Last year saw a strong increase in lateral movement among Am Law 200 firms. It’s a trend that’s unlikely to slow. But what happens to a partner’s retirement benefits when he or she joins another firm?

Any vested money in IRS–approved plans, whether defined contribution plans like 401(k)s, Keoghs, or defined benefit plans like cash balance or variable annuity plans, is safe. A partner keeps those assets and can roll them over into an Individual Retirement Account.