The National Law Journal: SCOTUS Litigator Demand Surges Amid Big Law Partner Shuffle
A recent National Law Journal article by Abigail Adcox examines the wave of Supreme Court and appellate hiring sweeping Big Law, with at least seven firms announcing partner hires in this space since the start of 2025 - and recruiters expecting more moves to come.
The article traces the pattern back through a string of high-profile appellate moves over the past two years, and explores why firms are willing to invest so heavily in this small pool of talent, with compensation for top Supreme Court litigators reportedly ranging from $5 million to $15 million.
Lauren Drake, a Washington DC-based partner at Macrae, comments in the piece on what's driving the demand:
"If a firm has a strong litigation practice, if their clients are in need of attorneys who can handle appeals, including all the way to the Supreme Court, firms want to have people in-house who are able to handle that work. Otherwise, not only do they risk losing the appellate work, but then there's a risk of losing the client altogether."
She also points to the knock-on effect for associate recruiting, noting that a strong Supreme Court practice is often what allows firms to attract former Supreme Court clerks in the first place.
With only a small number of lawyers who carry genuine Supreme Court experience, and firm profitability at record levels, the article suggests this level of appellate hiring activity is far from over.
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