Edwards Gibson research featured in The Lawyer Horizon article: “Latham, Paul Weiss, and the Great Apes”

Edwards Gibson research featured in The Lawyer Horizon article: “Latham, Paul Weiss, and the Great Apes”

We are delighted that Edwards Gibson’s data and analysis on partner moves have been prominently featured in The Lawyer Horizon article “Latham, Paul Weiss, and the Great Apes,” by Catrin Griffiths, published on January 14, 2025.

The article, which cleverly draws on evolutionary psychology research, explores how the dynamics of human socialisation and group size inform the ever-shifting landscape of law firm lateral partner hiring. Robin Dunbar’s seminal 1992 study on the neocortex and social group size suggests that the upper limit of stable social connections for an individual is 150—a concept intriguingly linked to the recent spate of high-profile lateral moves and team transitions in the legal sector.

As Griffiths highlights, Edwards Gibson’s data underscore the unprecedented level of partner mobility, with a record-breaking 547 partner moves in 2024, marking a 14% increase over the five-year average. This surge reflects both the financial incentives offered by global elite firms and the intrinsic social dynamics that drive lawyers to move in tightly bonded groups.

The analysis delves into notable examples of this phenomenon from the 84th edition of Edwards Gibson’s Law Firm Partner Moves in London. In particular, it looks at group moves, such as the Cahill leveraged finance team joining Latham, the Latham leveraged finance team transitioning to Sidley Austin, and the EY Law team’s migration to Hunton Andrews Kurth—all influenced by pre-existing social and professional ties.

As Edwards Gibson’s data demonstrate, this trend is not confined to the City’s global elite. Regional firms such as TLT, Addleshaw Goddard, and Simmons & Simmons are mirroring this approach, orchestrating team hires that reflect a deeper understanding of the interconnected social networks within the profession.

The article also underscores the disproportionate significance of junior lawyers’ influence on senior moves. As Griffiths notes, this sentiment is emblematic of the deeply rooted social dynamics shaping the future of lateral hiring.

Read the online version of The Lawyer Horizon’s article here.