More BigLaw firms match Milbank’s year-end and special bonuses for associates, make no mention of pay hikes

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Extra BigLaw corporations match Milbank’s year-end…

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Extra BigLaw corporations match Milbank’s year-end and particular bonuses for associates, make no point out of pay hikes

By Debra Cassens Weiss

November 20, 2024, 10:12 am CST

Up to date: Associates at a number of BigLaw corporations can be getting year-end and particular bonuses that whole $21,000 to $140,000, the quantity being paid by Milbank.

Milbank was the one BigLaw agency that paid particular summer time bonuses this 12 months. The legislation agency introduced its year-end bonuses final week.

Cravath, Swaine & Moore was the primary BigLaw agency to match Milbank’s particular and year-end bonuses, Above the Legislation reported Tuesday night.

“Nearly all” of Cravath’s associates will obtain bonuses as a result of there is no such thing as a billable-hours requirement, Cravath mentioned.

Two different corporations confirmed Wednesday morning that they may even match the Milbank scale, Legislation.com reviews. The 2 corporations are Paul Hastings (additionally reported by Above the Legislation) and McDermott Will & Emery.

By Thursday afternoon, these corporations had additionally introduced they’re matching the bonus scale: Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison; Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson; Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton; and Ropes & Grey, in accordance with reporting by Above the Legislation.

McDermott can be paying merit-based bonuses along with year-end and particular bonuses, Above the Legislation reviews. Ropes & Grey partnership-track associates may even take pleasure in extra bonus cash if they’re credited with not less than 1,900 hours however much less cash if they’ve fewer hours, in accordance with the weblog.

As well as, Fried Frank has mentioned some associates and particular counsel could earn a “premium” of $3,000 to $34,500, Legislation.com reviews, citing Above the Legislation info.

Up to now, no BigLaw associates are getting raises subsequent 12 months, nonetheless. Cravath introduced in its bonus memo that affiliate base salaries will stay the identical in 2025. They vary from $225,000 to $420,000.

Right here is the Milbank bonus scale:

  • Class of 2024: $15,000 year-end, $6,000 particular, $21,000 whole (prorated)

  • Class of 2023: $20,000 year-end, $6,000 particular, $26,000 whole

  • Class of 2022: $30,000 year-end, $10,000 particular, $40,000 whole

  • Class of 2021: $57,500 year-end, $15,000 particular, $72,500 whole

  • Class of 2020: $75,000 year-end, $20,000 particular, $95,000 whole

  • Class of 2019: $90,000 year-end, $25,000 particular, $115,000 whole

  • Class of 2018: $105,000 year-end, $25,000 particular, $130,000 whole

  • Class of 2017: $115,000 year-end, $25,000 particular, $140,000 whole

  • Class of 2016 and better: $115,000 year-end, $25,000 particular, $140,000 whole

Up to date Nov. 21 at 8:45 a.m. so as to add info on the McDermott Will & Emery bonuses. Up to date Nov. 21 at 3:35 p.m. so as to add extra legislation corporations to the checklist.