November 2, 2026: This week, law firm partner moves show investment in complex commercial litigation, financial services regulation, advertising and consumer protection, and commercial real estate.

In 2026, law firm hiring has seen a rise in commercial litigation, AI and intellectual property, private credit and direct lending, data privacy and cybersecurity, corporate/M&A and private equity, labor and employment, bankruptcy and restructuring, and specialized real estate and infrastructure work. There are also newer, more specialized areas worth watching. AI and IP compliance is emerging as a distinct niche, data centers and infrastructure are creating work across sever