Demand for life sciences partners is rising across the US and UK, with Kirkland & Ellis among the firms securing the most lateral hires, according to a report by legal search firm Macrae.
There were 123 partner hires across London, New York, Boston, Washington DC and California over 2024 and 2025, with hiring activity increasing in 2025.
Hiring was concentrated among a relatively small group of firms, which, alongside Kirkland, also included Morgan Lewis, Sidley Austin and Polsinelli.
Boston saw the largest increase in life sciences partner moves, rising from nine in 2024 to 17 in 2025. In Washington DC, hires climbed from 17 to 21, while California saw a smaller rise from 11 to 13. London remained stable with eight moves in 2025 compared to seven in the previous year.
New York was the only centre to see a major fall in hiring, from 12 in 2024 to six last year.
Each market plays a distinct role in the life sciences sector. Boston and California are driven by biotechnology and Big Pharma innovation and serve as global start-up hubs, while Washington DC is a centre for regulatory work tied to federal oversight.
Across all five markets, lateral hiring remained the primary method for building life sciences practices, with firms favouring experienced partners capable of generating immediate business rather than relying on promotions or in-house talent.
Federal public-sector to law firm moves were concentrated largely in Washington DC, underscoring the importance of regulatory experience in that market.
One recent example came in January, when Paul Hastings hired life sciences regulatory partners Lynn Mehler and Phil Katz from Hogan Lovells in Washington DC. Given the seniority involved (Mehler was Hogan Lovells’ former global life sciences co-head), the move underscored the continued demand for experienced leadership-grade candidates.
Practice-area demand varied by region. London hiring focused largely on corporate and intellectual property work, while New York saw a mix of corporate, IP and disputes work.
Boston showed growth in the hiring of corporate partners, and Washington DC was dominated by healthcare and regulatory work. California recorded the broadest mix, with notable increases in IP and litigation hires.
Crowell & Moring’s June 2025 merger with Boston-based life sciences boutique Faber Daeufer & Itrato, which saw 24 lawyers join the firm and marked its launch in the Boston market, illustrates the continued importance of disputes and transactional expertise.
In May 2025, Kirkland & Ellis added three M&A partners in Boston from Skadden, all with strong experience in the biotech sector, in a move that strengthened its life sciences deal capability.
The report also highlighted California as a market with sustained demand across work tied to biotech, medical devices and digital health companies. For example, in May 2025, Morgan Lewis recruited five partners from IP boutique Knobbe Martens to build its IP bench, strengthening its life sciences capabilities.
The report found that women partners accounted for a higher share of moves in several markets, including 65% in Boston in 2025 and 88% in London, although the gender mix varied significantly year-on-year. The research focused on firms ranked in the Chambers and Partners US and UK guides.
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