Mass & Toxic Torts: lateral monitor

In the Sartori & Partners lateral record, 198 lawyers joined a new firm in Mass & Toxic Torts from November 2025 to October 2026. On settled windows the count went from 218 to 198 (-9.2%), a change inside the noise of the two counts, so we read it as flat.

Over the three years to October 2026, 634 lawyers moved in Mass & Toxic Torts, 245 of them partners (38.6%). They joined 188 different firms. 16.6% stepped up a level on the move and 19.4% changed city, against 12.3% and 21.6% across the market over the same three years. 50.1% came from firms with 1,000+ lawyers.

At 34.8%, the partner share of arrivals sits above the market's 27.7%. Year on year, on windows that end a month early, partner moves alone eased 26.8% (97 to 71). A step up in title came with 17.2% of moves (market 12.9%).

Lateral hires in Mass & Toxic Torts were spread across 93 firms. Ten firms account for 36.9% of arrivals, against 12.9% across the market: concentrated. Husch Blackwell ranks first by lateral arrivals, in the 6-10 band.

New York ranks first among destination cities with 15.7% of arrivals, followed by Chicago (11.1%). A change of city came with 22.4% of moves (market 20.5%).

There were 834 open roles in Mass & Toxic Torts on law-firm career pages on November 11, 2026.

For a firm planning a hire in Mass & Toxic Torts, 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 98 dated deals in Mass & Toxic Torts in the 12 months to October 2026 and 250 over the three years to October 2026.

Disputes & investigations work is involved in 97.6% of them.

By client industry, Pharma & Biotech comes first with 21.2%.

King & Spalding ranks first among advising firms over the period, in the 41-60 band.