Associate Bonus Watch 2007, Biglaw, Bonuses, Money, Skaddenfreude, Weirdness

Associate Bonus Watch: Quinn Emanuel Mixes It Up

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One of our favorite firms here at ATL, Quinn Emanuel, has announced bonuses. And in true QE fashion, they’re doing things a little differently (which is why we like them so much — they keep things interesting).
Their year-end bonuses are standard, but their “special” bonuses are, well, special. In some ways, the Quinn scheme is better: mo’ money. In some ways, it’s worse: half of the special bonus paid this month, half in June 2008.
For details, check out the memo, after the jump.
P.S. We’d like to do a little write-up of the QE Deer Valley recruiting trip. Can any of you help us? Please submit any info by email. Thanks.


So here’s the Quinn Emanuel bonus memo. We like John Quinn’s subject heading, “everyone’s favorite subject.”
It’s certainly the case here at ATL. We monitor our site traffic quite closely, and even the most banal bonus news brings in more readers than almost anything else we write about on a given day.
From: John Quinn
Sent: Monday, November 05, 2007 4:50 PM
To: Associates; Of Counsel
Cc: Partners
Subject: everyone’s favorite subject
we are pleased to announce that full-time associates and of counsels in good standing will be eligible to receive year-end and special bonus payments as follows:
Class of 2007: Year-end bonus of $35,000 (pro-rated); no special bonus
Class of 2006: Year-end bonus of $35,000; special bonus of $15,000
Class of 2005: Year-end bonus of $40,000; special bonus of $20,000
Class of 2004: Year-end bonus of $45,000; special bonus of $25,000
Class of 2003: Year-end bonus of $50,000; special bonus of $35,000
Class of 2002: Year-end bonus of $55,000; special bonus of $45,000
bonuses for associate classes senior to 2002 and of counsels will be determined on a case by case basis.
these are benchmark amounts which are subject to adjustment (up or down) to reflect individual performance.
the year-end bonuses will be paid at the end of December.
we are doing the special bonuses differently than the other firms that have announced them. first, the special bonuses are $5,000 more than those that have been announced by other firms. second, the special bonuses will be paid half this month and half in June 2008 to full-time associates and of counsel in good standing at that time who have exhibited continued satisfactory performance between now and June 2008. associates and of counsel who are not presently on track to bill at least 1900 hours in 2007 will not be eligible to receive the half of the special bonus to be paid now, but will be eligible to receive the half to be paid in June 2008 if they work at least a 1900 hour pace between December 1 and June 1.
the strength of our firm and our practice is a direct reflection of your efforts. thank you for all your hard work on behalf of our clients.
John B. Quinn
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart Oliver & Hedges, LLP
865 South Figueroa Street, 10th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90017

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