London’s Disputes Hiring Market Holds Firm, According to CDR Analysis
Commercial Dispute Resolution (CDR) published an article examining the latest trends in London’s disputes partner market, drawing on data from our Macrae+ Legalscape: Litigation in London report. The analysis highlights a market that has expanded steadily over the past five years, with partner moves increasing from 22 in 2020 to 35 so far in 2025 - a sign of consistent, strategy-led growth rather than cyclical spikes.
Key Themes Highlighted in the Article
Sustained demand in core specialist areas: Intellectual property disputes and international arbitration continue to anchor hiring, with IP in particular showing notable growth this year.
Momentum in emerging areas: Product and professional liability hires have picked up in 2025, alongside a gradual rise in class-actions-related recruitment.
Gender representation challenges: After reaching 46% in 2022, the proportion of female partner hires has declined to 28% in 2025 YTD, reflecting uneven progress across lateral and promotion pathways.
Market outlook: The CDR piece notes expected acceleration in collective actions, steady international arbitration activity against a complex geopolitical backdrop, and potential impacts from litigation-funding reforms - all of which are likely to influence hiring approaches going into 2026.
Read the full article from Andrew Mizner for CDR here.
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For more insights, connect with the Macrae London team here.
