Real Estate in London: lateral monitor

In the Sartori & Partners lateral record, 151 lawyers joined a new firm in Real Estate in London from November 2025 to October 2026, 10.1% of the practice's moves. On settled windows the count went from 169 to 152 (-10.1%), a change inside the noise of the two counts, so we read it as flat.

Over the three years to October 2026, 444 lawyers moved in Real Estate in London, 159 of them partners (35.8%). They joined 108 different firms. 14.2% stepped up a level on the move and 16.1% changed city, against 12.3% and 21.6% across the market over the same three years. 58.8% came from firms with 1,000+ lawyers.

Partners account for 32.5% of movers, near the market's 27.7%. On settled windows partner moves alone went from 64 to 50 (-21.9%), a change inside the noise of the two counts, so we read it as flat. 11.3% of movers stepped up a level when they changed firm, against 12.9% for the market.

Lateral hires in Real Estate in London were spread across 73 firms. Ten firms account for 36.4% of arrivals, against 12.9% across the market: concentrated. Mishcon de Reya ranks first by lateral arrivals, in the 6-10 band.

The practice accounts for 11.6% of all lateral moves in London. Over the three years to October 2026, 57.7% of movers came from another firm in London itself. A change of city came with 12.0% of moves (market 20.5%).

There were 24 open roles in Real Estate in London on law-firm career pages on November 11, 2026.

For a firm planning a hire in Real Estate 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 172 dated deals in Real Estate in London in the 12 months to October 2026 and 487 over the three years to October 2026.

Real estate work is involved in 79.1% of them and M&A in 6.0%.

By client industry, Real Estate comes first with 55.6%.

Trowers & Hamlins ranks first among advising firms over the period, in the 21-40 band.

Over the three years to October 2026, Commercial Real Estate Transactions was involved in 28.8% of moves in Real Estate in London, then Real Estate Finance with 25.7%.