Lateral Partner Moves in London

Welcome to the latest round-up of lateral partner moves in the legal market from Edwards Gibson, where we look back at announced partner-level recruitment activity in London over the past two months and give you a ‘who’s moved where’ update.

There are a total of 71 lateral partner moves hires in this edition – a 5% increase on this time last year but an 8% decrease on the statistical average (77) for the same period over the past 5 years.

Nevertheless, perhaps surprisingly in view of the economic and political uncertainties arising from the global economy and Brexit, year to date, we have recorded 244 lateral partner moves – 6% up on the five year average at the same half year point.

The most dramatic move was Goodwin Procter’s five-partner raid on Taylor Wessing stealing a team comprising corporate technology, life sciences and tax. Two firms hired three partner teams: Dechert (which took a mixed finance and disputes team from fellow US firm Sidley) and Kennedys which scooped up insurance/re-insurance trio from Norton Rose Fulbright.

Also of note in this edition

• 20% of all moves were from non-partners moving into partnership (including all four partner hires at Kirkland & Ellis)
• Two firms hired partners from in-house: Dentons (Hilton Hotels) and Fieldfisher (Morgan Stanley);
• 24% of all partner moves were female partners.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like to discuss this article or any other aspect of the market in more depth.

Many thanks,

The Edwards Gibson Team