The legal industry has seen a surge in lateral hiring and partner promotions as law firms compete to attract top talent. In 2024, Big Law firms budgeted millions to secure lateral partners, with entire teams dedicated to identifying and integrating talent, as highlighted by a Leopard Solutions report. Firms like Proskauer, Cleary, O'Melveny, and Sidley have been active in lateral hiring, while others, such as Fish & Richardson, Kramer Levin, and Akin, have promoted record numbers of lawyers to partner. Fish & Richardson elevated 18 new principals, highlighting their technical expertise and diverse backgrounds. Kramer Levin promoted three lawyers to partner, and Akin announced its largest-ever partner class. Additionally, Ogletree Deakins named five new office managing shareholders, and Burr & Forman, along with Smith Gambrell & Russell, increased their partner promotions compared to previous years. Hogan Lovells emphasized corporate and finance expertise in its 2025 partner promotions. The competition for talent has led to higher pay packages and strategic hiring practices, signaling a robust start to 2025 for the legal sector.