London litigation market sees surge in partner hires
London law firms hired 35 disputes partners through August, exceeding the 34 recorded across all of 2024, according to legal recruiter Macrae. The research tracked movements among Britain’s top 15 firms and America’s leading 50 practices, finding partner mobility has ranged between 25 and 45 annual moves since 2020.
Lateral hires accounted for 83 percent of transfers while 14 percent earned partnerships upon arrival. Clyde & Co added four net disputes partners while CMS, Jones Day, Pinsent Masons and White & Case each gained three. Intellectual property disputes drove 23 percent of partner moves as firms pursued expertise in artificial intelligence litigation and patent law.
International arbitration accounted for 17 percent of hires as legislative changes strengthened London’s position in global dispute resolution. Women represented 31 percent of litigation partners, down from 46 percent in 2022, with female lawyers comprising just 28 percent of 2025 transfers. Banking, insurance, product liability and class action work provided additional recruitment opportunities amid regulatory scrutiny and market volatility.
