Cartels: lateral monitor

Sartori & Partners data show 46 lateral moves in Cartels from November 2025 to October 2026. On settled windows the count went from 57 to 44 (-22.8%), a change inside the noise of the two counts, so we read it as flat.

Over the three years to October 2026, 152 lawyers moved in Cartels, 57 of them partners (37.5%). They joined 69 different firms. 11.2% stepped up a level on the move and 22.3% changed city, against 12.3% and 21.6% across the market over the same three years. 75.2% came from firms with 1,000+ lawyers.

Partners make up 45.7% of arrivals, against 27.7% across the market: a partner-heavy flow. On settled windows partner moves alone went from 24 to 20 (-16.7%), a change inside the noise of the two counts, so we read it as flat. 17.4% of movers stepped up a level when they changed firm, against 12.9% for the market.

The 12-month firm table is below our naming threshold, so this part reads the three years to October 2026. 69 firms hired at least one lateral in Cartels in the window. The ten firms at the head of the hiring table took 34.5% of arrivals (12.2% market-wide), so hiring here is concentrated. First on the hiring table is Latham & Watkins, with arrivals in the 6-10 band.

City figures here cover the three years to October 2026. Brussels ranks first among destination cities with 25.0% of arrivals, followed by London (23.0%). A change of city came with 23.7% of moves (market 20.5%).

For a firm planning a hire in Cartels, 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 40 over the three years to October 2026.

Disputes & investigations work is involved in 57.5% of them.

Gleiss Lutz ranks first among advising firms over the period, in the 6-10 band.