Arent Fox, Biglaw, Boutique Law Firms, Heller Ehrman, Keker & Van Nest, Money, Skaddenfreude

Skaddenfreude: Arent Fox; K&L Gates; Heller Ehrman; Keker & Van Nest; Friday Afternoon Open Thread

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As we move into the weekend, we have a few more associate pay raise announcements to share with you.
After the jump, there’s confirmed compensation news about Arent Fox, K&L Gates, Heller Ehrman, and Keker & Van Nest.
We’ve also heard the rumors about Jones Day (Dallas) raising to $150K, from multiple sources. But we haven’t seen a memo, and neither of our sources is at the firm itself. So even though it’s most likely true, we’re going to hold off on calling it until we hear directly from someone at Jones Day in Dallas (or at least see a memo).


ARENT FOX
A tipster brought our attention to the firm’s press release:

WASHINGTON—Feb. 6, 2007— Arent Fox LLP – a full-service law firm with offices in Washington, DC, New York City and Los Angeles – announces today that it will raise first-year salaries in Washington and Los Angeles to $145,000. First-year salaries in New York will be raised to $160,000. All increases are retroactive to January 1, 2007.

Arent Fox, which recently expanded to the West Coast through its merger with O’Brien Abeles LLP, is implementing the raises to reflect the firm’s commitment to hiring and retaining the best legal talent. “Arent Fox strives to provide legal services that are second to none,” says Marc Fleischaker, chairman. “We believe that attracting and rewarding associates who share both our vision for excellence and commitment to the community will further enhance our value to our clients.”

We admire Fleischaker’s game attempt to spin this to clients as anything other than “Your bills are gonna be increasing, because our associates’ salaries are going up — and no way are WE taking a hit on PPP.”
K&L GATES
From: Collins, Elwood F.
Sent: Tuesday, February 06, 2007 5:59 PM
To: NY ASSOC
Cc: Matlin, Robert S.; Linden, Rebecca B.
Subject: Associate Salaries
Importance: High
Sensitivity: Confidential
Colleagues:
I am pleased to announce that the standard salary range for associates in the New York office will change as of March 1, 2007. For the Class of 2006 and the incoming Class of 2007 the salary will be $160,000. There will be class increases for the Classes of 2005 through 1999. The salaries of those in more senior classes will be separately determined. Each of you will be advised of his or her new salary before the end of the week.
You are our most valuable asset and the future of this law firm. The partners take very seriously the fact that you have reposed your career with us. I hope that you will agree that the bonuses that were paid to you in December and the raises that you are about to receive are a tangible reflection of your value to us and an expression of our commitment to you.
These are exciting times at K&L Gates. We are building an unparalleled platform of enormous breadth and scope that you are an integral part of.
Thank you for your hard work and for your commitment and dedication to the firm.
Woody
HELLER EHRMAN
To: Associates
From: Robert B. Hubbell
David B. Sanders
Date: February 2, 2007
Re: 2007 Associate Compensation
There have been a number of significant developments concerning associate compensation during the past week. We recognize the importance of remaining competitive in the marketplace and maintaining associate compensation at levels that reward you for the value you bring to our clients and your continued commitment to the firm. Being smart as a business is a quality that the firm believes can be demonstrated by attracting and retaining talented professionals.
Accordingly, based on our objectives as a firm and marketplace factors, we have made a series of adjustments to our associate base compensation levels. The charts below reflect the 2007 base salary amounts for associate levels 1 – 7 in our domestic offices. The charts reflect the shift we have seen in both national and New York compensation levels for associates. We continue to monitor the Northwest market for developments.
The changes, which are set forth in the table below, are retroactively effective to January 1, 2007 and will be reflected in your February 16 paycheck. Otherwise, the attached general compensation structure remains the same.
Please contact either of us, your Office Managing Shareholder, Practice Group Leader or your office’s Human Resources Manager if you have any questions or concerns.
Thank you.
Attachment
2007 Associate Compensation
National
2007 Basic Bonus
Level 2007
Base
2000 Hrs 2100 Hrs 2200 Hrs 2300 Hrs 2400 Hrs 2007 Enhanced Bonus 2007
Potential Compensation
1 $145,000 $13,000 $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 $7,000 $0 – $15,000 $195,000
2 $155,000 $15,000 $7,000 $7,000 $7,000 $10,000 $0 – $15,000 $216,000
3 $170,000 $15,000 $8,000 $8,000 $8,000 $12,000 $0 – $17,500 $238,500
4 $190,000 $20,000 $9,000 $9,000 $9,000 $14,500 $0 – $20,000 $271,500
5 $210,000 $20,000 $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 $15,500 $0 – $20,000 $295,500
6 $225,000 $25,000 $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 $15,500 $0 – $25,000 $320,500
7 $240,000 $25,000 $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 $15,500 $0 – $25,000 $335,500
New York
2007 Basic Bonus
Level 2007
Base
2000 Hrs 2100 Hrs 2200 Hrs 2300 Hrs 2400 Hrs 2007 Enhanced Bonus 2007
Potential Compensation
1 $160,000 $13,000 $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 $7,000 $0 – $15,000 $210,000
2 $170,000 $14,000 $7,000 $7,000 $7,000 $9,000 $0 – $15,000 $229,000
3 $185,000 $15,000 $8,000 $8,000 $8,000 $12,000 $0 – $15,000 $251,000
4 $210,000 $20,000 $9,000 $9,000 $9,000 $12,000 $0 – $20,000 $289,000
5 $230,000 $20,000 $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 $12,000 $0 – $20,000 $312,000
6 $250,000 $25,000 $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 $12,000 $0 – $25,000 $342,000
7 $265,000 $25,000 $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 $12,000 $0 – $25,000 $357,000
Northwest
2007 Basic Bonus
Level 2007
Base
2000 Hrs 2100 Hrs 2200 Hrs 2300 Hrs 2400 Hrs 2007 Enhanced Bonus 2007
Potential Compensation
1 $120,000 $13,000 $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 $7,000 $0 – $15,000 $170,000
2 $125,000 $15,000 $7,000 $7,000 $7,000 $10,000 $0 – $15,000 $186,000
3 $130,000 $15,000 $8,000 $8,000 $8,000 $12,000 $0 – $17,500 $198,500
4 $140,000 $20,000 $9,000 $9,000 $9,000 $14,500 $0 – $20,000 $221,500
5 $150,000 $20,000 $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 $15,500 $0 – $20,000 $235,500
6 $160,000 $25,000 $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 $15,500 $0 – $25,000 $255,500
7 $170,000 $25,000 $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 $15,500 $0 – $25,000 $265,500
KEKER & VAN NEST
The partners here just announced this morning that the firm will match the Simpson/NYC pay scale for all classes through 2001, with earlier classes to be decided on an individual basis. Raise is retroactive to February 1st. Each associate got a memo hand delivered by the managing partner with his/her new salary.
KVN is a 55 person litigation boutique headed by John Keker, who prosecuted Ollie North and defended Frank Quattrone and Andy Fastow, and Bob Van Nest, who focuses on complex business litigation for clients including Intel and Honda. Happy to provide more info on the firm – a great place to work with none of the big firm bulls**t.

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