Health Care · speciality monitor
FDA & Life Sciences Regulatory: lateral monitor
Lawyers whose work centers on FDA & Life Sciences Regulatory and who changed firm over the last 12 months, set against the Health Care practice and the market.
The last 12 months: November 2025 to October 2026
- 33
- Lateral moves, 12 monthsNovember 2025 to October 2026
- +57.1%
- Year on yearSettled 12-month windows
- 54.5%
- Partner share of moves
- 25
- Firms that hired
What the data show
From November 2025 to October 2026, Sartori & Partners recorded 33 lateral moves in FDA & Life Sciences Regulatory. On settled windows the count went from 21 to 33 (+57.1%), a change inside the noise of the two counts, so we read it as flat.
| Measure | Here | Health Care | Market |
|---|---|---|---|
| Partner share of moves | 54.5% | 36.3% | 27.7% |
| Counsel share of moves (three years) | 13.0% | 13.8% | 12.1% |
| Associate share of moves | 33.3% | 50.1% | 58.5% |
| Moved up a level | 21.2% | 13.6% | 12.9% |
| Changed city | 20.7% | 17.3% | 20.5% |
| Hired by firms of 1,000+ lawyers | 69.7% | 48.5% | 53.6% |
| Year on year | flat (+57.1%) | rose (+14.5%) | rose (+9.0%) |
12 months to October 2026 unless the row says three years; a row switches to three years for every column when this page's 12-month value is not published. A dash is a value we do not publish. Flat means a change under 5% or inside the noise of the two counts.
Set against the Health Care practice as a whole, the share hired by firms of 1,000+ lawyers stands out most: 69.7% here against 48.5%, above it. Year on year it held flat while the Health Care practice as a whole rose.
Over the three years to October 2026, 77 lawyers moved in FDA & Life Sciences Regulatory, 37 of them partners (48.1%). They joined 49 different firms. 14.3% stepped up a level on the move and 20.3% changed city, against 12.3% and 21.6% across the market over the same three years. 68.7% came from firms with 1,000+ lawyers.
- Partner54.5%
- Associate33.3%
Partners make up 54.5% of arrivals, against 27.7% across the market: a partner-heavy flow. A step up in title came with 21.2% of moves (market 12.9%).
- 1,000+ lawyers69.7%
- 400-999 lawyers21.2%
25 firms hired at least one lateral in FDA & Life Sciences Regulatory in the window. Firms in the 1,000+ lawyers class took 69.7% of arrivals, against 53.6% across the market.
- 1,000+ lawyers68.7%
- 400-999 lawyers17.9%
- 150-399 lawyers7.5%
City figures here cover the three years to October 2026. Washington, DC ranks first among destination cities with 51.9% of arrivals. A change of city came with 20.7% of moves (market 20.5%).
With volume in FDA & Life Sciences Regulatory holding level, a hire depends on a specific reason to move, which a firm has to put in front of the candidate.
Deals in FDA & Life Sciences Regulatory
Sartori & Partners data count 37 over the three years to October 2026.
Disputes & investigations work is involved in 54.1% of them.
Hogan Lovells Cadwalader ranks first among advising firms over the period, in the 6-10 band.
| Rank | Firm | Deals (band) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hogan Lovells Cadwalader | 6-10 |
| 2 | King & Spalding | 3-5 |
| 3 | Polsinelli | 3-5 |
| 4 | Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe | 3-5 |
Time to partner in FDA & Life Sciences Regulatory
28 lawyers were promoted to partner in FDA & Life Sciences Regulatory over five years, according to Sartori & Partners data.
The median time from first year of practice to partner is 11.0 years, with the middle half between 9.8 years and 14.5 years, against a market median of 10.0 years. 66.7% made partner within 12 years.
These figures rest on 24 promotions.
Related monitors and reports
Other specialities in Health Care
Hiring in this market
Edition November 2026. Window: November 2025 to October 2026. Source: Sartori & Partners, from public law-firm announcements, firm websites and professional profiles, checked monthly. Methodology. Spot an error? [email protected].
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