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, please contact TMG’s Steve Nelson (snelson@tmg-dc.com) or Dave Ris (dris@tmg-dc.com).
Lateral hiring picked up somewhat in June, as 66 partner and counsel moves were reported in the Washington, D.C., area, up from 57 moves reported in April. About the same number of moves (64) were reported in June 2021. Overall, the number of moves for the first six months of 2022 has decreased by 4.7 percent compared to the same period last year.
Group movement continues to be strong as five groups consisting of at least two partners moved from one firm to another in May. Groups moving in May included:
- A two-partner Health Care Litigation group that left Bass Berry & Sims to go to Barnes & Thornburg;
- A two-partner energy group that left Troutman Pepper for Bracewell;
- A two-partner Intellectual Property group that left Baker & Hostetler for Ice Miller;
- A four-lawyer Financial Services group (including three in DC) that joined Paul Hastings from Buckley;
- The merger of a two-lawyer Technology and Government Contracts boutique firm with Fenwick & West.
Hiring from the government decreased again in June, with five lawyers coming from government, down from seven in May and 16 in April. Four lawyers moved from in-house positions.
Twenty-nine of the 66 lawyers who moved (43.9 percent) were women. Just over half (55.2) joined their new firms as partner. That compares to 73 percent of men that entered their new firms as partner.
Intellectual Property was the most active practice area, with 9 moves. Other active practice areas were Banking/Finance (8), Litigation (7), Corporate (6), and Energy (4).
