Solicitors Journal: Mixed Market Trends Impact Partner Hiring

A recent Solicitors Journal article draws on the latest findings from Macrae+'s Legalscape reports, examining how lateral partner hiring has shifted across four major legal markets in the first half of 2026.

The data points to a market of mixed momentum: New York recorded its highest volume of partner moves to date, London held broadly steady against 2024 levels, and Washington, DC and California both eased back from stronger 2025 highs. Corporate work continued to anchor demand across most markets, though the practice-level detail told a more varied story — from rising Litigation activity in London, to a doubling in Tax, Trusts & Estates moves in New York, to growing IP & Technology and Government & Public Policy demand in Washington, DC.

Taken together, the findings underline how differently the lateral market is behaving market by market and practice by practice, even within a single reporting period.

For the full market-by-market breakdown, see Macrae's 2026 H1 reports:

• London Lateral Market

• New York Lateral Market

• Washington, DC Lateral Market

• Washington, DC Gov-to-Law Firm

• California Lateral Market

Read the full article from Solicitors Journal: Mixed Market Trends Impact Partner Hiring.