Monthly edition
Lateral market, September 2026
The lateral market in September 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
- 1,337
- Lateral moves in the month
- -9.2%
- Against the same month last year
- 187
- Moves to in-house roles
- 3,820
- Dated deals
What the data show
September 2026 brought 1,337 lateral moves in the Sartori & Partners record. The same month a year earlier had 1,473, a change of -9.2%, down on the year.
Year to date, the count stands at 11,628 against 10,560 for the same months last year (+10.1%, up). Partner moves year to date: 3,236, against 2,972 a year earlier. Over the same months, 36,603 dated deals were recorded.
- Partner25.9%
- Counsel12.0%
- Associate61.1%
Partners were 25.9% of the month's movers and associates 61.1%, against 24.2% in the same month last year. 22.1% of the month's movers also changed city.
By practice, Litigation & Disputes was involved in 36.2% of moves and Corporate & M&A in 25.7%. By city, New York came first with 16.7%, then London with 11.1%.
In the same month, 187 lawyers left private practice for an in-house role, 3,820 dated deals were recorded and 15 office openings were announced.
- 1,000+ lawyers58.3%
- 400-999 lawyers21.4%
- 150-399 lawyers10.4%
- under 150 lawyers9.9%
The chart of September 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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