Legal recruiters in the City experienced a significant uptick in activity throughout 2025, driven by a surge in hiring for senior legal positions, which is anticipated to persist into the new year.
Employment figures in the UK surpassed the 5% mark in 2025. According to data from legal recruiter Edwards Gibson, London law firms hired 668 partners during the year, marking a 21% increase from the previous year. This trend was particularly pronounced among US law firms, which concentrated on expanding their private capital teams.
The London IPO market showed signs of recovery in 2025, with a surge of listings in the fourth quarter compensating for an otherwise subdued year for public offerings. Additionally, private equity firms engaged in record levels of self-dealing, selling companies to themselves at unprecedented rates.
Luke Woodward, director at recruitment firm Major, Lindsey & Africa, noted that the increase in partner moves, especially among US-headquartered firms, is expected to continue into 2026. “London remains a strategic investment priority for global law firms,” he stated, highlighting that private capital will continue to be a key area of interest for firms seeking expansion.
Tech-specialist lawyers
Woodward also anticipates sustained demand for infrastructure lawyers, particularly those with expertise in digital infrastructure. “This is linked to the surge in AI development, which is now fostering a new breed of specialist lawyers with expertise in the AI sector,” he observed.
In November, the ‘magic circle’ firm Linklaters announced the recruitment of a team of 20 specialist AI lawyers. This move aligns with the rapid acceleration of AI adoption in the legal sector over the past year, as major law firms increasingly integrate advanced technologies into their operations, encouraging lawyers to utilise AI in their practice.
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