This is the latest update on lateral partner and counsel moves in the Washington, D.C. area. The data included in these reports is primarily derived from Firm Prospects LLC. For more details and analysis, including a list of laterals for the month, please contact Steve Nelson.
Lateral hiring predictably increased in January, as 77 partner and counsel moves were reported, up from 33 in December and 55 in November. The number of moves was nearly identical to January 2023, when 78 moves were reported.
Four group moves were reported in January. Those included the merger of the White Collar/Investigations boutique of WTAII, PLLC with Miles & Stockbridge, an Antitrust group that moved from Norton Rose Fulbright to DLA Piper, an Investment Management group that moved from Fried, Frank to Kirkland & Ellis, and two partners who moved from Dunlap Bennett & Ludwig to Bean, Kinney & Korman. Other firms reported multiple hires included:
- Brown Rudnick
- Crowell & Moring
- Finnegan, Henderson
- Goodwin Procter
- Husch Blackwell
- Jackson Lewis
- K&L Gates
- Potomac Law Group
- Rimon Law
- Troutman Pepper
Nearly 30 percent of the moves came from outside private practice, as 12 government lawyers entered private practice in January, while nine lawyers moved from in-house positions.
Twenty-nine women were among the 77 movers (37.7 percent, with 21 (72.4 percent) entering as partners. Unlike most months, that percentage was higher than for men, as 29 of the 48 men (60.4 percent) joined their new firms as partners.
Litigation was the leading practice represented, with nine movers. Other active practice areas included Antitrust (7), White Collar/Investigations (7), Intellectual Property (6), Energy (6), Corporate (5), Investment Management (5), and International Trade (5).
Steve Nelson’s podcast, Steve’s Rules, has just started its second season. In the latest episode, Steve is joined by TMG Principals David Ris and Tim Horgan, who discuss the opportunities and challenges for high-level professionals on Capitol Hill and federal agencies seeking positions in the private sector. Other topics covered by the podcast include:
- A roadmap through the Lateral Partner Questionnaire
- The myth of portable business
- The difference between retained and contingency search
- Developing your firm’s unique selling points
The podcast is available on a number of platforms, including Buzzsprout, Spotify, and Apple.
