Canadian associates have long formed one of New York’s most reliable overseas talent pipelines—especially those from top-tier Canadian firms with hands-on deal experience.
In recent years, that route has become noticeably tougher. A slowdown in deal flow, tighter hiring cycles, and a more cautious approach to laterals meant that even highly qualified Canadian lawyers often struggled to turn New York interest into actual offers.
While we’ve helped the occasional superstar make the move, appetite for Canadian talent is now clearly strengthening. As transactional activity rebounds heading into 2026, U.S. firms are showing renewed interest—particularly in Canadian associates within finance, corporate, and funds practices.
Recent Examples
Canadian associates continue to see strong demand in New York. Supported by Dom Duchesne, we recently completed two placements of junior lawyers — one in debt finance and one in PE debt finance — from leading national firms into elite U.S. teams. Both candidates brought strong academic credentials and had taken clear steps toward U.S. practice, aligning well with teams preparing for a busy 2026.
Several more Canadian associates are now at offer stage with top finance and corporate groups in the city, underscoring the continued momentum for Canadian talent in the New York market.
At the associate level, the majority of successful Canada-to-New York moves this year have—perhaps surprisingly—been at the junior end, typically lawyers with one to two years of experience at top Canadian firms. These juniors have almost exclusively joined finance practices, signaling where demand is tight and where New York firms are struggling to source qualified talent locally.
At the midlevel, most of the movement we’ve seen has been in finance and corporate. The majority of mid-level associates making the move have been from the Class of 2021.
What Canadian Associates Should Prioritize
If New York is something you’ve considered, the next 6–12 months could be a strong time to explore it, particularly if you:
- are at a top-tier firm/ band-ranked practice group
- have strong academics
- have already taken steps toward U.S. qualification (NY Bar or in progress)
- are in finance, M&A, funds, capital markets, or related corporate seats
For Canadian lawyers who have been waiting for the right moment to test the U.S. market—this could be it.
If you’re thinking about lateral options in New York in 2026, now is a good moment to start the conversation—quietly, early, intentionally—while appetite is shifting upward again.
