This is the latest update on lateral partner and counsel moves in the Washington, D.C. area. All data included in these reports is derived from Firm Prospects LLC, and consists of moves reported in April. For more details and analysis, please contact TMG’s Steve Nelson (snelson@tmg-dc.com) or Dave Ris (dris@tmg-dc.com).
Lateral partner recruiting in D.C. remained steady in April, with 52 partner and counsel moves reported, compared to 50 in March. Moreover, the number of moves was consistent with April 2019, when 50 were reported. That said, we believe that many of the moves in April were merely the result of delays of hires that, absent the impact of Covid-19, normally would have been completed in March. (As we reported last month, the number of reported lateral moves was significantly down from March 2019.)
Unlike in recent months, when Intellectual Property and Energy were the most active practice areas, April’s moves were particularly diverse, with nine different practice areas being the subject of at least three hires. Leading the way were Antitrust, Commercial Litigation, and Corporate, all with six moves, closely followed by White Collar/Investigations and Labor/Employment, with five apiece. Other practice areas of interest were Healthcare (4), Environmental (4), International Trade (3), and Intellectual Property (3).
Three group moves were reported, a 3-partner White Collar/Investigations and Commercial Litigation group that joined Allen & Overy from Orrick, a 3-partner Environmental group that joined McGuireWoods from Hunton Andrews Kurth, and a 2-partner Healthcare group that joined Winston & Strawn from McDermott Will & Emery. (That latter group actually joined Winston in late March, but was not registered by Firm Prospects until April.)
Other notable findings include:
- Of the 52 moves, seven came from government and six came from industry.
- The vast majority of the lawyers (37) came in as partners. Six laterals were promoted from counsel or associate to partner.
- Just like in March, fifteen of the lateral movers were women. And like in March, nine of those joined their firm as partners.
- Besides Allen & Overy, McGuireWoods, and Winston, nine firms added at least two laterals, including three “alternative law firms”—Culhane Meadows; FisherBroyles; and the Potomac Law Group. Other firms adding multiple laterals were Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld; Covington & Burling; Holland & Knight; Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman; Polsinelli; and Wilmer Hale.
In our report for March, we failed to indicate that Vedder Price had brought in a two-lawyer group in the Investment Management area.
Steve Nelson is an executive principal at The McCormick Group, an executive search firm based in Arlington, VA. Steve conducts partner-level searches, searches for in-house counsel, and searches for administrative professionals for law firms. In addition, he serves as a consultant for law firm merger planning, practice area expansion, and recruiting strategy. Steve is a former attorney with 17 years in legal journalism and publishing and is a Fellow of the College of Law Practice Management. Follow him @SKNLegal.
