Corporate & M&A in Munich: lateral monitor

In the Sartori & Partners lateral record, 45 lawyers joined a new firm in Corporate & M&A in Munich from November 2025 to October 2026, 1.5% of the practice's moves. Measured on settled 12-month windows, 45 moves against 21 the year before, the count rose 114.3%. It outpaced the market's own change of +9.0%.

Over the three years to October 2026, 90 lawyers moved in Corporate & M&A in Munich, 29 of them partners (32.2%). They joined 39 different firms. 15.6% stepped up a level on the move and 26.9% changed city, against 12.3% and 21.6% across the market over the same three years. 83.3% came from firms with 1,000+ lawyers.

Partners make up 46.7% of arrivals, against 27.7% across the market: a partner-heavy flow. A step up in title came with 20.0% of moves (market 12.9%).

The 12-month firm table is below our naming threshold, so this part reads the three years to October 2026. Lateral hires in Corporate & M&A in Munich were spread across 39 firms. Ten firms account for 51.1% of arrivals, against 12.2% across the market: concentrated. First on the hiring table is Latham & Watkins, with arrivals in the 6-10 band.

The practice accounts for 56.2% of all lateral moves in Munich. Over the three years to October 2026, 63.3% of movers came from another firm in Munich itself. A change of city came with 20.5% of moves (market 20.5%).

A firm recruiting in Corporate & M&A in Munich is buying into a rising, partner-heavy flow, so the strongest candidates will hear from more than one firm.

Sartori & Partners data count 534 dated deals in Corporate & M&A in Munich in the 12 months to October 2026 and 1,462 over the three years to October 2026.

M&A work is involved in 78.5% of them and Private equity in 6.4%.

By client industry, Technology & Software comes first with 15.7%.

Hogan Lovells Cadwalader ranks first among advising firms over the period, in the 61-100 band.

Over the three years to October 2026, Private M&A was involved in 40.0% of moves in Corporate & M&A in Munich.