This is the latest update on lateral partner and counsel moves in the Washington, D.C. area. The data included in these reports is primarily derived from Firm Prospects LLC. For more details and analysis, including a list of laterals for the month, please contact Steve Nelson.
Lateral hiring in DC continues to be quite active, with 86 moves reported, an increase from 77 in March. Moreover, it was higher than the 75 moves reported in April 2024. Overall, there have been 316 moves reported in the first four months of 2025, compared to 275 during that timeframe in 2024.
Government hiring also remained strong, as 26 such moves were reported, compared to 28 in March. So far in 2025, there have been 99 government moves reported this year, compared to 75 in 2021.
As usual, the Department of Justice accounted for the most hires, with six attorneys moving into private practice. Other agencies represented by multiple hires include the Commerce Department (4), the Securities & Exchange Commission (2), and the International Trade Commission (2).
April was a particularly active month for group movement, as five such transactions were reported.
- A five-partner Litigation group moved from Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel (on the eve of its merger with Herbert Smith) to Hogan Lovells.
- A three-partner Intellectual Property Litigation group moved from King & Spalding to Cahill Gordon & Reindel.
- A three-lawyer Copyright and Trademark group moved from Perkins Coie to Morgan Lewis & Bockius.
- Two Real Estate partners left ArentFox Schiff to go to DLA Piper.
- Two Labor & Employment partners joined Littler Mendelson from Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld as a follow-on to a previous group move.
Other firms reporting multiple hires included:
- Baker McKenzie
- Jenner & Block
- Mayer Brown
- Miller & Chevalier
- Pierson Ferdinand
- Wiley Rein
- WilmerHale
- Wilson, Elser, Moskowitz, Edelman & Dicker
Twenty-eight of the movers (32.61 percent) were women, with 17 (60.7 percent) entering as partners. That compared to 40 of the 58 men (69 percent) who joined their new firms as partners.
Litigation was the most active practice area, with 11 moves. Other active practice areas included:
- Intellectual Property (9)
- White Collar/Investigations (6)
- Corporate (6)
- Real Estate (6)
- International Trade (6)
- Energy (5)
- Antitrust (3)
- Health Care (3)
- Government Contracts (3)
- Investment Management (3)
- Labor & Employment (3)
- National Security (3)
With the new administration taking shape, the political landscape has already shifted significantly. Many lobbyists have transitioned into new roles in Cabinet agencies or have taken on leadership roles in Congress, leaving key vacancies behind. Moreover, the aggressive posture of the new Administration has increased the need for lobbyists who can effectively navigate the Executive Branch.
Are you prepared for this rapid transition?
The McCormick’s Group’s Government Affairs team can help. We bring extensive experience and a deep network and are uniquely positioned to help you secure top talent in this highly competitive environment.
If you are interested in expanding or strengthening your team, please contact Dave Ris.
