When
it
comes
to
associate
compensation,
Biglaw
is
very
much
an
industry
of
follow
the
leader.
So
when
Milbank
set
the
standard
—
giving
associates
both
year-end
and
special
bonuses
—
the
expectation
was
set
that
the
top
of
Biglaw
would
follow
suit.
When
two
firms,
Perkins
Coie
and
Hogan
Lovells,
that
*should*
have
the
cash
on
hand
to
match
the
industry
standard
failed
to
do
so,
it
caused
quite
the
stir.
And
that’s
probably
underselling
the
situation
at
the
firms.
But
the
powers-that-be
at
*both*
Perkins
and
HoLove
have
responded
to
the
pressure
to
pay
associates
at
the
top
market
rate.
That’s
right,
both
firms
will
pay
associates
special
bonuses
—
ranging
from
$6,000
to
$25,000,
depending
on
seniority.
The
memo
from
HoLove
(available
in
full
on
the
next
page)
specifically
notes
that
the
decision
is
based
on
“among
other
factors,
[associates’]
feedback.”
And
while
Perkins
Coie
is
less
direct
that
the
decision
is
in
direct
response
to
associates’
ire
(full
memo
available
on
the
next
page),
a
firm
spokesperson
did
confirm,
“This
decision
is
consistent
with
our
commitment
to
paying
market-competitive
compensation
and
reflects
the
firm’s
strong
financial
performance
this
year.”
Congrats
to
associates
at
both
firms
for
finally
collecting
that
Biglaw
bank.
Remember
everyone,
we
depend
on
your
tips
to
stay
on
top
of
important
bonus
updates,
so
when
your
firm
matches,
please
text
us
(646-820-8477)
or email
us (subject
line:
“[Firm
Name]
Matches”).
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.
And
if
you’d
like
to
sign
up
for
ATL’s
Bonus
Alerts
(which
is
the
alert
list
we
also
use
for
salary
announcements),
please
scroll
down
and
enter
your
email
address
in
the
box
below
this
post.
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
bonus
announcement
that
we
publish.
Thanks
for
all
of
your
help!
Kathryn
Rubino
is
a
Senior
Editor
at
Above
the
Law,
host
of
The
Jabot
podcast,
and
co-host
of
Thinking
Like
A
Lawyer.
AtL
tipsters
are
the
best,
so
please
connect
with
her.
Feel
free
to
email
her
with
any
tips,
questions,
or
comments
and
follow
her
on
Twitter
@Kathryn1 or
Mastodon
@[email protected].
