Washington, DC: lateral market monitor

Sartori & Partners data show 790 lateral moves in Washington, DC from November 2025 to October 2026, 5.6% of all lateral moves we tracked. On settled windows the count went from 677 to 761, up 12.4% year on year. That is in step with the wider market, which moved +9.0%.

Partners make up 37.7% of arrivals, against 27.7% across the market: a partner-heavy flow. On settled windows partner moves alone went from 231 to 273, up 18.2% year on year. A step up in title came with 12.2% of moves (market 12.9%).

Lateral hires in Washington, DC were spread across 194 firms. Ten firms account for 19.8% of arrivals, against 12.9% across the market: moderately concentrated. First on the hiring table is Latham & Watkins, with arrivals in the 11-20 band.

Litigation & Disputes ranks first among practices, involved in 46.2% of the city's arrivals against 39.9% of the whole market. More lawyers moved into Washington, DC from another city (106) than left it for one (98). A change of city came with 15.7% of moves (market 20.5%).

3.4% of moves came as part of a group, against 1.5% market-wide. Over the last 6 months, 70 lawyers left for an in-house role: 16.4 for every 100 lateral moves, against 13.1 market-wide.

For a firm hiring in Washington, DC, the pool is moving and partners are part of it: expect competing offers and budget time for a contested process.