Since
we
broke
the
news
of
the
market
bonus
scale
for
associates
at
large
law
firms
in
the
United
States
—
a
trend
that
was
started
by
Milbank
on
Monday,
November
11,
2024,
and
finally
followed
by
Cravath
on
Tuesday,
November
19,
2024,
including
Milbank’s
special
summer
bonuses
—
firms
are
falling
in
line
to
match
the
scale.
When
will
your
firm
announce
its
bonuses?
Today,
for
your
viewing
pleasure,
we
unveil
a
table
of
all
of
the
firms
that
have
already
matched
the
bonus
scale,
the
date
those
matches
were
made,
the
minimum
hours
required
to
receive
bonuses
(if
available),
and
the
date
bonuses
will
be
paid.
We
will
be
updating
this
table
on
a
daily
basis,
sometimes
multiple
times,
as
news
on
bonuses
unfolds.
If
you
see
any
information
here
that
is
incorrect
or
needs
clarification,
let
us
know.
We
are
covering
this
trend
extensively,
so
please
drop
us
a
line
—
text
(646-820-8477)
or email (subject
line:
“[Firm
Name]
Matches”)
—
when
you
know
of
a
firm
making
a
compensation
move.
Please
include
the
memo
if
available.
You
can
take
a
photo
of
the
memo
and
send
it
via
text
or
email
if
you
don’t
want
to
forward
the
original
PDF
or
Word
file.
Sources
are
kept
confidential.
Don’t
forget,
if
you’d
like
to
sign
up
for
ATL’s
Bonus
Alerts,
please
enter
your
email
address
in
the
box
below.
If
you
previously
signed
up
for
the
bonus
alerts,
you
don’t
need
to
do
anything.
You’ll
receive
an
email
notification
within
minutes
of
each
compensation
announcement
that
we
publish.
Cheers
to
a
happy
bonus
and
raise
season,
everyone!
|
Firm |
Date Matched |
Minimum Hours |
Payout Date |
|
Milbank Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2016: $115K / $25K |
FIRST MOVER November 11, 2024 |
None |
On or before December 31, 2024 |
|
Vartabedian Hester & Haynes Class of 2024: $15K / $6K Class of 2016: $115K / $25K |
November 13, 2024 |
1800 hours |
On or before December 31, 2024 |
|
Cravath Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2017: $115K / $25K |
November 19, 2024 |
None |
December 13, 2024 |
|
Paul Hastings Class of 2023: $20K / $6K Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K |
November 20, 2024 |
2000 hours |
February 14, 2025 |
|
Ropes & Gray Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2016+: $130K / $25K |
November 20, 2024 |
1900 creditable hours (increased bonuses for associates who annualized above hourly target) |
December 24, 2024 |
|
McDermott Will & Emery Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K |
November 20, 2024 |
2000 hours (merit bonuses available for eligible associates; “two-thirds” of associates will see bonuses above market) |
December 27, 2024 |
|
Cleary Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K |
November 21, 2024 |
None |
December 20, 2024 |
|
Paul Weiss Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K |
November 21, 2024 |
None |
December 20, 2024 |
|
Dechert Class of 2023: $20K / $6K Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K |
November 21, 2024 |
1950 hours (client billable, pro bono, firm as client, maximum of 50 community hours); associates who exceeded hours expectations eligible to receive an “extraordinary” bonus (i.e., 2200 hours = addt’l 30%; 2400+ hours = addt’l 40%) |
By or before end of January 2025 |
|
O’Melveny Class of 2024: $6K (prorated) Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K |
November 21, 2024 |
None | Undisclosed |
|
Holwell Shuster Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K |
November 21, 2024 |
None |
On or before December 31, 2024 |
|
Davis Polk Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K |
November 22, 2024 |
None |
December 27, 2024 |
|
Weil Gotshal Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K |
November 22, 2024 |
None |
January 31, 2025 |
|
White & Case Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2017: $115K / $25K |
November 22, 2024 |
Eligibility criteria detailed in separate memo |
February 14, 2025 |
|
Skadden Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2017+: $115K or $125K / $25K |
November 22, 2024 |
1800 “productive hours” (including unlimited pro bono time and up to 150 hours of productive non-billable work) |
December 13, 2024 |
|
Cadwalader Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2016: $115K / $25K |
November 22, 2024 |
Additional bonuses “equal to 120% of [market bonuses]” for high billers with 2200 hours or more |
By or before end of February 2025 |
|
Proskauer Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2016: $115K / $25K |
November 22, 2024 |
None |
On or before December 24, 2024 |
|
Schulte Roth & Zabel Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K |
November 22, 2024 |
2000 hours; step-up bonuses from $3K to $51.75K for associates who have made “extraordinary contributions” to the firm) |
January 27, 2025 |
|
Covington Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K |
November 22, 2024 |
2000 hours; (associates will see a 10% bonus increase at 2200 hours, and another 10% bonus increase 2400 hours) |
January 2025 |
|
Willkie Farr Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K |
November 22, 2024 |
None |
December 31, 2024 |
|
Akin Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K |
November 22, 2024 |
1950 hours (including pro bono hours, general counsel hours, business development hours, and up to 100 hours of time spent on recruiting, diversity & inclusion, and/or innovation activities); associates with “exceptional” performance will receive larger bonuses |
February 2025 |
|
Sidley Class of 2023: $20K / $6K Class of 2016: $115K / $25K |
November 25, 2024 |
2000 hours required for base bonuses; associates with “higher productivity and/or exceptional performance” will receive additional bonuses, up to “more than 50% above base bonus” |
Prior to December 31, 2024 |
|
Baker Botts Class of 2023: $20K / $6K Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K |
November 25, 2024 |
Based on hours (“enhanced” bonuses available for “exceptional” performance) |
Undisclosed |
|
A&O Shearman Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K |
November 25, 2024 |
Undisclosed | Undisclosed |
|
Katten Muchin Class of 2023: $20K / $6K Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K |
November 25, 2024 |
2000 hours (2100 hours for $22K-$126.5K; 2200 hours for $24K-$138K; 2300 hours for $26.5K-$149.5K; 2400 hours for $31K-$172.5K); additional “superstar” bonuses available |
February 3, 2025 |
|
Vinson & Elkins Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K |
November 25, 2024 |
Based on hours and good standing; “supplemental bonuses” available for associates who had an “exemplary year” |
On or about January 31, 2025 |
|
Debevoise Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K |
November 26, 2024 |
None | Undisclosed |
|
Clifford Chance Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K |
November 26, 2024 |
None (based on overall performance, quality of work, contributions to firm, teamwork, and pro bono) |
January 15, 2025 |
|
Mayer Brown Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K |
November 26, 2024 |
2000 hours; associates eligible for addt’l bonuses based on performance |
February 28, 2025 |
|
Gibson Dunn Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2017: $115K / $25K |
November 27, 2024 |
Undisclosed | Undisclosed |
|
Seward & Kissel Class of 2023: $20K / $6K Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K |
November 27, 2024 |
2000 hours (1850 billable hours and 150 qualified non-billable hours); 2200 hours for special bonus (1850 billable hours and 150 qualified non-billable hours; associates who “substantially” exceed the eligibility requirements for special bonuses may receive an “increased” special bonus) |
First quarter of 2025 |
|
Fish & Richardson Entry-Level: $15K / $6K (prorated) A7: $115K / $25K |
November 27, 2024 |
2100 hours (including up to 200 pro bono/DEI/pitch hours) or strongest reviews based on quality of work |
December 26, 2024 |
|
Morgan Lewis Class of 2023: $20K / $6K Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K |
November 27, 2024 |
1900+ hours (20 of which must be pro bono hours) |
January 31, 2025 |
|
Wilkinson Stekloff Class of 2024: $22.5K / $6K Class of 2017: $172.5K / $25K |
December 3, 2024 |
None |
By December 13, 2024 |
|
Norton Rose Fulbright Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K |
December 3, 2024 |
1900 hours (including 50 FIT hours) for special bonus eligibility |
January 31, 2025 |
|
Kramer Levin Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K |
December 4, 2024 |
Eligible associates in good standing will receive bonuses |
February 14, 2025 |
|
Cahill Class of 2024: $15K / $7.5K (prorated) Class of 2016: $115K / $40K |
December 5, 2024 |
Select associates in Classes of 2017-2020 who have demonstrated “extraordinary” performance eligible for a “super bonus” up to $200K (based on performance and seniority) in lieu of special bonus |
Second half of January 2025 |
|
Ross Aronstam Class of 2022: $30K / $10K Class of 2016: $115K / $25K |
December 5, 2024 |
None |
December 15, 2024 |
Staci
Zaretsky is
a
senior
editor
at
Above
the
Law,
where
she’s
worked
since
2011.
She’d
love
to
hear
from
you,
so
please
feel
free
to
email
her
with
any
tips,
questions,
comments,
or
critiques.
You
can
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Threads
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