Intellectual Property in San Francisco: lateral monitor

In the Sartori & Partners lateral record, 98 lawyers joined a new firm in Intellectual Property in San Francisco from November 2025 to October 2026, 9.4% of the practice's moves. On settled windows the count went from 72 to 91 (+26.4%), a change inside the noise of the two counts, so we read it as flat.

Over the three years to October 2026, 214 lawyers moved in Intellectual Property in San Francisco, 75 of them partners (35.0%). They joined 96 different firms. 14.0% stepped up a level on the move and 11.6% changed city, against 12.3% and 21.6% across the market over the same three years. 72.9% came from firms with 1,000+ lawyers.

Partners account for 30.6% of movers, near the market's 27.7%. On settled windows partner moves alone went from 27 to 30 (+11.1%), a change inside the noise of the two counts, so we read it as flat. A step up in title came with 15.3% of moves (market 12.9%).

Lateral hires in Intellectual Property in San Francisco were spread across 59 firms. The ten firms at the head of the hiring table took 35.6% of arrivals (12.9% market-wide), so hiring here is concentrated. Thompson Hine ranks first by lateral arrivals, in the 6-10 band.

The practice accounts for 21.6% of all lateral moves in San Francisco. Over the three years to October 2026, 71.0% of movers came from another firm in San Francisco itself. A change of city came with 7.1% of moves (market 20.5%).

11.2% of moves came as part of a group, against 1.5% market-wide.

There were 55 open roles in Intellectual Property in San Francisco on law-firm career pages on November 11, 2026.

With volume in Intellectual Property in San Francisco holding level, a hire depends on a specific reason to move, which a firm has to put in front of the candidate.

Sartori & Partners data count 176 dated deals in Intellectual Property in San Francisco in the 12 months to October 2026 and 469 over the three years to October 2026.

Disputes & investigations work is involved in 69.7% of them and Venture & growth in 9.4%.

By client industry, Pharma & Biotech comes first with 31.1%.

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati ranks first among advising firms over the period, in the 101-150 band.

Over the three years to October 2026, Patent Litigation was involved in 41.1% of moves in Intellectual Property in San Francisco, then Trade Secrets with 33.6%.