Study: Lateral Partners Moving “Downstream”

A new study by management consultant firm KermaPartners reveals that increasingly, law firm partners are taking jobs with less profitable firms in search of job security.

KermaPartners examined 240 lateral partner moves at Am Law 200 law firms in Q1 2009. Seventy percent moved to firms with lower profits-per-partner.

In Q1 2008, 46% of lateral partners moved to firms with significantly higher profits-per-partner, the study showed.

Management consultancy firm KermaPartners is based in London, with offices in New York City and Toronto.