Promotion rounds offer a valuable insight into how law firms are investing in talent, developing future leaders and shaping the next generation of their partnership pipeline.
This report examines Counsel and Of Counsel promotions, as well as counsel-level lateral hiring, across leading US and international law firms in Hong Kong and Singapore, providing a snapshot of career progression, talent investment and hiring trends across the Asia legal market.
While lateral hiring activity often dominates headlines, internal promotions can reveal just as much about a firm's priorities. They highlight the practice areas receiving investment, the markets experiencing growth and the lawyers firms are choosing to retain and develop for the long term.
Since January 2026, we have identified 30 Counsel and Of Counsel promotions across Hong Kong and Singapore. Hong Kong accounted for the majority of promotions, representing more than three-quarters of the lawyers identified in this report, while a number of firms announced promotions across both markets.
The data included in this report has been compiled using a combination of publicly announced promotion rounds, firm websites, professional profiles and non-publicly available market intelligence gathered through Sonder's network and relationships across the Asia legal market.
Below, we break down promotion activity by firm, practice area and market.
2026 Snapshot
- 30 Counsel and Of Counsel promotions
- 23 in Hong Kong
- 7 in Singapore
- 10 firms promoted lawyers
- Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer and Linklaters recorded the largest promotion classes
- Corporate and Capital Markets accounted for the largest share of disclosed promotions
Corporate and Capital Markets accounted for the largest share of Counsel and Of Counsel promotions identified across Hong Kong and Singapore since January 2026.
The strength of these practice areas reflects the continued momentum being seen across Asia's transactional market. Capital Markets teams, in particular, have remained busy throughout 2026, supported by increased IPO activity, follow-on offerings and other public market transactions across the region. Hong Kong has experienced a notable resurgence in listing activity, while Singapore continues to benefit from strong regional capital flows and cross-border investment.
Many of the lawyers promoted within Corporate and Capital Markets teams have extensive experience advising on IPOs, equity offerings, public company matters and complex cross-border transactions. Their promotions suggest firms are continuing to invest in lawyers with the technical expertise and commercial judgement required to support clients through increasingly sophisticated transactions.
Disputes, Litigation and Arbitration also featured prominently, accounting for a significant proportion of promotions across the region. This highlights the continued importance of contentious work despite improving transactional conditions.
Meanwhile, promotions within Finance, Funds, Regulatory, Competition, Employment, Financial Services and Investment Management practices demonstrate that firms continue to invest across a broad range of specialist disciplines as they position themselves for future growth.
While promotion rounds represent just one measure of market activity, they provide a useful indication of where firms are investing, the skills they value most highly and the practice areas expected to drive future growth.
Full Counsel Promotion List
Asia Counsel Lateral Moves H1 2026
- 9 identified counsel-level lateral moves
- 7 based in Hong Kong
- 2 based in Singapore
- Capital Markets and Corporate practices accounted for the majority of moves
- 7 lawyers moved from partner positions into counsel-level roles
- US firms featured prominently among hiring firms
One of the most notable themes emerging from the counsel-level lateral market is the number of lawyers moving from partner positions at local, regional and international firms into counsel roles at US, Magic Circle and international firms.
Among the moves identified this year are lawyers joining from partner positions at Haiwen & Partners, Jia Yuan Law Offices, Deacons, Mayer Brown, Stephenson Harwood, Commerce & Finance Law Offices and Howse Williams.
At first glance, a move from partner to counsel may appear to be a step backwards. In reality, it often reflects a strategic career decision rather than a reduction in seniority.
Many of the firms hiring these lawyers operate on highly competitive partnership tracks, particularly within the US and Magic Circle segment of the market. Rather than offering partnership immediately, firms are increasingly using counsel positions as a way to integrate experienced lateral hires, assess long-term fit and provide a pathway to partnership over time.
Importantly, these moves frequently come with a significant increase in compensation despite the change in title. Lawyers gain access to larger platforms, deeper institutional client relationships, more international work and, in many cases, substantially higher remuneration than was available in their previous role.
Thinking About Your Own Progression?
Questions we encourage lawyers to consider:
- What does the Counsel pathway look like at your current firm?
- Is there a clear timeline?
- How many lawyers have been promoted internally over the past three years?
- Would your progression be accelerated elsewhere?
For lawyers approaching senior associate level, promotion rounds can provide a useful insight into how firms are investing in talent and where future opportunities may arise.
Disclaimer: This report focuses on Counsel and Of Counsel promotions within international and global law firms operating in Hong Kong and Singapore. It does not include promotions within domestic or national law firms. Data has been compiled from firm announcements, public sources and market intelligence gathered by Sonder.
