Large law firms in Washington, D.C., are quickly adding talent to their litigation and dispute practices, as client demand in these areas has helped to offset slowdowns in transactional work. Baker Botts, K&L Gates, Sidley Austin and Thompson Hine are among those hiring in those practices this week.

The hires follow a stellar Q2 for countercyclical legal work. In litigation, bankruptcy and labor and employment practices in the second quarter, demand is up 2.8% at Am Law 100 firms, 4.1% at Second Hundred Firms, and 5.3% at midsize firms, according to the latest Law Firm Financial Index.