2019 has been an unexpectedly competitive and vigorous hiring market for top investment bankers, building off an exceptionally active 2018, according to Wall Street headhunters. With new leadership gripping the reins at top investment banks, turmoil enveloping others, and a still-scorching dealmaking environment, competition in the US for rainmakers remained at a fever pitch this year. We spoke with investment-banking headhunters and consultants who are in the trenches to determine the 40 biggest hires and departures of the year.