Edwards Gibson data extensively featured in The Lawyer Horizon Newsletter

Edwards Gibson is thrilled to see its market-leading research prominently featured in The Lawyer Horizon Newsletter article, “Paul Hastings is a leaky ship”. The piece, written by Margaret Taylor, offers a detailed analysis of partner moves in London and extensively draws on Edwards Gibson’s data to illustrate the scale of movement in 2025 to date.

Our figures show that 560 partners were recruited between January and the end of October 2025, surpassing the full-year total of 548 recorded in 2024 and significantly exceeding the 10-year average of 464 – confirmation that 2025 has been an exceptional year for partner hiring in the City.

The article identifies Kirkland & Ellis (14 hires), White & Case (13), and Fladgate (12 – including a nine-partner team from Memery Crystal) as the most aggressive recruiters. However, the spotlight falls on Paul Hastings, where departures have outpaced arrivals in striking fashion. Despite key hires, the firm has seen 52 lawyers exit globally this year — double the number it recruited — leaving once-strong practice areas, now depleted.

As The Lawyer notes, law firm hiring is not simply about numbers; it’s about strategy, retention, and the fierce competition for top talent in London’s legal market. Edwards Gibson data provides the foundation for this analysis, continuing to deliver critical insights into how partner moves remain one of the most influential dynamics shaping the legal sector.

Read the full article here (subscription required).