Washington, DC: promotions and time to partner

Sartori & Partners data record 164 partner promotions in Washington, DC from June 2025 to May 2026. Promotions are confirmed about five months late, so this window ends earlier than the lateral figures. Over the same 12 months that is 0.67 promotions for every lateral partner hired, against 0.79 across the market: more of the partner bench here is bought than made.

Across five years of promotions, the median time from first year of practice to partner is 11.0 years, with the middle half between 9.0 years and 13.0 years. The market median is 10.0 years, so the track here runs longer. The median rests on 720 promotions.

Year on year, on windows that end a month early, lateral partner moves in Washington, DC grew 18.2% (231 to 273).

Firms in Washington, DC buy partners more often than the market does; a lateral partner hire here competes with that habit.