Headquarters:
Level 11 Brookfield Place, 10 Carrington Street, Sydney, NSW 2000
Year founded:
2021
Number of employees:
1
Phone:
021 740 993
Email:
louise@altituderecruitment.co.nz
Website:
altituderecruitment.co.nz
LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/company/altituderecruitment
Louise Hall-Strutt
Managing Director
Amanda Harriss
Client Services Partner
Natasha Lynch
General Manager, Medical Information Exchange
Leadership
Louise Hall-Strutt is the owner and managing director of Altitude Recruitment, an award-winning legal recruitment agency based in Auckland. Originally from London, she moved to New Zealand in 2014 and has built an extensive network across the legal profession. With more than 10 years of experience, she specialises in representing senior lawyers, including those pursuing partnership, and helping New Zealand lawyers returning from overseas. Since founding the firm in 2021, Hall-Strutt has earned industry recognition, including the Atlas Top 100 Recruitment Leaders in 2026. She is known for her honest advice, market knowledge and relationship-driven approach.
Managing Director
Louise Hall-Strutt
Amanda Harriss, founder and client services partner at Harriss Wagner, has more than 30 years of experience in business transformation and has played an influential role in the evolution of the legal sector. She conducts diagnostic reviews to develop business cases for change, evaluates systems, negotiates pricing and leads complex change management programmes encompassing systems, processes, structures and operating models. Harriss manages a diverse international client portfolio that includes private law firms, in-house legal teams, patent attorneys, public prosecution agencies and government bodies in Australia and around the world.
Client Services Partner
Amanda Harriss
Natasha Lynch is general manager, medical information exchange at Unified Healthcare Group (UHG), bringing more than 18 years of experience across service delivery, operations leadership and customer support. She leads the delivery of medical information retrieval services, ensuring operational excellence, service quality and strong outcomes for customers across the legal, insurance and compensation sectors. Lynch is recognised for her deep industry knowledge, practical problem-solving approach and commitment to continuous improvement. Working closely with customers and operational teams, she helps drive efficiencies that strengthen service performance and support the secure exchange of critical medical information.
General Manager, Medical Information Exchange
Natasha Lynch
Danielle McCaffrey
General Manager, Provider Relationships
Danielle McCaffrey is general manager, provider relationships at Unified Healthcare Group (UHG), leading the strategy, engagement and performance of the firm’s extensive healthcare provider network. With deep expertise in provider operations, customer relationships and service delivery, she is passionate about building strong partnerships that make it easier for healthcare providers to work with UHG. McCaffrey plays a key role in driving digital adoption, enhancing provider experiences and supporting the secure and efficient exchange of medical information. Her ability to bring providers, customers and operational teams together helps deliver outcomes that benefit providers, customers and patients alike.
General Manager, Provider Relationships
Danielle McCaffrey
Natalie Barker
General Manager, Product
Natalie Barker is general manager, product at Unified Healthcare Group (UHG), leading product strategy, innovation and solution development across the health, insurance and legal sectors. With extensive experience spanning customer, operational and commercial leadership, she is passionate about transforming how organisations access, manage and utilise health information. She drives the advancement of digital solutions, AI-enabled capabilities, system integrations and new service offerings, ensuring product development remains closely aligned to customer needs. By combining strategic thinking with a deep understanding of customer needs, Barke helps shape solutions that improve efficiency, support better decision-making and create long-term value.
General Manager, Product
Natalie Barker
Aimee Harvey
Training Coodinator
Carla Smith
Customer Support
Lisa Harvey
Customer Support
Pam Chhabra
Manager – Residential Strata
Aimee Harvey is an experienced education manager with a strong background in state-wide fitness training and learning and development with the Country Fire Authority (CFA). At Aquastar Swim Schools, she manages staff development and risk compliance across five pool locations, supporting more than 100 swim teachers to deliver high-quality Learn to Swim programs.
Harvey applies her expertise in curriculum design, RTO compliance and digital learning through Moodle to maintain consistent educational and safety standards across facilities. Holding degrees in science and dance, she brings an evidence-based approach to helping students of ages develop water safety, confidence and physical literacy across Aquastar.
Training Coodinator
Aimee Harvey
Carla Smith is a member of the customer support team at Aquastar Swim Schools, combining administrative expertise with hands-on experience working with children. She previously worked as an executive assistant before becoming a Ready Steady Go sports instructor, where she developed a passion for engaging with young people.
Smith also worked as a deck supervisor with Aquastar’s Schools Swimming Program, gaining a strong understanding of pool deck operations and the needs of swimmers, instructors and families. In her current role, she combines strong organisational and customer service skills with practical poolside experience, making her a trusted contact for families every day.
Customer Support
Carla Smith
Lisa Hardy is a valued member of the customer support team at Aquastar Swim Schools, bringing extensive customer service and leadership experience to the organisation. Before joining Aquastar, she worked in the security industry in customer service and assistant manager roles, developing strong communication, problem-solving and relationship-building skills. She also holds qualifications in business management and hospitality.
At Aquastar, Hardy is recognised for her outstanding customer service and commitment to supporting families. She is highly experienced with the customer portal and a trusted contact for enrolments, account enquiries, program information and customer requests. Outside work, she enjoys soccer and swimming.
Customer Support
Lisa Harvey
Stephen McMillan first entered the financial services Industry when he joined GE Capital as a finance analyst in 2008, from which he progressed through roles working both onshore and offshore. From there, he moved into Pacific Premium Funding as a financial planning and analysis leader in 2012 and was a key resource in the evolution of the business, first with the successful sale to Macquarie Pacific Funding and then the following progression into IQumulate Premium Funding, where he is now the commercial manager.
As commercial manager, McMillan leads a team that is responsible for commercial analysis and business support, identifying and reporting improvement initiatives, and the securitization and treasury functions of the business.
Commercial Manager
Stephen McMillan
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ALTITUDE RECRUITMENT
SPECIAL REPORT
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Bio
Adam Basaldella
Manager – Claims
Stephen McMillan first entered the financial services Industry when he joined GE Capital as a finance analyst in 2008, from which he progressed through roles working both onshore and offshore. From there, he moved into Pacific Premium Funding as a financial planning and analysis leader in 2012 and was a key resource in the evolution of the business, first with the successful sale to Macquarie Pacific Funding and then the following progression into IQumulate Premium Funding, where he is now the commercial manager.
As commercial manager, McMillan leads a team that is responsible for commercial analysis and business support, identifying and reporting improvement initiatives, and the securitization and treasury functions of the business.
Product Manager
Claire Watson
“I believe there’s real value in remaining a specialist and providing a level of personal service where people know exactly who they’re dealing with”
Louise Hall-Strutt, Altitude Recruitment
“I think people work with me because they trust my judgement, know I’ll be straightforward with them and understand that I’m interested in getting the right outcome”
Louise Hall-Strutt, Altitude Recruitment
Altitude, built for the top tier of law
Louise Hall-Strutt founded Altitude Recruitment in 2021, bringing a decade of legal recruitment experience with her. The consultancy specialises in New Zealand private practice lawyers, from senior associate through to partner level. “For me, recruitment has never been about volume,” she says. “It’s about understanding what matters to people, making the right connections and building relationships that last well beyond a placement.”
A decade of depth in one legal niche
That specialisation is the foundation for everything else Altitude offers. Hall-Strutt has spent more than a decade recruiting in the New Zealand legal market, building what she describes as an extensive network and understanding of firms’ cultures.
At the senior end of the market, she says, decisions are rarely just about salary or title: culture, leadership and long-term progression matter more. “I think people work with me because they trust my judgement, know I’ll be straightforward with them and understand that I’m interested in getting the right outcome,” she adds.
Hall-Strutt’s path into legal recruitment began outside the profession, starting in London in fashion and media before a move into advertising. She credits those years with shaping her approach to relationships and reputation. Rather than grow the business into a larger operation, she made a conscious decision to remain independent and highly specialised.
“I’m very hands-on in my approach,” she explains. “Every client and candidate deals directly with me, which means I can offer a level of consistency, discretion and personal service that is sometimes lost in larger recruitment businesses.”
Innovation built on relationships
Altitude’s approach to innovation reflects the same philosophy. Rather than investing in new recruitment technology, Hall-Strutt has built a LinkedIn following of around 24,000 to share market commentary and maintain relationships with lawyers at home and abroad.
According to Hall-Strutt, that visibility lets her build trust with lawyers and firms before they are actively considering a move. “Innovation isn’t necessarily about doing something completely new,” she says. “Sometimes it’s about challenging traditional ways of working and finding a better way to deliver a service.”
The problems Altitude is built to solve are specific to the senior end of the market: finding candidates who fit a firm’s culture and long-term direction and protecting the confidentiality senior lawyers expect when exploring a move. Repeat business and referrals, rather than placement volume, are what Hall-Strutt points to as her clearest measure of success.
“I’m particularly proud that Altitude has been recognised at the Service Provider Awards for four consecutive years, from 2023 through to 2026,” she says. She was also recently ranked 51st in the Atlas Top 100 Recruitment Leaders across Australia and New Zealand, which she says reflects the professional network she has built.
Hall-Strutt’s priorities ahead are an extension of what she has already built: supporting law firms with senior lateral hires and succession planning while continuing to invest in her network and staying selective about new tools.
“I believe there’s real value in remaining a specialist and providing a level of personal service where people know exactly who they’re dealing with,” she says. “That’s what I want Altitude to continue to be known for.”
