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 in DC increased strongly in February, as 96 partner and counsel moves were reported, up from 57 in January and 44 in December. There were 77 moves reported in February 2024.
One key factor was a strong increase in government hiring, as 33 moves from government were reported, far higher than any month in recent history.
Not surprisingly, the Department of Justice accounted for the most hires, with nine attorneys moving into private practice. Other agencies represented by multiple hires included the SEC (3), Commerce (3), Interior (3), and FERC (2).
There were six group moves reported in February. Kirkland & Ellis acquired two of the groups, one a Product Liability Litigation group from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, the other a Corporate group from Greenberg Traurig. Two other group moves involved Real Estate Finance lawyers—one that joined Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton from McDermott, Will & Emery, and the other that joined Paul Hastings from King & Spalding. The remaining group moves were an Investment Management group that joined Simpson Thacher & Bartlett from Willkie Farr & Gallagher, and an Insurance/Reinsurance Litigation Group that joined Stradley Ronon from Mintz Levin.
Other firms reporting multiple hires included:
- Covington & Burling
- Crowell & Moring
- DLA Piper
- Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher
- Goodwin Procter
- Norton Rose Fulbright
- Pillsbury Winthrop
- Sidley Austin
- White & Case
- Willkie Farr & Gallagher
- Wilmer Hale
Thirty-five of the movers (36.5 percent) were women, with 21 (60.0 percent) entering as partners. That compared to 30 of the 35 men (72.1 percent) who joined their new firms as partners.
Litigation and White Collar/Investigations were by far the most active practice areas, with 17 and 16 moves, respectively. Other active practice areas included Corporate (9), International Trade (7), Energy (7), Real Estate (6) Data Privacy(5), Health Care (3), Tax (3), Antitrust (3), and Investment Management (3).
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