Sarita Rai is the Client Strategy Lead for Marsden’s London in-house legal recruitment team within the Commerce & Industry sector. She helps businesses hire exceptional General Counsel, Heads of Legal, and senior legal counsel across Technology, Media & Telecommunications, Life Sciences, Transport, and Energy.
She partners with FTSE 250, Fortune 500, and high-growth SME clients to design and build high-performing in-house legal teams that balance commercial insight, legal expertise, and cultural fit.
Known for her intuitive, relationship-led approach, Sarita quickly connects with both clients and candidates to create long-term, trusted partnerships. Much of her most rewarding work involves collaborating closely with General Counsel to structure and develop in-house functions, ensuring a blend of diverse skill sets and perspectives that align with the business’s goals.
Sarita is passionate about the evolving role of the in-house lawyer and frequently engages in thought leadership, industry events, and conversations around the future of legal teams. She also enjoys coaching lawyers considering a career change, offering a creative and human-centred perspective on career development.
Before moving into recruitment in 2005, Sarita began her career as a lawyer, giving her a first-hand understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing today’s in-house legal professionals. With nearly two decades of experience, she brings insight, empathy, and strategic perspective to every search.
I worked with Sarita over 10 years ago when she helped me build my first EMEA legal team with high quality candidates meeting specific skill sets. Then as now she demonstrated a quick understanding of what I was seeking thereby making the recruitment process efficient and effective. More recently, she helped place me in my current role as EMEA GC. I was impressed at her approach to preparing me for the interviews which were instrumental in ensuring that I both knew what the company issues were and had the opportunity to properly reflect on some difficult points prior to the interview. She is a pleasure to work with always conveying a very positive and “sunny” attitude.
General Counsel, EMEA, multinational technology company
I recently worked with Sarita on an assignment to recruit our General Counsel. The assignment was successful and we recruited an excellent candidate who is already making a significant difference to our senior team. Sarita was a pleasure to work with, presented a really outstanding field of potential candidates for us to select from, and supported my team and me throughout the whole process. The post appointment follow-up was professional and very helpful. I would highly recommend Sarita, her colleague Karen Glass and the team at Marsden.
CEO, technology transfer company
Sarita matched my profile with a job opening that was a perfect fit. I am grateful for the advice and guidance she provided, which contributed to my confidence and ease throughout the interview process. I would have no hesitation in recommending Sarita.
Country Counsel, Germany, Software Company
I had the pleasure of working with Sarita during a pivotal point in my career, as I transitioned not only to a new role in a different type of organization but also to a new country. From the outset, she demonstrated exceptional professionalism, deep market knowledge, and genuine dedication to my goals and needs. What impressed me most was Sarita’s ability to understand both my professional goals and my family and personal circumstances, helping me and my family through the evolving thought process that moving abroad involves. She also assisted with navigating complex relocation logistics and offered thoughtful advice at key moments, she went above and beyond the standard recruiter role. Thanks to Sarita’s expertise and support, I secured a role that aligns with my goals, and I am thriving in my new environment. I would highly recommend her to any professional considering a career move, especially to those contemplating an international move.
Senior Legal Counsel, Investments, Sovereign Wealth Fund
Sarita has been a great recruitment partner. She understands the brief very quickly and produces high quality candidates in a timely manner, often resulting in placement.
Senior Talent Acquisition Partner
I can wholeheartedly recommend Sarita. She recruited me to a previous role and, as a candidate, I found her excellent throughout the entire process. She was thoughtful, calm and attentive to any queries I had, regularly reaching out to me, both during the interview process and once I had started work.
Senior Legal Counsel
I have worked with Sarita for several years. In that time she has helped build my team with care and diligence. Sarita understands the ask, our business priorities and most importantly, our culture. The latter is critical and Sarita’s emotional intelligence and nous is what gives us the edge, every time. Sarita is responsive and fills in sensibly when I have found myself too busy to support properly…nothing gets in the way of progressing the brief and Sarita treats time as the very valuable commodity that it is. Finally, Sarita has humour. Much needed in stressful times. Highly recommended.
Chief of IP, former General Counsel, Clean Energy Company