California Q1 2026: Corporate Catches Up With Litigation
For the first time in recent years, corporate partner moves in California matched litigation in the first quarter of 2026 - a parity that marks a meaningful shift in demand on the West Coast.
Macrae+'s latest Legalscape data shows 72 lateral partner moves across the state in Q1 2026, down from 90 in Q1 2025. But the headline isn't the volume dip - it's the composition. Corporate accounted for 27.8% of moves in Q1 2026, up sharply from 23.3% in full-year 2025, pulling level with litigation at 27.9%.
"The overarching theme seems to be that all the firms were very focused on growing out their corporate practices," said Sarah Morris, co-office managing partner of the West Coast US at Macrae. "In the last six months to a year, there's definitely been a shift in terms of what clients are asking us for."
Firm hiring patterns also stood out. The AmLaw 25 recorded a net negative quarter in California - down 10 partners - while the broader AmLaw 100 posted a net gain of 18. Among the most active hirers were Willkie Farr & Gallagher, Ballard Spahr, McGuireWoods, and WilmerHale - firms that don't traditionally lead California tables, suggesting intentional market expansion rather than routine activity.
The geographic story within California is also evolving. Morris noted a growing focus on Los Angeles, where a number of AmLaw 100 firms are opening offices and expanding in Southern California - a shift from LA's historical positioning as a predominantly middle-market hub. New office openings across the state more broadly have been building for five to seven years, and those expansions are now generating lateral moves.
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