May 7, 2026 (UK, US and UAE) — ECB STAR Group, a retained executive search and pre deal advisory business within LSS Strategic Partners, today announced the appointments of five new Partners. These senior hires reflect ECB STAR Group’s continued investment across private equity services, healthcare, law firms, commodities, AI and corporate governance.
“These appointments strengthen ECB STAR Group in areas where clients are making some of their most consequential leadership decisions,” said Tom Wilkinson, CEO of ECB STAR Group. “Alana, Candice, Alex, Josh and Freddie each bring specialist market knowledge, strong relationships, and the kind of practical judgment our clients value. As ECB STAR continues to grow, we are focused on adding senior practitioners who understand their markets deeply and can deliver with precision.”
Alana Livingston joins in the UK as a Partner and Co-Practice Lead of our Legal team, bringing more than 15 years of experience advising US, UK, and international law firms on strategic lateral moves, team moves, office launches, and practice group expansion.
Candice Larcombe joins in the UK as a Partner focused on compliance, corporate governance and AI. She brings more than 14 years of search experience across regulated and non-regulated industries, with a track record of senior and leadership-level hiring across the UK, Europe, and the US.
Alex Dotsch joins in the UK as a Partner within private equity services, where he leads the firm’s Executive Advisory practice. He brings more than 10 years of experience in deal origination, angle creation, and pre-deal advisory, working with senior executives and investors to develop proprietary deal ideas, executive relationships, and buyout opportunities.
Josh Kotelnicki joins in the US, bringing more than eight years of healthcare executive search experience focused on private-equity-backed providers. A former college football head coach, he specializes in placing corporate development leaders who can help healthcare platforms scale.
Freddie Ricks joins in the UAE as Partner in the commodities practice and head of global oil. He advises trading houses, hedge funds, banks, majors, and national oil companies on senior talent across crude and refined products, with a focus on front office hiring and strategic team builds.
The hires follow a period of significant growth for ECB STAR Group as the firm continues to expand its global platform.
About ECB STAR Group
ECB STAR Group is a premier executive search and talent advisory firm dedicated to delivering bespoke leadership solutions. With a global presence, ECB STAR Group specializes in executive, C-suite, and board placements across sectors, including private equity, law firms, and corporate leadership. Leveraging a data-driven approach and deep industry expertise, the firm partners with clients to build high-performing teams that drive innovation, growth, and long-term success. ECB STAR Group is an LSS Strategic Partners company.
About LSS Strategic Services
LSS Strategic Partners is a transformative holding company driving innovation in legal services and talent management. Its mission is to empower organizations with cutting-edge solutions, operational efficiency, and strategic insights for sustained success. Since its establishment in 2024, LSS Strategic Partners has launched ECB STAR Group, a premier executive search and talent advisory, SHP Legal Services, a company focused on providing services to law firms with strategic guidance and integrated solutions that upgrade technology, leverage economies of scale, and provide access to capital, as well as NomosFIT, a vetted flexible interim talent platform designed to offer tailored, scalable, and cost-effective legal resource solutions precisely when businesses need them. LSS Strategic Partners is an Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) Inc. company.