Seattle's lateral market continues to thrive, anchored by major tech companies like Amazon and Microsoft that drive substantial demand for corporate, IP, and employment attorneys. The region's unique employment law landscape and growing practice areas make it attractive for career pivots.
Private equity funds focusing on emerging companies create significant lateral opportunities for corporate attorneys. These funds drive demand for specialized legal services in M&A, securities, and regulatory compliance as their portfolio companies scale.
Technology-adjacent practices, employment law, and privacy/data security lead 2026 lateral demand, with significant regional variations. High-growth markets like Charlotte and Seattle offer unique opportunities beyond traditional BigLaw strongholds.
Legal recruiters typically charge law firms 25-33% of the placed candidate's first-year total compensation. Partner-level placements often command higher percentages due to complexity and revenue potential.
Moore & Van Allen is Charlotte's premier regional firm, particularly strong in banking, financial services, and corporate law due to its proximity to Bank of America and Wells Fargo headquarters. The firm dominates the local market in commercial real estate and maintains solid litigation capabilities.
Fenwick & West is a premier Silicon Valley technology law firm known for venture capital, IPOs, and emerging company representation. They're particularly strong in tech transactions, employment law for tech companies, and intellectual property matters.
The Am Law 100 ranks the highest-grossing U.S. law firms by annual revenue, with 2024's #100 firm earning approximately $400+ million. These firms typically offer Cravath-scale compensation, global platforms, and prestigious client work.
Washington and California employment law markets differ significantly in regulatory complexity, with California's PAGA and wage & hour laws creating more plaintiff-side opportunities, while Washington's noncompete ban and tech concentration drive corporate employment demand.
Charlotte's IP transactional market is surprisingly robust, driven by the city's fintech boom and major corporate headquarters. While deal sizes may be smaller than Silicon Valley, the work is sophisticated and the market is growing rapidly.
Charlotte is experiencing exceptional growth as a legal market, driven by major financial institutions and expanding firm presence. The market offers strong opportunities for corporate and financial services attorneys, with competitive compensation adjusted for significantly lower cost of living.
Charlotte is emerging as one of the fastest-growing Southeast legal markets, driven by banking headquarters and lower competition, while Atlanta remains the established regional hub with broader practice diversity but higher attorney saturation.
Seattle's tech concentration is creating distinctive employment litigation opportunities, from noncompete dynamics following Washington's 2020 ban to AI workplace issues and layoff litigation. The market offers strong compensation and unique subspecialties for experienced employment attorneys.
Charlotte's financial services market is exceptionally strong due to Bank of America and Wells Fargo headquarters driving substantial deal flow. Associates typically work on high-stakes transactions with excellent mentorship, though hours remain demanding at top-tier firms.