Monthly edition
Lateral market, August 2026
The lateral market in August 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
- 1,258
- Lateral moves in the month
- +30.9%
- Against the same month last year
- 171
- Moves to in-house roles
- 3,819
- Dated deals
What the data show
In August 2026, Sartori & Partners recorded 1,258 lateral moves. The same month a year earlier had 961, a change of +30.9%, up on the year.
Year to date, the count stands at 10,291 against 9,087 for the same months last year (+13.2%, up). Partner moves year to date: 2,890, against 2,616 a year earlier. Over the same months, 32,783 dated deals were recorded.
- Partner25.1%
- Counsel11.7%
- Associate62.0%
Partners were 25.1% of the month's movers and associates 62.0%, against 27.7% in the same month last year. 21.0% of the month's movers also changed city.
By practice, Litigation & Disputes was involved in 43.1% of moves and Corporate & M&A in 17.6%. By city, New York came first with 16.6%, then Washington, DC with 6.1%.
In the same month, 171 lawyers left private practice for an in-house role, 3,819 dated deals were recorded and 10 office openings were announced.
- 1,000+ lawyers52.7%
- 400-999 lawyers23.7%
- 150-399 lawyers15.2%
- under 150 lawyers8.4%
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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