Explosive Talent Raid: Major Lateral Group Moves Highlight Intense War for Talent in Big Law Throughout 2025
In a year defined by fierce competition for top legal talent, lateral group moves—large teams of partners and associates jumping firms together—underscored the ongoing war for talent in Big Law during 2025. These high-profile raids allowed elite firms to instantly bolster practices, capture client relationships, and expand geographically, often at the expense of rivals in a market rebounding with renewed deal activity and profitability.
Notable examples included a UK firm’s bold U.S. entry with a 30-lawyer group split between New York and Los Angeles launches in January, alongside domestic coups like 18 attorneys opening an Atlanta office and 17 joining an Am Law 10 firm in LA. Firms like Crowell & Moring snagged 16 health care litigators from Reed Smith, while Arnold & Porter raided K&L Gates’ West Coast talent.
Recruiters described the pace as reminiscent of the record 2021 boom, driven by cooling interest rates, surging transactional work (M&A, private equity), and U.S. firms’ aggressive London poaching with multimillion-pound packages. Group hires proved particularly coveted for their “stickier” client portability and higher success rates compared to individual laterals.
Industry data showed lateral activity accelerating, with Q3 seeing a 5.6% increase and firms budgeting millions—averaging over $4 million per partner pursuit—to secure rainmakers. Elite players targeted high performers from the next tier, effectively “buying demand” amid elevated valuations.
Experts noted risks: Integration challenges, cultural clashes, and success rates as low as 50-66% for laterals. Yet, with demand booming in corporate, litigation, and finance, firms prioritized strategic raids over organic growth.
For U.S. readers, these lateral group moves and the broader war for talent in 2025 reflect Big Law’s economic resilience—driving higher billables, profits, and client service innovation. As deal markets rebound and AI reshapes practices, competition for portable books and specialized expertise intensifies, potentially raising legal costs but enhancing firm capabilities nationwide.
This flurry of lateral group moves in 2025 solidified Big Law’s aggressive talent strategy, setting the stage for continued consolidation and high-stakes recruiting into 2026.
By Mark Smith
Follow us on X @realnewshubs and subscribe for push notifications to stay locked on every US judge orders Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s release from ICE custody development!
Follow and subscribe to us for push notifications to never miss the latest updates.