Capital Markets in New York: lateral monitor

In the Sartori & Partners lateral record, 152 lawyers joined a new firm in Capital Markets in New York from November 2025 to October 2026, 25.0% of the practice's moves. On settled windows the count went from 132 to 152 (+15.2%), a change inside the noise of the two counts, so we read it as flat.

Over the three years to October 2026, 379 lawyers moved in Capital Markets in New York, 107 of them partners (28.2%). They joined 110 different firms. 10.8% stepped up a level on the move and 10.2% changed city, against 12.3% and 21.6% across the market over the same three years. 71.2% came from firms with 1,000+ lawyers.

With partners at 29.6% of arrivals, the mix is in line with the market's 27.7%. On settled windows partner moves alone went from 39 to 47 (+20.5%), a change inside the noise of the two counts, so we read it as flat. 13.8% of movers stepped up a level when they changed firm, against 12.9% for the market.

Lateral hires in Capital Markets in New York were spread across 69 firms. The ten firms at the head of the hiring table took 41.6% of arrivals (12.9% market-wide), so hiring here is concentrated. First on the hiring table is Latham & Watkins, with arrivals in the 11-20 band.

The practice accounts for 7.3% of all lateral moves in New York. Over the three years to October 2026, 74.7% of movers came from another firm in New York itself. 7.5% of movers also changed city, against 20.5% market-wide.

There were 50 open roles in Capital Markets in New York on law-firm career pages on November 11, 2026.

For a firm planning a hire in Capital Markets in New York, 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 4,664 dated deals in Capital Markets in New York in the 12 months to October 2026 and 12,351 over the three years to October 2026.

Capital markets work is involved in 95.6% of them and Banking & lending in 1.5%.

By client industry, Banks & Financial Institutions comes first with 13.4%.

Davis Polk & Wardwell ranks first among advising firms over the period, in the 1,200+ band.

Over the three years to October 2026, Equity Offerings & IPOs was involved in 43.3% of moves in Capital Markets in New York, then Public Company Reporting with 29.8%.