear communication throughout the hiring process. Emmett takes pride in helping match mission-driven companies with exceptional attorneys. Prior to working at E.P. Dine, Emmett served as an executive assistant at OutRight Action International, an LGBTIQ human rights organization, where he developed his capacity for organizational administration. Through it all, he is most satisfied whenever he can help connect people to the resources they need. Emmett also enjoys spending time gardening and sharing knowledge about how to grow food and flowers. When he’s not at work, he can be found with mud under his nails in the black dirt region of the Hudson Valley.
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