PYE LEGAL GROUP - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Legal Recruiter
- Search Director
Catherine Wilde is an accomplished legal recruiter with more than 25 years of attorney placement experience. She began her legal career in the Finance section of Baker Botts LLP, after working as a Geologist with Sabine Corporation focusing on Gulf Coast exploration and production. She subsequently gained first hand in-house experience at GE Capital and eventually transitioned to a career in attorney placement. Cathy received her Geology degree from the University of Texas after transferring from Wellesley College and her law degree from the University of Houston Law Center, where she served as Editor of the Houston Law Review.
Cathy has worked with many of Texas's most recognizable law firms and corporations, assisting with both permanent and contract placements. Her background in the energy business continues to be an asset for Pye's energy-focused clients.
Cathy lives in Camp Logan adjacent to Memorial Park and served as a member of the Board of the Memorial Park Conservancy for the past six years. She especially enjoys running, biking and hiking in the park and elsewhere with her husband and former St. John's School classmate, David, and her two children, son-in-law and granddaughter.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Search Director
Danielle Kruger joined Pye Legal Group in 2022. Before transitioning to legal recruiting, Danielle practiced law for nine years in a big law firm, an in-house legal department, and in a small firm. She enjoys drawing upon her own diverse experience to help attorneys navigate their career paths. Danielle received her Bachelor of Business Administration from Emory University and her law degree from The University of Texas at Austin.
Danielle is a Board Member at her sons' schools' PTO, and she supports several non-profit organizations, including the Houston Food Bank and the Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center. A proud and native Houstonian, Danielle enjoys exploring all the amazing restaurants her city has to offer. She also loves reformer Pilates and attempting to grow things in her garden. Danielle lives with her husband, whom she met at summer camp, and her two sons.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director - Dallas
Electra Harelson has more than 20 years of legal recruiting experience and leads our Dallas office, helping small and large companies grow their in-house legal team. Her successful placements include General Counsels, other In-House Counsel, Contracts Managers, Compliance Officers, Paralegals, and Legal Administrators. She handles both retained and contingent searches and temporary positions.
Electra received her B.A., cum laude, from Duke University. She began her career in legal recruiting for the Dallas offices of Locke Lord and Vinson & Elkins, where she managed both lateral hires and new associate recruiting.
A native of Dallas, she is involved with The Dallas Summit and The Texas General Counsel Forum. Electra volunteers at Jubilee Park and Community Center and outreach through St. Michael and All Angels church. In her free time, she enjoys cheering on the Duke Blue Devils in basketball and football and spending time with her extended family.
Job Titles:
- Board Member of the Mother Attorney Mentoring Association
- Search Director
Jessica Maloney Cathey began her recruiting career in 2011 and specializes in the recruiting and placement of attorneys, paralegals and eDiscovery professionals. Before becoming a recruiter, Jessica practiced law for six years in both the public and private sectors. She received her law degree from the University of Texas at Austin and her Bachelor's Degree from the University of Notre Dame where she majored in English and Art History.
Jessica is a Board Member of the Mother Attorney Mentoring Association in Austin; a Board Member at her sons' school's PTA; a member of the Travis County Women's Lawyer's Association and a member of Art Alliance Austin. Jessica loves living in Austin with her husband, twin boys and two dogs.
Job Titles:
- a Search Director
- Search Director
After practicing law for 3 years, Kemi (Lawal) Adesina - joined Pye Legal Group as a Search Director at the start of 2022. Before joining Pye, Kemi practiced as a litigator and corporate taxation attorney. Through her experiences, Kemi gained notable skill identifying and analyzing tax incentives for American businesses. Kemi received her Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Georgia and her law degree from South Texas College of Law.
While Kemi grew up in Atlanta, Georgia she now calls Houston home. She enjoys watching college football, the arts and traveling all over the world. She is a giant fan of the University of Georgia bulldogs, and can be found watching their football games on any given fall Saturday. Kemi is also an avid "foodie" and loves to explore the local restaurants.
Job Titles:
- Operations and Marketing Manager
Kimberly Cartwright is an experienced communications and marketing professional. Before joining Pye Legal Group, Kim lived in New York City and worked in the music and entertainment industry. As Head of Marketing and Public Relations for an independent record label, she worked closely with the artists and the label to plan the marketing and launch of new artists and designing publicity materials. With early intentions of becoming an accountant, Kim is also educated and experienced in human resources and small business finance. She joined Pye Legal Group in 2010 and is currently serving as the Operations and Marketing Manager.
A Houston native, Kim is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma, where she earned her Bachelor's of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communications.
Laura Eastman began her legal recruiting career in 1998 and has enjoyed using her skills as a former litigator to recruit and place attorneys ranging from associates at law firms to in-house lawyers from Counsels to General Counsels. She has completed searches in subject matter areas including litigation, energy transactions, non-profit, commercial real estate and renewable energy. She was one of the initial employees when Susan Pye founded Pye Legal Group in 2006. Laura started her legal career as a commercial litigator at Andrews & Kurth, where she practiced for nine and a half years. Laura received her law degree from Southern Methodist University, where she was an Associate Editor of the Southwestern Law Journal. Laura received her B.A., magna cum laude, from Mary Baldwin College, where she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
Laura and her husband live in Houston and are enjoying empty nesting. Laura enjoys traveling to New York, Virginia, and Washington D.C. to visit her children as often as they will allow. Laura happily supports St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, The Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research, and St. Martin's Episcopal Church.
Linda Katz has been in management positions in the legal industry for more than 23 years. Prior to joining Pye Legal Group, Linda was the Legal Administrator for Reliant Energy where she was a member of the Legal Management Team and helped to put in place the infrastructure for the Law Department. She joined Reliant from Baker Botts where she was Director of Professional Support and Facilities. Previously, she was the firm's first Paralegal Manager and built a prestigious paralegal program that gained national recognition.
Linda currently serves on the Executive Committees of three Boards, the Society of the Moores School of Music at University of Houston, Houston Youth Symphony and The Ponce Project. She also serves on the Leadership Council of Posse Houston and volunteers with Kids Meals. Linda is a past president of the International Paralegal Management Association (IPMA).
Phai joined Pye Legal Group in 2007 after being in the legal industry since 2004 as a paralegal at a Dallas law firm. She handles paralegal and contract manager searches as well as staffs eDiscovery projects for corporations and select law firms. Phai is delighted to work with a wonderful group at Pye. As Vince Lombardi said "The achievements of an organization are the results of combined effort of each individual."
Phai received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. She grew up in Vermont and is still connected to her hometown as a committee member of the Equity Scholarship issued to high school graduates. She lives in Spring Branch with her husband and two children.
Job Titles:
- President
- Legal Search Consultant and Former General Counsel
Stacy Humphries is an experienced legal search consultant and former general counsel. Before becoming a recruiter, she served as the V.P. of Legal Affairs for the Houston Rockets organization, where she managed the legal department and served as a member of a seven-person senior management team during the development of Toyota Center. She began her legal career as a transactional associate at Vinson & Elkins. Stacy earned a law degree, cum laude, from Harvard Law School and B.A., magna cum laude, from Duke University, where she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
Since 2004 Stacy has used her legal experience to recruit for and build in-house legal departments. She has filled positions from General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer down to Counsel across numerous industries and practice areas. She has been leading Pye Legal Group since 2019.
LawDragon recently named Stacy one of the Top 100 Global Leaders in Legal Strategy & Consulting. A former member of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Legal Search Consultants (NALSC), Stacy has served as a source for legal publications regarding trends in lateral hiring and as an expert witness on attorney compensation and marketability.
Stacy is active in local non-profit organizations including Impact100 Houston and Girls Inc. of Greater Houston. She is an avid sports fan and a dedicated Peloton owner, and she is adjusting to a half-empty nest now that her older son is attending the University of Miami.
The founder of Pye Legal Group, Susan Pye, was a pioneer in legal recruiting. She was a smart, tenacious, and compassionate businesswoman and a generous supporter of a number of charitable organizations.
Over the course of three decades, she built the legal staffs of hundreds of law departments and boutique law firms; advised General Counsels and other corporate executives; counseled and elevated the careers of countless lawyers; and championed diversity. Thanks to Susan's vision and leadership, Pye Legal Group is the top legal recruiting firm in Texas. Though Susan passed away in 2019, Pye Legal Group maintains her commitment to excellence, integrity, and relationships.
Job Titles:
- Legal Recruiter for 23 Years and Part of the Houston
- Search Director
Tracie Ephross has been a successful legal recruiter for 23 years and part of the Houston legal community for more than 30. She specializes in attorney placements in highly specialized areas of law and has completed searches for many of the top legal departments of Fortune 500 corporations across the country.
A native Texan, Tracie earned her B.S. in Marketing from Louisiana State University (Geaux Tigers!), and prior to focusing on executive search, worked as a paralegal with Fulbright and Jaworski, L.L.P. She enjoys people and building lasting relationships with clients and candidates alike. She has been a volunteer of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo since 1995 where she is a member of the International Committee.
Tracie and her husband call Bellaire home and when not talking to lawyers, she enjoys travel and exploration, as well as celebrating good friends and family.