Several Am Law 200 firms have added to their corporate partner ranks to start June, continuing what has already been an active year for lateral hiring across California.
Recent hires involving firms such as Willkie Farr & Gallagher, O'Melveny & Myers and Dechert build on a busy May, which saw notable moves across Los Angeles, San Francisco and Silicon Valley involving Winston & Strawn, Proskauer, Pillsbury, Arnold & Porter and Akin.
Taken together, the moves point to a market that remains highly competitive for transactional talent.
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Key Takeaways
- 66 corporate partner moves were recorded in California prior to June.
- Corporate hiring has been particularly active among Am Law 50 and upper Am Law 200 firms.
- Recent moves suggest firms continue to invest heavily in M&A, private equity and finance talent.
- Litigation remains the largest practice area by volume, accounting for approximately 40% of partner moves.
- Much of the litigation activity is occurring at regional and mid-market firms, while corporate hiring is concentrated among the market's largest platforms.
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Prior to June, California had already recorded 66 corporate partner moves, making corporate one of the most active practice areas for lateral hiring in the state.
Many of the highest-profile moves have involved firms from the upper reaches of the Am Law rankings competing directly for elite transactional talent. Firms including Kirkland & Ellis, Freshfields, A&O Shearman, Cooley, Morrison & Foerster and Goodwin have all been active participants, reflecting the continued importance of California's technology, private equity, venture capital and life sciences sectors.
The resurgence of large-scale dealmaking has also strengthened confidence across the transactional market. The first half of 2026 has been one of the busiest periods for mega M&A transactions in recent years, while private equity sponsors continue to hold significant levels of undeployed capital and financing markets have become increasingly supportive of deal activity.
Against that backdrop, firms appear increasingly focused on ensuring they have the right talent in place to capitalise on future opportunities. For many, lateral hiring remains one of the most effective ways to strengthen client relationships, deepen sector expertise and position for long-term growth.
This is particularly true in California, where technology companies, venture-backed businesses and private capital investors continue to generate a steady flow of sophisticated transactional work, making experienced corporate partners highly valuable strategic hires.
While litigation remains the largest practice area for partner movement overall, much of that activity has been driven by regional and mid-market firms. By contrast, many of the most closely watched moves among Am Law 50 and upper Am Law 200 firms have occurred within corporate practices, highlighting the continued strategic importance of transactional talent to the market's largest platforms.
Moves by Practice Area (2026)
The broader California lateral market remains heavily influenced by litigation, which accounts for approximately 40% of all partner moves recorded this year. Firms such as Gordon & Rees, Kahana Feld and Resnick & Louis have been among the most active acquirers of litigation talent, reflecting sustained demand across insurance, professional liability, construction and commercial disputes practices.
Labor & Employment, Corporate and Intellectual Property form a second tier of highly active practice areas, highlighting the breadth of demand across California's legal market.
The data also reveals a clear divide in where activity is occurring. Litigation hiring has been driven largely by regional California firms, national mid-market platforms and specialist practices. Corporate hiring, meanwhile, has been concentrated among Am Law 50 and upper Am Law 200 firms, where competition for private equity, M&A and finance talent remains intense.
As the year progresses, litigation is likely to remain the largest driver of partner mobility across California. Yet the concentration of corporate hiring among the market's largest firms suggests transactional talent remains one of the most strategically valuable assets in the lateral market.
Whether you're considering a move or simply want to understand your market value, our California team advises associates, counsel and partners on opportunities across the state's leading law firms. Contact us for a confidential conversation.
