Wendeen H. Eolis (born October 13, 1944) is an American entrepreneur, government advisor, and public servant, noted in The American Lawyer Legal Recruiter Directory as the "founder of EOLIS, the first search firm exclusively for attorneys, the "inventor of the legal search industry" and "founder of the National Association of Legal Search Consultants," (digital and print editions, January 2022).
An experienced government official, envoy, and special advisor, that vets lawyers for government appointments and assists in selection of special counsel in the aftermath of catastrophic events.
She is also an internationally recognized poker tournament player, profiled on the A&E Television Network, Biography Close Up program, among others. Her business and legal affairs articles and lectures/seminars emphasize negotiation and decision strategies. She often uses experiences at poker tables to illustrate her points.
Eolis is the CEO of Wendeen Eolis Enterprises, Inc. (also known as EOLIS International Group), her attorney search and legal/government affairs consultancy specializing in searches/vetting of lawyers as partners, general counsels, and corporate board directors, and advising on attorney career transitions. Eolis advises corporate boards, C-Suites and individual attorney candidates in connection with corporate board seats, and provides various legal consulting services, including law firm media relations counsel, and expert witness testimony in federal and state court/arbitration proceedings.
At Wendeen Eolis Enterprises (which hosts the Eolis Institute for Leadership), Eolis also coordinates seminars and other speaking engagements on negotiation and decision strategies.
Eolis’ public service includes assignments in New York City, New York State, federal and international venues. As Chief Operating Officer and Commander of Hope's Champion Task Force, she sets policies and procedures and oversees vetting teams that evaluate lawyers for sensitive government appointments and special counsel assignments following terrorism incidents and other cataclysmic events. Eolis previously served as a special advisor to Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and as first assistant and senior advisor to Governor George E. Pataki (NY).
Career Path
In 1967, while still a student at NYU, Eolis established a solo legal recruiting/attorney vetting business. In 1969, two years after she received her BA degree, she founded the first search firm specializing exclusively in searches for practicing lawyers.
At 30, she was elected president of the Association of Personnel Services of New York State (APCNY), and 10 years later she founded and served as chairman of the board of the National Association of Legal Search Consultants (NALSC).
In her forties, Eolis became a pioneer for women in major poker competition. In 2008, Eolis was elected Chairman of the World Poker Association, serving until midsummer, when she accepted a role as a legal consultant in the upcoming U.S. presidential elections. Eolis has served as a member of the Players Advisory Council of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) and was the Chair of the WSOP International Players Advisory Council. She is referenced by the WSOP as the “Grand Dame of Poker.“ Also, she was elected to the Seniors (Poker) Hall of Fame in 2016.
Eolis is a lecturer and public speaker and an instructor on UStream for New York's Learning Annex, where she teaches people reading principles for use in business, politics, and poker. And, she also has been a member of the board of directors of various not for profit organizations, notably including WNYC and New Yorkers for Children. She is also a journalist with substantial writing credits for professional trade journals and poker media.
Law and business
Born in New York City, Eolis began her career as a headhunter for lawyers, with a B.A. degree in philosophy, and three small children in tow. In 1969 she founded Eolis, Inc., the first placement and consulting firm for practicing lawyers. The firm also does related research on the legal profession and the legal marketplace.
Eolis heads a network of affiliates that perform partner searches, law firm mergers and various legal consulting assignments related to law practice management, legal affairs crisis management, law department evaluations, and legal fee reviews. She also counsels and coaches politicians and clients of legal services.