Skaddenfreude: 'W' Firms, and Morning Open Thread
We don't have memos, but we can confirm associate pay raises at two large law firms:
(1) D.C. powerhouse Wiley Rein& Fielding, former home of the new White House counsel, Fred Fielding; and(2) Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, home of Silicon Valley legal god Larry Sonsini (although a god who, in the past year or so, has shown signs of being fallible).
More details, plus your comments, after the jump.
WILEY REIN
Yesterday someone posted this comment:
Wiley Rein raised to $145K for first years on the 1950 [billable hours] track, and $125K for first years on the 1800 track. They basically followed Hogan's salary structure, with one or two slight differences in upper-levels.
We have confirmed this with a source at the firm. There's no memo because the news was conveyed orally, at an "all associates" meeting held yesterday. The numbers were projected on a screen for everyone to view.
We have also confirmed that the Wiley Rein scale is consistent with Hogan & Hartson's for the first five years: 145 / 155 / 170 / 190 / 210.
(In case you're curious, "Wiley Rein & Fielding" became "Wiley Rein" effective February 1, 2007. Press release here.)
WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI
After seeing a few of your comments, we headed over to Infirmation / Greedy SF / SV, where we found this post:
Scale is below, parantheses indicates rate for high performance rating, which something like 2/3 of eligible associates receive - note that this is retroactive only to Feb 1, not Jan 1 like everyone else (sigh, shake head).
Everywhere but NY:
145
155
170
190
210
215 (225)
225 (240)
240 (250)
250 (260)
New York
160
170
185
210
230
240 (250)
250 (265)
265 (280)
280 (290)
We have independently verified this information with a source at the firm, so you can consider it accurate.
Earlier: Prior ATL coverage of associate pay raises (scroll down)
(39) Comments
Now if only Wropes and Gray would confirm.
They are going to 145.5K
Ropes was confirmed on Monday with higher non-NYC salaries than others starting with third year. Still not sure why Lat hasn't bothered to headline this.
http://www.infirmation.com/bboard/clubs-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=0036nk
Now if only Wirkland & Ellis would raise.
I'm getting bored with this.
Lat can you please get to the bottom of the conflicting Chadbourne rumors?
10:10 -- Mr. Roper could be the actual Mr. Roper.
What about Foley? Anyone hear anything about them?
what are the conflicting chadbourne rumors?
Lat, you seem to know people in many of the firms can you get some more info on Arnold & Porter?
I can confirm that on Feb 1 and retroactive to Jan 1 Chadbourne NY matched Simpson for all classes including class of 1998 and Chadbourne DC's salary scale went to:
Class Annual Salary
2006 $160k
2005 $165k
2004 $175k
2003 $195k
2002 $215k
2001 $230k
2000 $245k
1999 $250k
1998 $260k
10:10 - that is not ATL-approved confirmation. That is some random person posting numbers. Until someone actually confirms with Lat, it's not "official" for ATL purposes.
There have been hoaxes you dolt!
Still waiting on Texas. Any clue when or if to expect anything from the Texas firms?
What about the rest of Wiley's scale? Can anyone weigh in on that?
We're waiting on Texas too. What's anyone heard?
10:52....same goes for Ropes. No Lat confirm...no confirm at all!
re: 10:50 "confirmation" - even assuming it is legitimate, that is not a "match" of the new Simpson scale. It is a raise above prior salary scale, but only matched at the more junior levels.
re: 10:50 "confirmation" - even assuming it is legitimate, that is not a "match" of the new Simpson scale. It is a raise above prior salary scale, but only matched at the more junior levels.
Can someone confirm the K&L Gates NY numbers - like post the announcement?
Is it retro to Jan 1st?
Re: Texas. Any V&E or A&K associates out their? Any talk at your firms about raises?
Eagle - what do you mean? I'm at Chadbourne and I can assure you that Chadbourne NY matched Simpson's NY scale at all levels up to class of 1998. Happened last Thursday.
boring. wake me up when the next round of raises come out this fall...... I'm going to go bill some hours so I don't have to feel guilty about my "bump"
11:27/11:29-- the chart posted above was for DC only
11:42 at Chadbourne: Can you email Lat with your official confirmation of that (email him privately with your full name) so he can post it and confirm officially?
Can't access private email at Chadbourne due to firewalls, so not possible to email Lat until later. Absolutely confirm NY and DC raises though. NY matching Simpson NY and DC starting at $160,000 as posted in chart above.
I believe Chadbourne did not (yet) raise, as per my sources.
Neal Gerber in Chicago raised - $145.
Interesting with the conflicting Chadbourne info-- At Chadbourne 12:38, please email Lat later on, thanks a lot. Anonymous 12:43 are you at Chadbourne as well?
Interesting with the conflicting Chadbourne info-- At Chadbourne 12:38, please email Lat later on, thanks a lot. Anonymous 12:43 are you at Chadbourne as well?
11:29 #2--when did K&L Gates say anything?
1:56 -- The K&L Gates NY information is on their website.
Chicago firms at $145:
McDermott
Sidley
Jenner
Mayer Brown
Sonnenschein
Schiff Hardin
Latham
DLA Piper
Neal Gerber
Firms in Chicago at $160:
Skadden
Chicago firms that remain silent:
Jones Day
Winston & Strawn
Kirkland
Foley & Lardner
Katten Muchin
McGuirewoods
Bryan Cave
Baker & McKenzie
Sachnoff Weaver
Chapman Cutler
Bell Boyd & Lloyd
Vedder Price
Wildman Harrold
Holland and Knight
others???
Key Firms we're still waiting on = Kirkland, W&S, Jones Day, B&M
Chicago firms at $145:
McDermott
Sidley
Jenner
Mayer Brown
Sonnenschein
Schiff Hardin
Latham
DLA Piper
Neal Gerber
Firms in Chicago at $160:
Skadden
Chicago firms that remain silent:
Jones Day
Winston & Strawn
Kirkland
Foley & Lardner
Katten Muchin
McGuirewoods
Bryan Cave
Baker & McKenzie
Sachnoff Weaver
Chapman Cutler
Bell Boyd & Lloyd
Vedder Price
Wildman Harrold
Holland and Knight
others???
Key Firms we're still waiting on = Kirkland, W&S, Jones Day, B&M
Chicago firms at $145:
McDermott
Sidley
Jenner
Mayer Brown
Sonnenschein
Schiff Hardin
Latham
DLA Piper
Neal Gerber
Katten Muchin
Firms in Chicago at $160:
Skadden
Chicago firms that remain silent:
Jones Day
Winston & Strawn
Kirkland
Foley & Lardner
McGuirewoods
Bryan Cave
Baker & McKenzie
Sachnoff Weaver
Chapman Cutler
Bell Boyd & Lloyd
Vedder Price
Wildman Harrold
Holland and Knight
others???
Key Firms we're still waiting on = Kirkland, W&S, Jones Day, B&M
kl gates is effecti 3/1
Bracewell & Giuliani has matched in NY.
Kirkland has announced with some interesting differences amongst offices:
KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP
MEMORANDUM
TO: Firmwide Associates and Non-Share Partners
CC: Firmwide Share Partners
FROM: Thomas D. Yannucci, P.C.
Chair, Firm Committee
DATE: February 7, 2007
RE: Associate and Non-Share Partner
Compensation
________________________________________________________________________
The Firm has always been committed to paying our
associates and non-share partners compensation at the
top of each market in which we practice. In light of
recent moves by some firms with regard to base salary
for associates, the Firm Committee has approved
increases to our associate base salaries, retroactive
to January 1, 2007, as set forth below:
Class|New York|California|Chicago/D.C.
2006 |$160,000|$160,000 |$145,000
2005 |$170,000|$170,000 |$155,000 2004 |$185,000|$180,000 |$170,000
2003 |$210,000|$190,000 |$190,000
2002 |$230,000|$210,000 |$210,000 2001 |$250,000|$225,000 $225,000
These increases will be reflected in the February 28
payroll.
Appropriate adjustments are also being made to
non-share partner draws, effective February 1, 2007.
Each non-share partner will be notified of his or her
increased draw amount shortly. Increased non-share
partner draws will be reflected in the March draw
payments.
Thank you again for all of your hard work and
dedication.
Since that last post re Kirkland came out formatted weird, the essential numbers are:
Class|New York|California|Chicago/D.C.
2006 |$160,000|$160,000 |$145,000
2005 |$170,000|$170,000 |$155,000
2004 |$185,000|$180,000 |$170,000
2003 |$210,000|$190,000 |$190,000
2002 |$230,000|$210,000 |$210,000
2001 |$250,000|$225,000 $225,000
Does anyone have confirmation of the rumor that Finnegan Henderson has gone to 160 in DC?
http://www.infirmation.com/bboard/clubs-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=0036y9
2006-160
2005-170
2004-185
2003-200
2002-215
2001-230
2000-250
1999-270
5% bonus per 100 hours over 2000 up to 2400 up to 20% merit bonus