Our Team
Mike Tudor, Principal
Utilizing 20+ years experience in the legal vertical, Mike successfully places Partners with law firms in the Am Law 200, Global 100, and prestigious boutiques nationwide.
Mike began his career in the legal vertical in 1996, with the iconic legal publishing company, Matthew Bender. By way of acquisition, this transformed into 15 years with LexisNexis, where he held several leadership positions and was responsible for the growth of solution lines, such as lexis.com, Martindale-Hubbell, Matthew Bender, and Shepard's, to name a few.
Mike also worked in the legal technology space with well-known platform providers and spent several years with Thomson Reuters. Mike has meaningful relationships with law firm leadership and partners across the US.
If you have considered a move to another firm, or if you are looking to add partners and drive growth at your firm, reach out to Mike at mike@jurisoptimus.com, or via LinkedIn.
Rebecca Forsman, Founding Partner
Rebecca matches talented attorneys with opportunities at leading law firms across the U.S. and assists her clients in achieving their growth initiatives through associate and partner placements.
She began her career as an associate at an international law firm and practiced law for over ten years before transitioning to a career as a legal search consultant. She earned her JD, summa cum laude, from Oklahoma City University School of Law, where she was a Merit Scholar and member of Phi Delta Phi Honor Legal Fraternity.
Rebecca has additional experience as an editor, an adjunct professor in the University of Texas system teaching courses in International Human Rights Law and Legal Research and Writing. She serves as a volunteer grant writer for non-profit organizations, and has traveled extensively in association with various humanitarian causes and education initiatives in the U.S. and the developing world. Here in North Texas, she works with animal rescues and the homeless, and is an advocate for spay and neuter.
Grady Gibbs, Director
Grady Gibbs serves on the Juris Optimus Foundation and he is as passionate about rescuing donkeys from the "slaughter pipeline" as he is about helping senior associates be strategic and intentional about their career development.
Grady is an antediluvian graduate of Rice University and did his graduate work at Columbia. With a background in investment banking and corporate finance, he now serves as an advisor and board member for several healthcare companies and foundations.
He has witnessed first-hand how the "tyranny of the urgent" prevents many talented attorneys from optimizing their career arc. He views placement as an opportunity to serve his clients as a mentor and advisor for the balance of their career.
Whether improving partnership prospects or finding a better "culture" match for his attorneys, Grady approaches each candidate with discretion and a personalized commitment to the candidate's success. He also gives each candidate he places the unique privilege of naming one of the donkeys he rescues.
Poppy & Clover
These faces are a big part of our "why." They are residents at the Donkey & Equine Haven in Celina, TX and like so many animals across the globe who have been neglected, abandoned, or trafficked, they are looking for loving homes.
Juris Optimus donates a portion of all its profits to animal welfare causes and to promote learning and education initiatives in underserved communities. We will donate a percentage of proceeds generated by your business to a cause of your choosing.