Q2 Lateral Hiring Slows 15% from Q1 Record, But Partner Moves Remain Elevated

Pirical data shows 3,205 lateral hires at Am Law 200 firms in Q2 2026 — down 15.1% from Q1's 3,776 and 4.5% below Q2 2025, as the exceptional pace of early-year hiring normalized. Associate moves drove the deceleration, falling 15.1% quarter-over-quarter and 6.7% year-over-year as firms grew more selective following a broad Q1 surge. Partner hiring held up better at 865 moves — down 12.4% from Q1 but still up 1.4% year-over-year, suggesting sustained senior-level demand even as firms tighten criteria. The geographic and practice composition is consistent with revenue drivers: New York led with 152 partner moves, DC 88, London 64, and Chicago 47; litigation generated 286 moves, corporate 172, and real estate 83. A structural signal from Pirical: 75% of Q2 hires came from within the Am Law 200, up from 60% in Q1 — indicating the lateral market is increasingly a closed loop among established firms rather than a pipeline from boutiques or government.