Q3 2026 | Which AM Law Firms Made the Most Lateral Partner Hires?
The third quarter of 2026 has wrapped up, so which firms started the year off with the most lateral partner hires? We’ve taken a look, using publicly-available data tracked by Pirical Legal Professionals.
Ranked: Which Firms Made the Most Lateral Partner Hires in Q3 2026
Global, AM Law 200, Top 50 firms, July 1st 2026 - September 30th 2026
The volume of hires matched the same as last year's quarter with 971 lateral partner hires against 964 in Q3 2025. Gordon & Rees has continued its hiring momentum this quarter, topping the lateral hires table with 49 partner hires. Following next are Kirkland & Ellis (39), Greenberg Traurig (32), DLA Piper (29) and Sidley Austin (27).
New York and DC Still Set the Pace
New York City (196) and Washington, D.C. (103) led again, as in Q2, together accounting for 31% of all Q3 moves, followed by London (72), Chicago (60) and Los Angeles (51).
Litigation and Corporate Still Lead, But Banking & Finance Is Climbing
296 of the partners hired by AM Law 200 firms in Q3 have Litigation as their primary focus, well ahead of Corporate (178). Below them, Banking & Finance rose to 107, overtaking Real Estate at 66 hires.
Kirkland & Ellis is the Main Source of Hires Within the AM Law
57% of the hires made in the third quarter of 2026 were sourced from within the AM Law 200, down from 75% in Q2. Kirkland & Ellis lost the most partners again with 41 leaving to another AM Law 200 firm, followed by K&L Gates and DLA Pipe, both at 18 exits.
Note on methodology
Source: Publicly-available data tracked by Pirical Legal Professionals
Location: Global
Timeframe: July 1st 2026 - September 30th 2026
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