By the Numbers: 15 Lateral Moves that Defined Big Law in 2020

Many Big Law firms took a risk-averse approach to lateral hiring in 2020, resulting in fewer partners moving between the country’s 100 largest outfits. But as some firms realized the coronavirus pandemic and related recession weren’t going to devastate their finances, they opened their coffers to recruit talent.

Through November this year, 1,112 lateral partners joined AmLaw 100 firms, according to data from Leopard Solutions analyzed by Bloomberg Law. That’s down about 30% from the 1,581 partners who made moves during the same time period in 2019.

The year’s most impactful partner hires show how large, wealthy firms took advantage ...