When Is the Right Time for a Lateral Partner Move?

Dear Derek L.,

Reading the Market Signals

The legal market is cyclical, and timing your lateral move to coincide with peak demand in your practice area can significantly impact both your negotiating position and long-term success. Right now, several practice areas are experiencing exceptional demand that creates favorable conditions for lateral moves.

Corporate partners in growing markets like Charlotte may be well-positioned, with reports suggesting strong lateral demand in the region, with major firms actively recruiting from traditional hubs like DC and NYC. Similarly, employment partners with California PAGA expertise appear to remain in demand (note that employment laws change frequently and you should verify current requirements), and privacy/data security specialists are often commanding significant premiums across markets.

Consider evaluating whether your practice area aligns with these growth trends. If you're in a hot practice area and receiving multiple inquiries, the market is signaling that now may be an opportune time.

Assessing Your Portable Book Reality

The most critical factor in partner lateral timing is having an honest assessment of your book's portability. Many partners overestimate how much business will follow them, which can lead to disappointing outcomes at a new firm.

Use our partner portable book calculator to get a realistic picture of what you can expect to move. Generally, client relationships you've personally developed and matters where you're the primary relationship partner are most portable. Institutional clients tied to your current firm, referral relationships built by colleagues, and matters driven by your firm's reputation may not transfer as easily.

Consider reaching out to key clients confidentially to gauge their willingness to follow you. If you're uncomfortable with these conversations or concerned about non-compete restrictions, that might indicate you're not quite ready for the move.

Evaluating Your Current Firm's Trajectory

Sometimes the decision to move is driven more by push factors than pull factors. If your current firm is experiencing declining revenues, losing key partners, or facing competitive pressures in your market, waiting for "better timing" may mean missing the window entirely.

Conversely, if your firm just had a strong year and you're seeing personal growth in your practice, you might have more leverage in lateral discussions. Success attracts success, and firms are more interested in partners who are thriving rather than those fleeing problems.

Look at your firm's Am Law rankings trends, recent lateral activity (both incoming and outgoing), and strategic positioning in your market. If you're at a firm that's losing ground while competitors are gaining market share, the "right time" may be sooner than later.

Personal Momentum and Market Positioning

Your individual career momentum plays a crucial role in lateral timing. Partners who are recognized in their field, recently completed significant matters, or earned industry accolades have stronger positioning in lateral discussions.

If you've been developing a subspecialty that's gaining traction — such as AI-related transactions, ESG compliance, or cannabis law in emerging markets — timing your move to coincide with peak market interest can be highly strategic.

Consider also your non-compete and conflict situations. If you need to check bar reciprocity requirements for a move to a different state (be sure to verify current requirements as these change), our bar reciprocity checker can help you understand those timelines, which may influence your decision timing.

The Risk of Waiting Too Long

Many partners make the mistake of waiting for perfect conditions that never materialize. Market cycles shift, practice area demand changes, and personal circumstances evolve. The combination of strong market demand, personal book growth, and multiple firm options may not align again in the near future.

Economic uncertainty can also quickly change lateral market dynamics. While current conditions favor lateral moves in many practice areas, waiting for "even better" conditions risks missing the current opportunity.

If you're getting consistent recruiter interest, have confidence in your book's portability, and can identify clear reasons why a move would advance your career, the timing discussion becomes less about market perfection and more about strategic positioning for long-term success.