Monthly edition
Lateral market, January 2024
The lateral market in January 2024: 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
- 1,341
- Lateral moves in the month
- +8.7%
- Against the same month last year
- 4,522
- Dated deals
What the data show
In January 2024, Sartori & Partners recorded 1,341 lateral moves. The same month a year earlier had 1,234, a change of +8.7%, up on the year.
Year to date, the count stands at 1,341 against 1,234 for the same months last year (+8.7%, up). Partner moves year to date: 398, against 400 a year earlier. Over the same months, 4,522 dated deals were recorded and 1,503 lawyers were promoted to partner.
- Partner29.7%
- Counsel12.2%
- Associate54.6%
Partners were 29.7% of the month's movers and associates 54.6%, against 32.4% in the same month last year. 19.2% of the month's movers also changed city.
By practice, Litigation & Disputes was involved in 43.3% of moves and Corporate & M&A in 17.8%. By city, New York came first with 13.3%, then London with 10.1%.
In the same month, 1,503 lawyers were promoted to partner, 585 were promoted to counsel, 4,522 dated deals were recorded and 16 office openings were announced.
- 1,000+ lawyers51.0%
- 400-999 lawyers26.5%
- 150-399 lawyers15.0%
- under 150 lawyers7.5%
The chart of January 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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