Associate Bonus Watch: What's Been Done at Gibson Dunn?(Plus a funny farewell email)

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We’ve received a number of inquiries about bonuses at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher (especially in their New York office). This reminded us that we never did a full-blown bonus post about GDC. We merely noted, back in this post, that in the firm’s Los Angeles office, they appeared to be paying the standard year-end bonuses (but no special bonuses).
We’re not even 100 percent sure of that. And we also don’t know what they did in New York. We hear — through the grapevine, and not confirmed — that first-years in New York got the standard $35K year-end bonus, and that the class of 2007 associates received a prorated year-end bonus.
So please help us get to the bottom of things. Consider this an open thread for discussion of Gibson Dunn bonuses (similar to yesterday’s thread on Jones Day, which generated — and continues to generate — vigorous commentary). If you have info on GDC bonuses, please share what you know in the comments.
Update: One source reports:

Gibson’s New York office received both the regular and special bonuses. They were paid in one shot on December 20th. The L.A. office did not receive the special bonus.

Also, speaking of Gibson Dunn, we have bonus (non-bonus) content for you: a cute departure email, sent out late last month. Check it out, after the jump.


Prefatory comments, from our source:

Love your blog. First time tipster, long time reader. This is possibly one of the best departure emails I’ve ever seen (see below). I’ve redacted some of the identifying information.

We don’t know if we’d go that far; we’ve seen some real duesies doozies in our time. E.g., this one.
But this GDC farewell email is not bad. Check it out, below.
GIBSON DUNN & CRUTCHER — DEPARTURE MEMO
From: [xxxx]
Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 8:55 PM
Subject: I’m Sorry, I’m Leaving
Dear Gibson Dunn:
It’s not you, it’s me.
Some sage advice was once (or repeatedly) given to me to “rebalance my pro bono and billable hours,” and the time has come to heed that prophetic guidance and begin a career in the public sector. Starting, um, right now I will be an Assistant United States Attorney for the [xxxx]. It has long been a dream to be a meaningful public advocate in the high pressure arena of the courtroom where access to justice is most urgent and tangible.*
That said, I will certainly miss working at Gibson Dunn. The US Attny’s Office does not have an ADR. And it certainly does not have Mexican Days on Thursday or any other day at that nonexistent ADR. Also, I now have to pay for parking. And park outside. At a lot four blocks away (uphill both ways).
Anyway, Gibson was a tremendous place to begin my career and the lessons I learned here will certainly be at the forefront of my mind as I eagerly embrace this next challenge.
As I leave I wanted to be sure to express my extreme gratitude to the each and every staff member I had the pleasure of working with and getting to know as you always were the best at making me feel welcome here. And while of course I could not specifically name every individual who helped me along the way, I do want to thank — for various reasons but ultimately for having my back — the following individuals: my assistant [xxxx], my friend [insert assistant’s name], and [various lawyers].
My new work contact info will be: [xxxx]
My personal info remains: email: [xxxx], cell: [xxxx], sign: Pisces.
I hope we can still be friends,
[xxxx]
*Yes, that is a line from my cover letter.
Earlier: Associate Bonus Watch: Latham and Gibson, in a Holding Pattern

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