The number of partners moving in and out of the biggest U.S. law firms dipped 11 percent in 2006 — after a 2005 that found the lateral market inundated by lawyers escaping the collapses of Coudert Brothers and Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault.

The American Lawyer‘s annual Lateral Report, a survey of partner moves among The Am Law 200, shows 2,153 partners entering or exiting firms from Oct. 1, 2005 to Sept. 30, 2006. That’s down from 2,429 in the same period the previous year.