Am Law 200 Posted Net Outflow of 814 Attorneys in July — Largest Monthly Deficit of 2026

Leopard Solutions' July 2026 lateral data, published August 5, recorded 2,087 attorney departures versus 1,273 arrivals across the Am Law 200 — a net outflow of 814 attorneys and the largest monthly deficit of 2026. Litigation, Corporate, and IP each simultaneously recorded their highest exit volume and lowest entry volume of the year, suggesting that pressure is concentrated in the highest-demand practice areas rather than in commodity work. Separately, Pirical's Q2 2026 lateral partner data showed 75% of Am Law 200 lateral partner hires came from within the Am Law 200 (up from 60% in Q1), with litigation dominating at 286 partner hires, Corporate at 172, Real Estate at 83, and Banking & Finance at 81 — New York (152), DC (88), London (64), and Chicago (47) accounting for the volume. The combined picture is one of intense internal market circulation: firms are not adding net talent but are redirecting existing supply, with mid-market firms the most likely net losers.