A new report from BCG Attorney Search, The BigLaw Lateral Salary Guide, provides a comprehensive analysis of how compensation is evolving across different legal practice areas. The 2025–2026 guide highlights a clear trend—attorneys specializing in high-demand fields are seeing the most significant pay increases, outpacing general practitioners and even those at top-tier firms without niche expertise.
Learn more from this report: BigLaw Lateral Salary Guide: Compensation Increases by Practice Area
According to BCG’s data, corporate law remains the top earner among BigLaw practices, with lateral moves in Mergers & Acquisitions and Private Equity generating salary jumps between 15% and 20%, and in some cases, up to 30% for senior associates with client relationships. Intellectual property lawyers, particularly those with technical or scientific backgrounds, follow closely behind with typical raises of 14% to 18%, reflecting the ongoing demand for patent expertise in technology and life sciences.
Litigation and regulatory attorneys see more moderate but consistent gains. General commercial litigators often secure 8% to 12% increases, while niche specialties like securities and white-collar litigation can command 12% to 15%. Meanwhile, regulatory professionals in financial services and healthcare achieve compensation growth between 15% and 18%, outpacing counterparts in environmental or general regulatory practices, who see closer to 7% to 10% increases.
Geography continues to play a role in shaping pay outcomes. Major legal hubs such as New York, Washington D.C., San Francisco, and Chicago remain the most lucrative, with salaries often 20% to 45% higher depending on the practice area. However, BCG emphasizes that specialization now outweighs geography—a well-positioned niche lawyer in a smaller market can rival or surpass compensation at a large coastal firm.
Firm type also influences compensation trends. Large AmLaw 50 firms continue to lead in base salaries, but elite boutiques offering focused expertise—especially in IP and regulatory law—are closing the gap through higher bonuses and performance-based incentives.
The guide offers insight into optimal timing for career moves. Corporate associates typically benefit most from making a lateral switch during their third or fourth year, litigation attorneys around years four to five, and specialists such as IP, tax, or regulatory attorneys between five and six years of experience. BCG notes that attorneys making a second lateral move tend to receive smaller raises unless the move reflects a clear advancement in specialization or client base.
For lawyers planning their next step, BCG recommends targeting roles aligned with market demand, preparing six to nine months in advance, and negotiating total compensation packages that include bonuses, relocation, and signing incentives.
Learn more from this report: BigLaw Lateral Salary Guide: Compensation Increases by Practice Area