Waqar Khawaja

Waqar Khawaja is the founder of Khawaja Partners. He is a community builder, advocate, and matchmaker at his core. 

Waqar is a renowned legal recruiter who is trusted by some of the most reputable and successful law firms in the nation. With over a decade of experience in the industry, he has established himself as a leading expert in legal recruitment and consulting, and has built an extensive network of connections with top legal organizations and talented professionals across the country. His ability to understand the unique needs and goals of his clients and match them with the perfect candidate has led to many successful placements and practice group moves. Waqar works with both lateral partners and firms seeking strategic growth. His services include managing the LPQ process, business plan development, due diligence management, and client conflict checks. Furthermore, he is a trusted consultant for law firms seeking to explore merger and acquisition opportunities, market compensation insights, and long-term talent strategies.

Waqar founded Khawaja Partners because of his natural talent and genuine love for networking, as well as his passion for infusing a consultative element into traditional recruitment practices. This vision is reflected in Khawaja Partners and its team members, who are dedicated to providing world-class service to clients. Together, they are committed to serving the legal community and look forward to helping lawyers and organizations alike maximize their growth and earning potential.

An Atlanta native born to first-generation immigrant parents, he is the first in his nuclear family to pursue and obtain higher-level education, as well as the first attorney in his extended family. Driven by the desire to make a meaningful impact in others’ lives, he attended Mercer Law School during the height of the Great Recession to pursue a career in public interest. Sworn in under the Third Year Practice Act, Waqar worked as a public defender during law school. Waqar graduated in 2011 as a member of what is often referred to as “The Lost Class”, entering the worst job market in decades. This experience was instrumental to Waqar’s success as a legal recruiter, giving him first-hand knowledge of the ups and downs of the legal industry and deepening his knowledge of the legal market. After a brief stint in private practice, Waqar pivoted to legal recruiting, with a focus on making career-defining connections and guiding fellow attorneys to the best fit, versus the convenient fit.

Waqar has always been deeply involved in the legal community, both in Georgia and nationally. As a long-standing member of the Board of Directors for the South Asian Bar Association of Georgia (SABA-GA), he enjoys using his ability to network and connect attorneys to grow SABA-GA’s membership and secure speakers and sponsors for various legal and charitable events. Waqar is involved with many bar organizations, legal associations, and affinity groups from across the country that focus on building community.