BigLaw partner lateral moves involve extensive due diligence on portable business, client relationship verification, and detailed compensation negotiations. The process typically takes 3-6 months and requires careful timing around non-competes and client notifications.
Employment law partners typically need $1-3M in portable business for lateral moves, though demand varies by market and specialty. PAGA expertise and wage-hour class action experience can reduce these thresholds significantly.
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.
Labor and employment partners typically need $1-3M in portable business for lateral moves, though requirements vary significantly by market and firm tier. Strong client relationships and specialized expertise can sometimes offset lower book numbers.
The ideal timing for lateral moves depends on practice area and market dynamics, but generally falls into two windows: January-March for post-bonus moves with strong Q1 budgets, and August-October for year-end hiring pushes.
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.
Patent litigation associates handle document review, prior art research, claim construction briefing, expert witness coordination, and trial preparation. The work is highly technical and substantive, with better work-life balance than M&A but intense periods during trials and key deadlines.
BigLaw associates handle sophisticated transactions and litigation with significant client responsibility, billing 1,900-2,400+ hours annually. Work varies dramatically by practice area, from M&A due diligence to complex commercial litigation, with clear advancement tracks to counsel and partnership.
Law firm partners typically split profits through compensation systems based on originations, billable hours, and firm contributions. Most firms use either lockstep, eat-what-you-kill, or hybrid models that balance individual performance with collaborative firm building.
Law firm partnership offers significant financial rewards through equity participation and profit sharing, plus professional autonomy, business development opportunities, and long-term wealth building potential. However, partners also assume substantial business risks and client responsibility.
Corporate associates handle M&A, securities, and general corporate work, with firms evaluating deal experience, drafting skills, and client management abilities. The current market strongly favors experienced corporate laterals, especially those with 3-7 years of experience.
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.
Entertainment law partners in NYC and LA typically earn $400K-$1.2M+ depending on firm tier, portable business, and specialization. Both markets offer strong opportunities with LA having slight edge for film/TV work.
The M&A associate lateral market remains competitive but active, with strong demand in tech-heavy markets and emerging practice areas. Success depends heavily on timing, deal experience quality, and target market selection.