Industry analysis highlights how practice area expertise and market demand are shaping compensation for lawyers making lateral moves
A recent industry report provides new insight into how compensation is changing for attorneys who move between major law firms. The BigLaw Lateral Salary Guide analyzes
attorney salary trends by practice area and region, showing that lawyers with specialized expertise often secure the largest compensation increases when making lateral career moves.
Learn more from this guide: BigLaw Lateral Salary Guide: Compensation Increases by Practice Area (2023-2026 Data)
The analysis indicates that competition for experienced attorneys remains strong throughout the legal industry. Large law firms continue to pursue lateral hires who can immediately contribute to client matters and strengthen existing practice groups. As a result, compensation packages often extend beyond base salary and may include signing bonuses, guaranteed bonuses, and other financial incentives tied to the
BigLaw salary scale and bonuses structure used by many large law firms.
Corporate Lawyers Continue to Lead in Salary Growth
Attorneys working in corporate practice areas remain among the most sought-after lateral hires and are often ranked among the
highest-paid attorney practice areas in large law firms. Lawyers specializing in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and private equity transactions frequently receive substantial compensation increases when they join new firms.
According to the guide, salary increases in these areas often range from
15 percent to 20 percent for associates making lateral moves. In certain situations, senior associates or attorneys who bring portable client relationships may receive even larger increases. Law firms place high value on attorneys who can contribute to complex transactions and support high-value deals, making corporate law one of the most competitive lateral hiring markets.
Corporate lawyers who focus on capital markets work or private equity transactions may also receive additional incentives, including signing bonuses and performance-based compensation.
Intellectual Property Attorneys Remain in High Demand
The report also highlights intellectual property law as another practice area experiencing strong compensation growth. Lawyers involved in
patent litigation or
patent prosecution are particularly attractive lateral candidates, especially when they possess technical training in fields such as engineering, computer science, or biotechnology.
Law firms serving technology and life sciences companies often need attorneys who understand both the legal and technical aspects of patent-related matters. Because of this demand, intellectual property attorneys frequently receive salary increases ranging from approximately 14 percent to 18 percent when transitioning to new firms.
Technical expertise combined with legal experience continues to make these lawyers especially valuable in today’s legal marketplace.
Litigation and Regulatory Practices See Steady Increases
Although corporate and intellectual property attorneys tend to receive the largest pay increases, other legal practice areas are also seeing steady growth.
Commercial litigators who move laterally between firms often receive salary increases between 8 percent and 12 percent. Attorneys practicing in specialized litigation areas such as securities litigation and white-collar defense may receive increases ranging from 12 percent to 15 percent, depending on their experience and reputation.
Regulatory attorneys are also benefiting from growing demand. Lawyers with experience in areas such as financial regulation, healthcare compliance, and government investigations are often sought after by firms representing clients in highly regulated industries. Compensation increases for these attorneys may range from 13 percent to 18 percent when making lateral moves.
Location Continues to Influence BigLaw Compensation
Geography continues to play a significant role in determining compensation levels across the legal profession, particularly when comparing
BigLaw associate salary benchmarks across major legal markets. Attorneys working in major legal markets such as
New York, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, and Chicago often receive higher salaries compared to lawyers in smaller or regional markets.
The guide notes that attorneys in these leading markets may earn
20 percent to 45 percent more, depending on their practice area and level of experience. Higher billing rates, larger client bases, and the concentration of major law firms all contribute to these salary differences.
At the same time, the continued growth of hybrid and remote work arrangements has begun to influence how some firms structure compensation across locations. While major legal hubs still offer the highest pay overall, flexible work arrangements may gradually reduce certain geographic salary gaps.
Strategic Timing Can Affect Lateral Pay Increases
The report also suggests that the timing of a lateral move can affect salary outcomes. For example, corporate associates often receive the strongest compensation increases when they change firms during their
third or fourth year, after gaining meaningful experience but while still early in their careers.
Attorneys working in specialized fields such as tax or regulatory law may achieve better compensation outcomes later in their careers, once they have developed deeper subject matter expertise.
Overall, the report indicates that practice area specialization has become one of the most significant factors influencing lateral attorney compensation. As law firms continue to compete for experienced talent, attorneys with highly sought-after skills and industry expertise are likely to remain in a strong position when negotiating compensation during lateral moves.
Learn more from this guide: BigLaw Lateral Salary Guide: Compensation Increases by Practice Area (2023-2026 Data)
