Private Equity in New York: lateral monitor

In the Sartori & Partners lateral record, 226 lawyers joined a new firm in Private Equity in New York from November 2025 to October 2026, 18.1% of the practice's moves. Measured on settled 12-month windows, 232 moves against 189 the year before, the count rose 22.8%. It outpaced the market's own change of +9.0%.

Over the three years to October 2026, 570 lawyers moved in Private Equity in New York, 237 of them partners (41.6%). They joined 126 different firms. 14.0% stepped up a level on the move and 12.6% changed city, against 12.3% and 21.6% across the market over the same three years. 77.7% came from firms with 1,000+ lawyers.

At 39.8%, the partner share of arrivals sits above the market's 27.7%. On settled windows partner moves alone went from 88 to 88 (0.0%), which we read as flat. 15.9% of movers stepped up a level when they changed firm, against 12.9% for the market.

Lateral hires in Private Equity in New York were spread across 80 firms. The ten firms at the head of the hiring table took 39.8% of arrivals (12.9% market-wide), so hiring here is concentrated. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett ranks first by lateral arrivals, in the 11-20 band.

The practice accounts for 10.8% of all lateral moves in New York. Over the three years to October 2026, 74.4% of movers came from another firm in New York itself. A change of city came with 12.6% of moves (market 20.5%).

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

Sartori & Partners data count 531 dated deals in Private Equity in New York in the 12 months to October 2026 and 1,336 over the three years to October 2026.

Private equity work is involved in 55.4% of them and M&A in 7.1%.

By client industry, Financial Sponsors comes first with 84.0%.

Kirkland & Ellis ranks first among advising firms over the period, in the 151-250 band.

Over the three years to October 2026, Buyouts was involved in 28.4% of moves in Private Equity in New York, then Growth & Minority Investments with 14.7%.