In ‘pervasive’ trend, some law firms reward partners by creating new tiers or more shares

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In ‘pervasive’ development, some regulation corporations reward…

Regulation Corporations

In ‘pervasive’ development, some regulation corporations reward companions by creating new tiers or extra shares

By Debra Cassens Weiss

July 16, 2025, 2:00 pm CDT

Some regulation corporations are including extra certainty and fairness for high rainmakers by creating new tiers or extra shares to spice up their base compensation, in response to a report by Regulation.com.

The adjustments to compensation construction are “one of the crucial pervasive developments” proper now, says regulation agency pay advisor Blane Prescott, who spoke with Regulation.com earlier this yr.

One agency making a change is Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, the article says. Beneath its prior system, high performers obtained 500 shares within the agency and have been eligible for a bonus along with their share compensation. Final yr, the agency modified the system to award greater than 500 shares to high companions whereas lowering eligible bonus quantities. That tied larger compensation to fairness and made it extra predictable.

One other instance is Latham & Watkins, which makes use of a points-based compensation system. Beforehand companions have been assigned 300 to 900 factors. The regulation agency created two new tiers of factors in order that high performers get 1,300 or 1,700 factors, resulting in a rise in base pay, in response to a previous Regulation.com report on the change.

Growing base compensation for high performers can go away extra money within the bonus pool for different companions, stated regulation agency advisor Lisa Smith in an interview with Regulation.com. She warned of a draw back, nevertheless.

As companions scramble to be positioned in larger fairness tiers, corporations may fall sufferer to a form of grade inflation, she stated. Corporations will have to be very clear about what sort of efficiency is required to achieve the highest ranges.

“Managing these sorts of expectations turns into essential,” Smith advised Regulation.com.

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