Restructuring & Insolvency in London: lateral monitor

Sartori & Partners data show 95 lateral moves in Restructuring & Insolvency in London from November 2025 to October 2026, 13.6% of the practice's moves. On settled windows the count went from 78 to 97 (+24.4%), a change inside the noise of the two counts, so we read it as flat.

Over the three years to October 2026, 248 lawyers moved in Restructuring & Insolvency in London, 101 of them partners (40.7%). They joined 98 different firms. 13.3% stepped up a level on the move and 7.1% changed city, against 12.3% and 21.6% across the market over the same three years. 80.1% came from firms with 1,000+ lawyers.

Partners make up 43.2% of arrivals, against 27.7% across the market: a partner-heavy flow. On settled windows partner moves alone went from 33 to 40 (+21.2%), a change inside the noise of the two counts, so we read it as flat. 17.9% of movers stepped up a level when they changed firm, against 12.9% for the market.

Lateral hires in Restructuring & Insolvency in London were spread across 56 firms. The ten firms at the head of the hiring table took 42.1% of arrivals (12.9% market-wide), so hiring here is concentrated. Sullivan & Cromwell ranks first by lateral arrivals, in the 6-10 band.

The practice accounts for 7.3% of all lateral moves in London. Over the three years to October 2026, 68.1% of movers came from another firm in London itself. A change of city came with 7.6% of moves (market 20.5%).

With volume in Restructuring & Insolvency in London 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 129 dated deals in Restructuring & Insolvency in London in the 12 months to October 2026 and 362 over the three years to October 2026.

Restructuring & insolvency work is involved in 70.4% of them and M&A in 8.0%.

By client industry, Consumer Goods & Retail comes first with 9.9%.

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

Over the three years to October 2026, Corporate Restructuring was involved in 52.4% of moves in Restructuring & Insolvency in London, then Creditors' Rights & Collections with 18.1%.