Pensions, Benefits & Executive Compensation: lateral market monitor

Sartori & Partners data show 252 lateral moves in Pensions, Benefits & Executive Compensation from November 2025 to October 2026, 1.8% of all lateral moves we tracked. Year on year, on windows that end a month early, the count grew 16.6% (217 to 253). The market as a whole moved +9.0%, so this flow outpaced it.

The level mix sits close to the market: partners are 30.2% of arrivals, against 27.7% market-wide. On settled windows partner moves alone went from 72 to 77 (+6.9%), a change inside the noise of the two counts, so we read it as flat. 17.5% of movers stepped up a level when they changed firm, against 12.9% for the market.

Lateral hires in Pensions, Benefits & Executive Compensation were spread across 143 firms. The ten firms at the head of the hiring table took 25.4% of arrivals (12.9% market-wide), so hiring here is moderately concentrated. First on the hiring table is Kirkland & Ellis, with arrivals in the 11-20 band.

New York ranks first among destination cities with 17.5% of arrivals, followed by London (12.7%). 17.3% of movers also changed city, against 20.5% market-wide.

In-house roles drew 24 lawyers in the last 6 months, 17.1 per 100 lateral moves (market 13.1).

Volume in Pensions, Benefits & Executive Compensation is rising with a mix close to the market, so timing matters more than the level you hire at.