Monthly edition
Lateral market, May 2026
The lateral market in May 2026: 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
- 1,207
- Lateral moves in the month
- +11.1%
- Against the same month last year
- 117
- Moves to in-house roles
- 4,143
- Dated deals
What the data show
Sartori & Partners data show 1,207 lateral moves in May 2026. The same month a year earlier had 1,086, a change of +11.1%, up on the year.
Year to date, the count stands at 6,480 against 6,008 for the same months last year (+7.9%, up). Partner moves year to date: 1,913, against 1,758 a year earlier. Over the same months, 20,148 dated deals were recorded and 2,404 lawyers were promoted to partner.
- Partner30.1%
- Counsel13.5%
- Associate55.6%
Partners were 30.1% of the month's movers and associates 55.6%, against 32.6% in the same month last year. 17.7% of the month's movers also changed city.
By practice, Litigation & Disputes was involved in 40.3% of moves and Corporate & M&A in 21.5%. By city, New York came first with 14.6%, then London with 8.6%.
In the same month, 117 lawyers left private practice for an in-house role, 362 lawyers were promoted to partner, 203 were promoted to counsel, 4,143 dated deals were recorded and 10 office openings were announced.
- 1,000+ lawyers50.9%
- 400-999 lawyers26.6%
- 150-399 lawyers12.5%
- under 150 lawyers9.9%
The chart of May 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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