London: Partner Lateral Market - 2026 Q1 in Review

London recorded its quietest Q1 for partner lateral activity in three years - but a lower headline number masked some significant shifts beneath the surface.

Corporate and Finance dominated in a way the market hasn't seen before, together accounting for their largest combined Q1 share in the dataset.

Firm tier performance was sharply uneven, with some tiers posting their strongest Q1 in three years and others continuing a streak that will concern the firms involved.

The full picture - including practice area data, firm tier net changes, and the quarter's top hirers - is in our 2026 Q1 London Partner Movement report. Download the report using the form below.