Monthly edition
Lateral market, August 2023
The lateral market in August 2023: how many lawyers changed firm, at what level, in which practices and cities, and what else moved that month.
The last 12 months: November 2025 to October 2026
- 843
- Lateral moves in the month
- -16.4%
- Against the same month last year
- 2,863
- Dated deals
What the data show
August 2023 brought 843 lateral moves in the Sartori & Partners record. The same month a year earlier had 1,008, a change of -16.4%, down on the year.
Year to date, the count stands at 7,513 against 9,324 for the same months last year (-19.4%, down). Partner moves year to date: 2,192, against 2,305 a year earlier. Over the same months, 23,679 dated deals were recorded and 2,520 lawyers were promoted to partner.
- Partner25.4%
- Counsel12.9%
- Associate59.4%
Partners were 25.4% of the month's movers and associates 59.4%, against 22.4% in the same month last year. 26.8% of the month's movers also changed city.
By practice, Litigation & Disputes was involved in 47.6% of moves and Corporate & M&A in 17.6%. By city, New York came first with 12.8%, then London with 8.1%.
In the same month, 21 lawyers were promoted to partner, 2,863 dated deals were recorded and 4 office openings were announced.
- 1,000+ lawyers46.3%
- 400-999 lawyers29.2%
- 150-399 lawyers15.9%
- under 150 lawyers8.7%
The chart of August across the years shows where this month sits against the same month in earlier years, without the season in the way.
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Hiring in this market
Edition November 2026. Window: November 2025 to October 2026. Source: Sartori & Partners, from public law-firm announcements, firm websites and professional profiles, checked monthly. Methodology. Spot an error? [email protected].
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