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Has M&A been slower this year? In a specialist group that largely does M&A support, and my hours have been dismal this summer. I am often billing 2-4 hour days, and my deals have been going nowhere. Wondering if it's me or it's just the market...

Also in a specialist group that supports M&A, and the deal flow is definitely lighter but I can't remember if it's really that different from summer 2019 or 2018. I feel like things are usually pretty slow in August.

M&A support group, and I've had no problem getting a consistent 150-170 hours a month. The deal flow seems lighter, but it just seems like normal pre-COVID times, imo.

Yup for sure. Also billing 2-4 hour days in a M&A specialist group. Just trying to enjoy while it lasts!

It's the market. I'm at a V5 in M&A and I'm in danger of not hitting my annual hour target. I only billed 50 hours for August. I'm staffed on four deals right now and they're all stalled. My staffer told me that a very high number of deals are dying or moving slowly and recommended that I take a fifth deal on. You're not alone.

And if you're in capital markets, it's way worse. See WSJ article from Aug. 22: https://www.wsj.com/articles/ipo-market ... 1661181427

It'll come back though. Enjoy it while it lasts.

They're trying to freeze you out and use low hours as a pretext to stealth you.

Quick, lateral to Kirkland!

In the long run you can’t stay in biglaw billing 2-4 hours days BUT the “long run” is typically longer than most on this forum claim. Market has been slow for M&A for most of this year.

The market from late 2020 through early 2022 was not normal and not sustainable. If that's your frame of reference, it will definitely seem much slower.