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Law firms are requesting business plans and client reference checks much earlier in the lateral partner hiring process—sometimes immediately after the first meeting—reflecting the heightened stakes and risks in today's competitive recruiting market. Jeffrey Lowe, CenterPeak's Market President for Washington D.C., notes that "LPQs are being given to partners they're very interested in much earlier in the process—at times, right after the first meeting—which was very unusual when I started doing this almost 25 years ago," adding that back then, a partner "would be very reluctant to provide such extensive info after just one meeting." This shift comes as lateral partner moves hit a five-year high in 2025 with 1,407 partner laterals, prompting firms to conduct more sophisticated diligence while balancing the need to avoid alienating high-performing candidates.