Law firms immediately recognized the danger of the COVID-19 crisis. But many also realized that it presented opportunity. Top-performing firms further cemented their edge through lateral acquisitions in 2020 and are now poised to accelerate out of the year in a stronger position than they began.

Firms such as FisherBroyles and McDermott Will & Emery joined perennial leaders, including DLA Piper, Cozen O’Connor and King & Spalding, on top of the lateral hiring charts for 2020. Bankruptcy, data privacy and white-collar partners were in high demand, while activity in banking, energy, environmental and tax practices fell significantly.