Private Equity Booms as London Law Firm Partner Moves Hit Record High
A recent City AM article by Rosie Harris-Davison covers the record level of private equity partner hiring in London in 2025, drawing on data from Macrae+'s London Private Equity Report.
According to the report, there were 50 partner moves in London's private equity sector last year - up from 28 in 2024 and a new high for the tracking period. Notably, London firms outpaced its US rivals in net growth for the first time, suggesting a meaningful shift in the competitive landscape between UK and US firms in the City's PE legal market.
The piece explores the broader forces driving this activity. Economic uncertainty, the rising influence of AI, and geopolitical pressures are all cited as factors prompting firms to focus their hiring on established talent who can bring teams and clients with them. Demand for specialised practices is also increasing, with property and infrastructure teams highlighted as particularly sought after. At the same time, the article notes that the pool of well-established PE partner talent in London remains limited - and that demand is expected to continue into 2026.
The article also situates the legal hiring boom within a wider surge of private equity interest across London's professional services sector, with accountancy firms, law firms, and advisory businesses all increasingly in contact with PE-backed investors.