Law360: Summer Lull Fades As BigLaw Partner Hiring Intensifies
A recent Law360 article by Aebra Coe examines how the traditional summer slowdown in lateral partner hiring has largely disappeared, as firms move faster and more aggressively to secure top talent.
The piece traces this shift to the growing size of partner pay guarantees and firms moving away from single-tier partnership models, both of which have raised the stakes - and the pace - of the lateral market. Where the process for senior lateral hires once typically spanned five to six months, offers are now increasingly made within weeks.
Eleonora Wäktare, Partner at Macrae in London, comments in the piece on how technology has reshaped the speed of recruitment:
"The increased use of video calls has made recruitment processes faster. We see that when a big fish moves, firms are even faster."
Wäktare notes she has seen job offers extended within 10 days of a candidate submission, with firm chairs and managing partners now getting involved earlier to signal serious intent to prospective hires. She also points to a broader shift in how firms view lateral partner hiring:
"They no longer just need someone capable of doing work in a certain area, it's a tool for growth, and growth in terms of revenue, client base, and potential new clients."
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