02 Feb Why Marsden? Angela Floydd
Angela Floydd is Marsden’s In-house Head of Europe and co-head of the company’s global practice, alongside Karen Glass. Based in Switzerland, she joined Marsden in February 2024, bringing more than two decades of international legal search experience across Europe, the US and Asia.
After completing her law degree in London, Angela trained and qualified as a lawyer at Kennedys, a leading dispute resolution firm where she spent six years specialising in commercial litigation and medical malpractice. In 1997, a move to Hong Kong proved to be a defining moment in her career. With no local Kennedys office at the time, Angela explored alternative options and was introduced to legal recruitment – a role that immediately appealed for its blend of legal market knowledge, relationship-building and strategic problem-solving. She went on to spend 10 years in Asia, working in Hong Kong and Singapore, initially focused on associate and partner level recruitment for major international law firms across the region.
Over time, Angela’s interests shifted increasingly towards in-house legal roles. High-profile corporate failures such as Enron underlined the critical importance of strong in-house legal and compliance functions, and she became drawn to supporting lawyers operating at the heart of businesses. This led her to executive search, recruiting at C-suite level and developing a particular specialism in General Counsel and senior in-house legal and compliance appointments.
In 2008, Angela relocated to Switzerland and joined another global legal search firm, where she played a key role in growing its European and international practice. Based in a global hub for life sciences, she has developed deep sector expertise in this area, alongside experience in technology, industrial, consumer, professional and financial services.
“I’ve really enjoyed getting to know life sciences and other highly-regulated industries. Over the years, I’ve seen how the in-house role and the lawyers themselves have evolved, and these sectors in particular attract some of the brightest and best. The lawyers I work with are multifaceted and purpose-driven, combining an understanding of innovation with strong commercial judgment. They help businesses move forward, without losing sight of risk, value or reality.”
Angela had long been aware of Marsden, having kept in touch with founder Jonathan Marsden from their time working together earlier in her career. She had also followed the firm’s strategic investment in its global in-house offering and international footprint. Given the global nature of her own work—spanning Switzerland and international mandates—Marsden offered the opportunity to operate at scale while remaining part of a genuinely collaborative culture.
“The people and culture were key in my decision to join Marsden,” Angela explains. “The firm has grown organically without losing its collegial, values-led, collaborative feel, which really stood out. I was equally struck by the quality of mandates and the depth of experience across the team. Marsden also has an outstanding law firm practice, which sits naturally alongside its in-house work giving a genuinely joined-up view of the legal market. It was obvious that the private practice and in-house teams were working in a symbiotic way, making the whole offering stronger.” Since joining, Marsden’s global in-house practice continues to grow strategically, most recently with the appointment of Ryan Whitacre in 2026 to lead our US in-house practice, working closely with Angela and Karen.
Angela partners with executive teams not only on senior searches but on broader advisory support such as succession planning, legal team structure, competency reviews and team builds. Her work also focuses on helping clients appoint and develop lawyers who operate as true business partners within constantly changing environments. Tighter headcount and rising expectations around AI and technology has made it even more critical to get each hire right.
As a certified Lumina practitioner, Angela combines her experience with evidence-based tools where they add value. She’s seen how psychometric insight can complement recruitment decisions, guide discussions with clients on leadership and key roles, as well as support team and individual development beyond searches.
What Angela enjoys most is the impact of her work. “I love getting to know businesses – how they operate, what they’re trying to achieve and where they need support. I also love meeting and getting to know so many impressive people along the way,” she says. “Getting the right match can genuinely change someone’s life and make a difference to the success of a team and ultimately an organisation. Being part of that for both the individual and the business is something I find incredibly rewarding and feel fortunate to be doing.”
For Angela, successful recruitment is underpinned by curiosity – a genuine interest in what motivates people and drives organisations, combined with strong market awareness. “Curiosity, a strategic, commercial mindset, and the ability to think creatively to solve recruitment challenges quickly and practically are absolutely key,” she says.
Her outlook is pragmatic and optimistic, shaped by a belief that every outcome is a learning opportunity. Two quotes in particular resonate with her: Nelson Mandela’s “I never lose. I either win or learn,” and Abraham Lincoln’s “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” Learning continuously and finding ways to work smart are at the heart of her approach.