Law360 coverage highlights Edwards Gibson analysis of early 2026 hiring trends

Recent Law360 coverage by Ashish Sareen has highlighted Edwards Gibson’s latest analysis of partner recruitment activity in the London market.

The article focuses on a slowdown in partner moves at the start of 2026, with activity down compared to the same period last year. However, Edwards Gibson’s data indicates that this decline follows an exceptional spike in 2025, rather than signalling a fundamental cooling of the market.

The report shows that 114 partners moved in January and February 2026. While lower than the record levels seen a year earlier, this total remains above both five year and ten year averages, underlining the continued strength of hiring demand.

Edwards Gibson’s analysis also points to the distortive effect of last year’s surge in activity, suggesting that headline comparisons risk overstating any downturn. Over a longer timeframe, partner recruitment levels at the start of 2026 rank among the strongest on record.

The article suggests that, despite some short-term variation in activity, firms in London remain focused on strategic hiring in a competitive market.

Read the full (paywalled) Law360 article here.