Monthly edition
Lateral market, August 2025
The lateral market in August 2025: 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
- 961
- Lateral moves in the month
- -6.3%
- Against the same month last year
- 3,443
- Dated deals
What the data show
In August 2025, Sartori & Partners recorded 961 lateral moves. The same month a year earlier had 1,026, a change of -6.3%, flat by our reading.
Year to date, the count stands at 9,087 against 8,765 for the same months last year (+3.7%, flat). Partner moves year to date: 2,616, against 2,402 a year earlier. Over the same months, 29,418 dated deals were recorded and 2,501 lawyers were promoted to partner.
- Partner27.7%
- Counsel13.6%
- Associate57.2%
Partners were 27.7% of the month's movers and associates 57.2%, against 26.3% in the same month last year. 20.5% of the month's movers also changed city.
By practice, Litigation & Disputes was involved in 44.2% of moves and Corporate & M&A in 18.9%. By city, New York came first with 13.2%, then London with 7.7%.
In the same month, 21 lawyers were promoted to partner, 3,443 dated deals were recorded and 2 office openings were announced.
- 1,000+ lawyers47.9%
- 400-999 lawyers26.8%
- 150-399 lawyers16.2%
- under 150 lawyers9.1%
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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