July 20 2026 (Chicago) — ECB STAR Group, a retained executive search and leadership advisory firm within LSS Strategic Partners, today announced that Lydia Kelley has joined the firm as a Partner in its Legal practice. Based in Chicago, Kelley brings more than three decades of legal industry experience as an attorney, law firm leader, and senior hiring executive.
Kelley spent more than 30 years at McDermott Will & Emery (now McDermott Will & Schute), where she practiced as a tax partner advising Fortune 500 companies, large family-owned businesses, and family offices. She also served as Managing Partner of the firm’s Chicago office and as Global Hiring Partner, overseeing recruitment, vetting, and onboarding for lateral partners and associates across more than 20 offices worldwide.
“Lydia brings the perspective of someone who has sat on every side of the table,” said Tom Wilkinson, CEO of ECB STAR Group. “She understands what makes a lawyer successful within a firm, what clients need from trusted legal advisers, and the importance of judgment, confidentiality, and integration in every lateral move. Her experience further enhances our ability to advise law firms, portfolio companies, and corporates on critical attorney and legal leadership appointments, helping clients secure talent that drives growth and long-term success.”
As a Partner in ECB STAR Group’s Legal practice, Kelley will focus on strategic attorney placements, including partners, senior lawyers, and in-house counsel. Her work will draw on deep experience in federal income tax, corporate law, law firm leadership, and attorney hiring.
“Successful legal hiring is never just about credentials,” said Lydia Kelley, a Partner at ECB STAR Group. “It is about fit, timing, trust, and long-term alignment between the lawyer and the firm. I am excited to join ECB STAR Group and help attorneys find the environment where their practice can thrive as we enter the next era of legal services.”
Kelley is a graduate of Wellesley College and earned her law degree from the University of Michigan Law School. Kelley serves on the Board of Directors of the Chicago Botanic Garden and on the Advisory Board for Think Big for Kids.