Insurance Defence: lateral monitor

From November 2025 to October 2026, Sartori & Partners recorded 246 lateral moves in Insurance Defence. On settled windows the count went from 299 to 255, down 14.7% year on year. It fell behind the market's own change of +9.0%.

Over the three years to October 2026, 827 lawyers moved in Insurance Defence, 240 of them partners (29.0%). They joined 190 different firms. 17.2% stepped up a level on the move and 20.9% changed city, against 12.3% and 21.6% across the market over the same three years. 32.1% came from firms with 1,000+ lawyers.

The level mix sits close to the market: partners are 27.2% of arrivals, against 27.7% market-wide. Year on year, on windows that end a month early, partner moves alone eased 30.2% (96 to 67). A step up in title came with 20.7% of moves (market 12.9%).

Lateral hires in Insurance Defence were spread across 84 firms. The ten firms at the head of the hiring table took 50.0% of arrivals (12.9% market-wide), so hiring here is concentrated. Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker ranks first by lateral arrivals, in the 11-20 band.

New York ranks first among destination cities with 12.6% of arrivals. A change of city came with 23.8% of moves (market 20.5%).

There were 150 open roles in Insurance Defence on law-firm career pages on November 11, 2026.

For a firm planning a hire in Insurance Defence, a quieter market means fewer competing processes but also fewer people already in motion: plan on direct approach.

Sartori & Partners data count 30 dated deals in Insurance Defence in the 12 months to October 2026 and 107 over the three years to October 2026.

Disputes & investigations work is involved in 100.0% of them.

By client industry, Insurance comes first with 27.1%.

Cole Scott & Kissane ranks first among advising firms over the period, in the 21-40 band.