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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
BigLaw junior associate salaries follow the Cravath scale, with first-years earning $215,000 and second-years making $235,000 at top firms. Regional markets like Charlotte and Seattle may offer 10-20% adjustments, but cost of living differences often favor these markets.
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.
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.
Financial services associates in Charlotte typically earn 15-25% less than NYC counterparts, but with 40%+ lower cost of living. Strong demand from major banks and growing fintech sector creates competitive opportunities.
In-house attorneys routinely sign interrogatories and discovery responses as part of their role, but should understand the professional liability implications and implement proper review procedures. This responsibility comes with the territory of being corporate counsel.
Lateral salary increases typically range from 10-25%, but depend heavily on your current compensation level, target market, and practice area demand. Moving from below-market to market rate can yield higher bumps than lateral moves between comparable firms.
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.
Charlotte's finance legal market is dominated by both national firms and regional powerhouses, driven by Bank of America and Wells Fargo headquarters. The market offers excellent training opportunities with 15-25% lower salaries than NYC but significantly lower living costs.
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.