COLLIER LEGAL SEARCHMeet Our Team
WHAT WE DOA Century of Experience
Our founders, Kellie Collier and Kay Egger are third generation Houstonians with a vast and well-aged network. In our efforts to consistently expand our footprint, we carefully chose our team of internal placement specialists. Most of our team have both academic and practical experience in the legal field. Some of us were trial attorneys--- others, legal assistants. Our ability to understand the law separates us from the competition. As is the practice of law, choosing to be a placement specialist at Collier Legal Search is a career making professional decision. Working here is not merely a "job."
OWNERKellie Kurtin Collier, C.P.C., C.T.S.
Kellie Kurtin Collier, a founding Partner of Collier Legal Search, LLC, has been a recruiter since 1984, specializing as a legal recruiter since 1988. At that time in 1988, Kellie established, built, and managed the very successful Houston company, then known as Briggs Legal Staffing. Under Kellie’s leadership, the Houston Briggs operation quickly became the company’s national cornerstone, actively enhancing the company’s worth and ultimately driving its successful 1996 sale to an international powerhouse staffing corporation.
A third-generation native Houstonian, Kellie graduated from Memorial High School before attending Texas A&M University and obtaining her B.S. in Communications. Quickly after entering the staffing industry, she sat for the national certification exams and received her C.P.C. (Certified Personnel Certificate) and C.T.S. (Certified Temporary Staffing Specialist) designations – a rare dual mark reflecting excellence in ethics, knowledge, and service.
ATTORNEY & OWNERKay Kurtin Egger, Attorney at Law
Kay Kurtin Egger, Attorney at Law and co-founding Partner of Collier Legal Search, is a 3rd generation Native-Houstonian. Kay graduated in 1986 from Memorial Senior High School. In 1990, Kay received her Bachelor of Arts from Saint Mary’s College at Notre Dame in two concentrations: Economics & Government. This academic foundation led her to South Texas College of Law, where Kay excelled in T. Gerald Treece’s advocacy program earning the distinctive honor of being named into the National Order of Barristers. Kay also received the exclusively given Thomas Justin Treece Scholarship. Upon graduation and passage of the Texas Bar Exam in 1993, Kay worked for over 3 years first as a law clerk, then as a briefing attorney, at the litigation firm then known as Fisher, Gallagher & Lewis, LLP. It was at FG&L that Kay practiced the majority of her personal injury (maritime/aviation) litigation career. Soon after that, Kay began her legal placement career with a Fortune 500 global staffing company. She both met and far exceeded goals in both production and management. Specifically driving attorney placement, Kay managed her legal division to #1 in gross margin worldwide, year over year. In January 2004, Kay became a Partner of Collier Legal Search.
CONTROLLERRobert Collier
Robert Collier has been with Collier Legal Search since it’s founding managing the back-office functions of payroll, accounting, information technology, and benefits administration. After receiving an MBA in Finance from The University of St. Thomas in 1993 he has held various senior positions in gas accounting, IT financial management, procurement and IT contract administration with various energy companies in Houston. At Collier Legal Search, Robert strives to provide accurate financial reporting to the team helping achieve a clear focus on company goals and objectives.
ATTORNEY, DIRECTOR OF RECRUITING/OPERATIONSMary Claire Carmouche Upton
Mary Claire Carmouche Upton is a fourth-generation native Houstonian. She graduated from Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart in Houston, Texas. Mary Claire then attended and graduated from Saint Mary’s College at Notre Dame in 1989. A second-generation attorney, Mary Claire, received her JD from South Texas College of Law in 1992. Beginning in 1992, Mary Claire practiced law as a personal injury (Superfund/prominent tobacco/toxic tort) litigator with the Williams Bailey Law firm for nearly seven years. Recruited by Kay Egger to leave the practice of law in 2000, Mary Claire joined Kay’s legal placement team, quickly surpassing all expectations. In 2006, Mary Claire joined Collier Legal Search. She has a vast network and referral base as the result of extensive experience in working with partners, general counsels, associates, and paralegals.
RECRUITING PARTNERMonte Houston
Monte Houston has been in Business Development positions for more than 16 years. She started her career as a stockbroker and financial advisor with Morgan Stanley Dean Witter.
During this time, Monte was assigned to a team of brokers who assisted departing Exxon employees with investing in their 401K plans and stock options. Later employed by a MetLife subsidiary, Monte earned the loyalty of Memorial Hermann employees by serving as their financial advisor. She served in legal administration at Baker Botts for six years. Monte graduated with a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Houston and is currently a member of the Houston Symphony Guild and a local singing group.
RECRUITING PARTNERKate Warth
Kate Warth specializes in Partner Recruiting. She strives to develop trusted relationships with both the law firms seeking top talent and the partners she places. Kate understands the complex nature of partner moves and takes the time to learn the unique needs of each party in the situation. She brings a decade of legal staffing expertise to Collier Legal Search. She has deep connections with the Houston legal community, having worked with large and mid-sized law firms, boutique practices, and corporate legal departments. Kate has extensive experience with the full range of legal placements at both the local and national level. She was drawn to Collier Legal Search as she believes it is the perfect match for her personalized approach to recruiting always delivering exceptional, customized service. Kate has called Houston her home since 1991 and is a graduate of the University of Houston.
DIRECTOR LEGAL STAFFINGNatalie Shields
Natalie Shields brings more than 20 years of professional services and marketing experience to our team. She started her career as a litigation paralegal for Baird Holm Law Firm in Omaha, Nebraska. Leaving the law firm in 1990, she started working in the Oil & Gas Industry and has built and trained teams specializing in sales, marketing, and customer service.
Natalie understands that the customer is the single most valuable asset to an organization, and her approach to customer service and client relations is unrivaled. She received her B.S Degree in Business Administration from Bellevue University and an Associate Degree in Paralegal Studies.
ATTORNEY RECRUITERJessica Gordon-Ford
Jessica Gordon-Ford is a second-generation native Houstonian. She graduated in 1998 from Bellaire High School and remained in Houston where she obtained her B.A. in English Literature at the University of Houston. Jessica received her J.D. from South Texas College of Law in 2009. Jessica started the Gordon-Ford Law Firm where she practiced family and estate planning law. In addition to the practice of law, Jessica has experience in customer service, development, marketing, and sales. Jessica was very excited to combine her passion to help people and her legal education by joining the Collier Legal Search in May 2016.
