Private Equity in Chicago: lateral monitor

Sartori & Partners data show 75 lateral moves in Private Equity in Chicago from November 2025 to October 2026, 6.0% of the practice's moves. On settled windows the count went from 46 to 72, up 56.5% year on year. It outpaced the market's own change of +9.0%.

Over the three years to October 2026, 155 lawyers moved in Private Equity in Chicago, 49 of them partners (31.6%). They joined 53 different firms. 6.5% stepped up a level on the move and 15.3% changed city, against 12.3% and 21.6% across the market over the same three years. 72.3% came from firms with 1,000+ lawyers.

At 37.3%, the partner share of arrivals sits above the market's 27.7%.

37 firms hired at least one lateral in Private Equity in Chicago in the window. The ten firms at the head of the hiring table took 49.3% of arrivals (12.9% market-wide), so hiring here is concentrated. Winston Taylor ranks first by lateral arrivals, in the 6-10 band.

The practice accounts for 12.6% of all lateral moves in Chicago. Over the three years to October 2026, 74.8% of movers came from another firm in Chicago itself. A change of city came with 13.2% of moves (market 20.5%).

A firm recruiting in Private Equity in Chicago is buying into a rising, partner-heavy flow, so the strongest candidates will hear from more than one firm.

Sartori & Partners data count 236 dated deals in Private Equity in Chicago in the 12 months to October 2026 and 570 over the three years to October 2026.

Private equity work is involved in 56.1% of them and M&A in 8.6%.

By client industry, Financial Sponsors comes first with 86.1%.

Kirkland & Ellis ranks first among advising firms over the period, in the 101-150 band.

Over the three years to October 2026, Buyouts was involved in 28.4% of moves in Private Equity in Chicago, then Growth & Minority Investments with 14.2%.