Biglaw, LeBoeuf Lamb, Money, Skaddenfreude, Sonnenschein

Nationwide Pay Raise Watch: More Chicago News

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Two items pertaining to associate pay raises in Chicago:

1. LeBoeuf Lamb just announced that its Chicago office will be on the $160K pay scale. The firm’s presence in the Windy City isn’t huge, but the move does confirm that the market rate for Chi-town really is $160K. Memo after the jump.

2. Sonnenschein, Nath & Rosenthal: To the commenter who keeps on asking if this memo is confirmed, the answer is yes. A source at the firm has verified it for us.

But you didn’t need us to tell you that. Just pick up the June 5 issue of the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin (subscription):

Although a law firm chairman says double pay hikes for associates in 2007 harm those associates, more major law firms in Chicago have jumped on the bandwagon to raise starting pay to $160,000.

“My strong view is this is not good for associates at all,” said Elliott I. Portnoy of Sonnenschein, Nath & Rosenthal LLP.

Portnoy compared the new pay raises to a poker game. Some of the nation’s top firms “up the ante” on pay “and want to see who stays in the game.”

Nevertheless, Portnoy announced Tuesday that Sonnenschein will raise the salary for first-year associates to $160,000 in its Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Silicon Valley and Washington, D.C., offices.

It’s not as vociferous as Sandman’s Rant, but at least we get to call it Portnoy’s Complaint.
The LeBoeuf Lamb and Sonnenschein memos appear after the jump.


SONNENSCHEIN NATH & ROSENTHAL ASSOCIATE PAY RAISE MEMO
From: Portnoy, Elliott I.
Sent: Tuesday, June 05, 2007 7:44 AM
To: #Associates-CHI; #Associates-DC; #Associates-LA; #Associates-SF; #AssociatesSVO
Cc: #Partners-CHI; #Partners-DC; #Partners-LA; #Partners-SF; #Partners-SVO; #Policy-Planning-All; #Practice-Group-Heads-All
Subject: Associate Salaries: Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Silicon Valley and Washington, DC Offices
We are fortunate to have enormously talented associates who contribute mightily to Sonnenschein’s success. Over the last few weeks, we have been monitoring compensation changes that have been occurring in a number of markets. After consulting with our practice leaders and office managing partners, and consistent with our desire to remain competitive with leading national law firms, we are pleased to announce that we are increasing starting salaries in our Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Silicon Valley and Washington, DC offices to $160,000. We will be adjusting salaries for all other associate classes in these offices effective July 1, 2007 to take into account the increase in the starting salary.
We take great pride in our outstanding associates, and appreciate your extraordinary contributions and devotion to our clients and the Firm.
Elliott I. Portnoy
Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP
1301 K Street NW
Suite 600 East Tower
Washington, DC 20005
LEBOEUF LAMB — CHICAGO — ASSOCIATE PAY RAISE MEMO

To raise salaries or to stand pat is a tough call for firms [Chicago Daily Law Bulletin (subscription)]

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