SSQ has collected and analysed the major movement data from law firms in China in 2024 to provide an overview of trends and changes, including key lateral moves, new office openings and closures, and new firm mergers or alliances.
Beijing and Shanghai remained the most active lateral hire markets in China – collectively, they accounted for three quarters of the whole country’s 172 partner moves. In comparison with 2022 and 2023, which recorded totals of 97 and 171 partner moves respectively, lateral hiring continued to see high levels of activity in 2024. Much of this trend is probably due to the extreme uncertainty lingering in the market, which encourages senior legal practitioners to balance their developing opportunities against different career options.
Dispute resolution once again became the busiest practice area for lateral hires in China in 2024, with lateral partner movements in this one area accounting for 31% of the whole market (53 of 172).
Read on in our full analysis for further breakdowns of the hottest hiring locations in China, movement between firm types, foreign hires and expansion, and the key mergers and alliances forged over the year.
Looking to make your move in China’s 2025 lateral market? Get in touch with our expert team of consultants for confidential advice and the benefit of their extensive regional experience in supporting your legal search in the coming year.
