International Arbitration & Public International Law · speciality monitor
Investment Treaty Arbitration: lateral monitor
Lawyers whose work centers on Investment Treaty Arbitration and who changed firm over the last 12 months, set against the International Arbitration & Public International Law practice and the market.
The last 12 months: November 2025 to October 2026
- 65
- Lateral moves, 12 monthsNovember 2025 to October 2026
- +43.5%
- Year on yearSettled 12-month windows
- 38.5%
- Partner share of moves
- 39
- Firms that hired
What the data show
From November 2025 to October 2026, Sartori & Partners recorded 65 lateral moves in Investment Treaty Arbitration. Measured on settled 12-month windows, 66 moves against 46 the year before, the count rose 43.5%. It outpaced the market's own change of +9.0%.
| Measure | Here | International Arbitration & Public International Law | Market |
|---|---|---|---|
| Partner share of moves | 38.5% | 35.8% | 27.7% |
| Counsel share of moves | 26.2% | 16.7% | 12.7% |
| Associate share of moves | 35.4% | 46.3% | 58.5% |
| Moved up a level | 21.5% | 16.7% | 12.9% |
| Changed city | 11.3% | 24.8% | 20.5% |
| Hired by firms of 1,000+ lawyers | 72.3% | 71.4% | 53.6% |
| Year on year | rose (+43.5%) | flat (+12.8%) | 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 A dash is a value we do not publish.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.
Against the International Arbitration & Public International Law practice as a whole, the widest gap is the share who changed city, which is lower here: 11.3% against 24.8%. Year on year it rose while the International Arbitration & Public International Law practice as a whole held flat.
Over the three years to October 2026, 176 lawyers moved in Investment Treaty Arbitration, 64 of them partners (36.4%). They joined 83 different firms. 17.0% stepped up a level on the move and 19.3% changed city, against 12.3% and 21.6% across the market over the same three years. 67.1% came from firms with 1,000+ lawyers.
- Partner38.5%
- Counsel26.2%
- Associate35.4%
Partners make up 38.5% of arrivals, against 27.7% across the market: a partner-heavy flow. A step up in title came with 21.5% of moves (market 12.9%).
- 1,000+ lawyers72.3%
- 400-999 lawyers21.5%
Lateral hires in Investment Treaty Arbitration were spread across 39 firms. Firms in the 1,000+ lawyers class took 72.3% of arrivals, against 53.6% across the market.
- 1,000+ lawyers67.1%
- 400-999 lawyers18.8%
- 150-399 lawyers6.0%
- under 150 lawyers8.1%
London ranks first among destination cities with 38.5% of arrivals. A change of city came with 11.3% of moves (market 20.5%).
10.8% of moves came as part of a group, against 1.5% market-wide.
For a firm hiring in Investment Treaty Arbitration, the pool is moving and partners are part of it: expect competing offers and budget time for a contested process.
Deals in Investment Treaty Arbitration
Sartori & Partners data count 52 dated deals in Investment Treaty Arbitration in the 12 months to October 2026 and 127 over the three years to October 2026.
Disputes & investigations work is involved in 98.4% of them.
By client industry, Government & Public Sector comes first with 38.6%.
King & Spalding ranks first among advising firms over the period, in the 21-40 band.
| Rank | Firm | Deals (band) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | King & Spalding | 21-40 |
| 2 | Arnold & Porter | 11-20 |
| 3 | White & Case | 6-10 |
| 4 | Latham & Watkins | 6-10 |
| 5 | Squire Patton Boggs | 3-5 |
| 6 | Steptoe | 3-5 |
| 7 | Hughes Hubbard & Reed | 3-5 |
| 8 | Debevoise & Plimpton | 3-5 |
| 9 | Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle | 3-5 |
| 10 | Loyens & Loeff | 3-5 |
Time to partner in Investment Treaty Arbitration
99 lawyers were promoted to partner in Investment Treaty Arbitration over five years, according to Sartori & Partners data.
The median time from first year of practice to partner is 10.0 years, with the middle half between 9.0 years and 12.0 years, against a market median of 10.0 years. 75.4% made partner within 12 years.
These figures rest on 61 promotions.
Related monitors and reports
Up one level
Other specialities in International Arbitration & Public International Law
Hiring in this market
Reports
- Investment Treaty Arbitration in 2026: States as the Client
In investment treaty arbitration the state is the largest client group, on 38.6% of matters over three years. Hiring rose 43.5% while the parent practice held flat (+12.8%).
November 11, 2026 · November 2026
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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