Capital Markets in London: lateral monitor

Sartori & Partners data show 67 lateral moves in Capital Markets in London from November 2025 to October 2026, 11.0% of the practice's moves. On settled windows the count went from 80 to 64 (-20.0%), a change inside the noise of the two counts, so we read it as flat.

Over the three years to October 2026, 195 lawyers moved in Capital Markets in London, 66 of them partners (33.8%). They joined 67 different firms. 13.3% stepped up a level on the move and 18.9% changed city, against 12.3% and 21.6% across the market over the same three years. 81.2% came from firms with 1,000+ lawyers.

With partners at 26.9% of arrivals, the mix is in line with the market's 27.7%. A step up in title came with 14.9% of moves (market 12.9%).

38 firms hired at least one lateral in Capital Markets in London in the window. The ten firms at the head of the hiring table took 47.8% of arrivals (12.9% market-wide), so hiring here is concentrated. Sullivan & Cromwell ranks first by lateral arrivals, in the 6-10 band.

The practice accounts for 5.1% of all lateral moves in London. Over the three years to October 2026, 59.5% of movers came from another firm in London itself. 18.5% of movers also changed city, against 20.5% market-wide.

For a firm planning a hire in Capital Markets in London, a flat market means candidates are not being pulled by a wave: the case for a move has to come from the platform.

Sartori & Partners data count 1,142 dated deals in Capital Markets in London in the 12 months to October 2026 and 2,999 over the three years to October 2026.

Capital markets work is involved in 88.8% of them and Banking & lending in 5.0%.

By client industry, Banks & Financial Institutions comes first with 19.3%.

Davis Polk & Wardwell ranks first among advising firms over the period, in the 251-400 band.

Over the three years to October 2026, Debt Capital Markets & High Yield was involved in 43.1% of moves in Capital Markets in London, then Equity Offerings & IPOs with 31.3%.