Biglaw, Money, Skaddenfreude

Nationwide Pay Raise Watch: In a Holding Pattern?

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We now bring you… a pair of non-announcement announcements on the associate pay raise front. They’re from Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman and DLA Piper.
As our tipster noted, Pillsbury Winthrop practically “threatens” its associates with a pay raise. Here’s an excerpt from their memo (emphasis added):

We want to take the time to thoughtfully consider your views and take into account your concerns, which we share, regarding the need to stay competitive, together with the implicit work-life balance impact of additional salary increases.

In other words: “Be careful what you wish for; you might just get it.”
The full text of the Pillsbury memo, plus a similar “hold your horses” memo from DLA Piper, after the jump.


PILLSBURY WINTHROP SHAW PITTMAN
From: Baum, Deborah B.
Sent: Tuesday, May 15, 2007 9:38 AM
To: All-Associates
Cc: All-Counsel; All-Partners; Green, Sara A. (Director); Johnson, Deborah L.
Subject: ADC Communication from Debby Baum and Debbie Thoren-Peden
To All Associates:
The firm has been carefully considering the latest information regarding recent salary increases adopted by some firms. We wanted to let you know that we are evaluating our own associate compensation program, and are preparing recommendations for the Board to consider at its meeting next week, and we expect that the firm’s position will be announced shortly thereafter. We want to take the time to thoughtfully consider your views and take into account your concerns, which we share, regarding the need to stay competitive, together with the implicit work-life balance impact of additional salary increases. Your input on these issues to date has been much appreciated, and we welcome your views, especially in the next few days as we develop our recommendations. If you wish to share your thoughts, please send them to your ADC reps, who can then communicate them to us.
Deborah Baum | Partner
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
DLA PIPER
As you are undoubtedly aware, over the last ten days there has been a wave of adjustments to associate salary scales in some markets. We are monitoring developments as they occur, and remain committed to meeting the prevailing salary levels among competing firms in each of our markets.
We are unique in the number and geographic diversity of our offices in the United States. On reflection we believe it preferable to address this issue on as comprehensive a basis as possible, rather than serially. So please bear with us for a short period of time while the situation in some markets clarifies. Those changes that we do implement will be effective as of June 1st.
Thanks again for all you do for the firm and, most of all, for the outstanding service you provide to our clients.
Frank, Lee and Terry
Ed. note: Frank, Lee and Terry = Frank Burch, Lee Miller, and Terry O’Malley, who are the joint CEOs of DLA Piper.

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