Funds & Investment Management in London: lateral monitor

From November 2025 to October 2026, Sartori & Partners recorded 90 lateral moves in Funds & Investment Management in London, 15.2% of the practice's moves. On settled windows the count went from 96 to 96 (0.0%), which we read as flat. The market as a whole moved +9.0%, so this flow lagged it.

Over the three years to October 2026, 279 lawyers moved in Funds & Investment Management in London, 81 of them partners (29.0%). They joined 66 different firms. 9.3% stepped up a level on the move and 11.5% changed city, against 12.3% and 21.6% across the market over the same three years. 74.7% came from firms with 1,000+ lawyers.

With partners at 28.9% of arrivals, the mix is in line with the market's 27.7%. Year on year partner moves alone held level (27 to 27 on settled windows, 0.0%). A step up in title came with 10.0% of moves (market 12.9%).

38 firms hired at least one lateral in Funds & Investment Management in London in the window. Ten firms account for 56.7% of arrivals, against 12.9% across the market: concentrated. Kirkland & Ellis ranks first by lateral arrivals, in the 6-10 band.

The practice accounts for 6.9% of all lateral moves in London. Over the three years to October 2026, 60.6% of movers came from another firm in London itself. A change of city came with 8.2% of moves (market 20.5%).

For a firm planning a hire in Funds & Investment Management 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 209 dated deals in Funds & Investment Management in London in the 12 months to October 2026 and 526 over the three years to October 2026.

Fund formation work is involved in 66.5% of them and M&A in 6.3%.

By client industry, Asset Management & Funds comes first with 49.0%.

Kirkland & Ellis ranks first among advising firms over the period, in the 61-100 band.

Over the three years to October 2026, Private Fund Formation was involved in 44.8% of moves in Funds & Investment Management in London, then Secondaries & Fund Transactions with 30.8%.