After deal work generated a windfall for Big Law last year, large law firms are investing heavily this year in corporate and merger practices by swiping lateral talent from rivals. Several big firms announced key corporate hires just this week, including Hogan Lovells, Latham & Watkins, Proskauer Rose and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison.

Despite a slow down in some deal work earlier this year, M&A lawyers are expecting demand to keep up, bolstering the need for partner expertise in transactional work. Bill Curtin, global head of mergers and acquisitions for Hogan Lovells, said the firm has been hiring M&A partners because clients are saying, “We can’t just grow organically. We have to move through M&A to keep pace with our neighbors and our competitors.”

Luke Iovine, partner with Hogan Lovells. Courtesy photo Luke Iovine. Courtesy photo