Non-equity partner compensation disputes often signal deeper firm culture issues that rarely improve. A lateral move to a growing market like Charlotte can provide both financial upside and career reset opportunities.
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.
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.
Equity partnership means owning a stake in the firm with voting rights and profit-sharing, while non-equity partners receive salary/bonus without ownership. Equity partners typically earn significantly more but face greater financial risk and responsibility.
Partner billable hours vary significantly by firm type and market, with Am Law 100 partners typically billing 2,000-2,400 hours annually. However, partners focus more on business development and client management than pure hour generation.
Seattle offers higher attorney salaries but significantly higher housing costs, while Portland provides a lower cost of living but fewer BigLaw opportunities. Tax differences and lifestyle factors also impact the real value of compensation packages.
Employment law demand is surging in California (PAGA litigation), the Pacific Northwest (tech employment issues), and growing Southeast markets. Many attorneys find better work-life balance and competitive compensation outside traditional BigLaw centers.
Partnership timelines typically range from 7-12 years depending on firm size, practice area, and market dynamics. Am Law 100 firms average 8-9 years, while mid-market firms often promote faster at 6-8 years.
Choose a substantive, well-written sample from your current practice area that showcases analytical thinking and clear writing. Most firms prefer 5-10 page excerpts from briefs, memoranda, or opinion letters over transactional documents.
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.
San Francisco litigation associates typically earn 10-20% more in base salary than Seattle counterparts, but Seattle's lower cost of living and growing market demand are narrowing the gap significantly.
Plaintiff-side employment litigation focuses on representing employees in discrimination, wage disputes, and wrongful termination cases, often working on contingency with higher risk/reward. Defense-side represents employers, offers steadier billable hour income, and involves more regulatory compliance and risk mitigation work.
While specific 2026 salary figures remain speculative, current market trends suggest continued growth in Am Law 200 compensation, with increasing regional differentiation and practice area premiums. Secondary markets like Charlotte and Seattle are closing the gap with traditional legal hubs.
Fund finance focuses on subscription facilities and capital call lending to private equity/hedge funds, while traditional banking covers broader commercial lending. Fund finance typically offers higher compensation and more deal velocity, though both practices share core lending documentation skills.