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Nationwide Pay Raise Watch: Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell

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Here’s some recent associate pay raise news from Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell (the entity formed by the merger last year of Texas-based Locke Liddell & Sapp and Chicago-based Lord Bissell & Brook):

Attached is a memo from, purportedly, the Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell (the new combined firm) management regarding associate salary increases. Despite the fact that it is being issued from the new combined firm, the memo only relates to the Locke Liddell associates and is completely silent as to raises for the Lord Bissell associates. We found this unbelievable, especially considering the new firm’s internal tag line is “One Firm, One Future.”

To put it simply, the LLS side is getting salaries increased across the board, albeit on a deferred comp scale, and the LBB side is getting nothing….

Nothing like dual compensation policies (well, at least one comp policy) for associates at the same (purported) firm!!!! That will surely make already declining morale even better.

Update: This post is the subject of a correction. See here.
Check out the memo for yourself, after the jump.


LOCKE LORD BISSELL & LIDDELL LLP — MEMORANDUM — ASSOCIATE COMPENSATION
STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
LOCKE LORD BISSELL & LIDDELL LLP
ATTORNEYS & COUNSELORS
Interoffice Memorandum
TO: Legacy LLS Associates
FROM: Jerry K. Clements
RE: Associate Compensation
The Executive Committee is pleased to announce that we are increasing associate salaries for legacy LLS associates effective as of February 1, 2008. As such, each of you will begin to receive your base salary increases commencing with your February 15 payroll checks.
The new associate salaries will be as follows:
Compensation for Associates in Texas Offices:
Texas
Class Base Deferred Total
2007 $ 160,000 $ – $ 160,000
2006 $ 170,000 $ – $ 170,000
2005 $ 172,500 $ 15,000 $ 187,500
2004 $ 175,000 $ 35,000 $ 210,000
2003 $ 180,000 $ 50,000 $ 230,000
2002 $ 185,000 $ 65,000 $ 250,000
2001 $ 190,000 $ 65,000 $ 255,000
2000 $ 195,000 $ 65,000 $ 260,000
Compensation for Associates in Washington, D.C. Office:
Washington, D.C.
Class Base Deferred Total
2007 $ 160,000 $ – $ 160,000
2006 $ 170,000 $ – $ 170,000
2005 $ 172,500 $ 15,000 $ 187,500
2004 $ 190,000 $ 20,000 $ 210,000
2003 $ 205,000 $ 25,000 $ 230,000
2002 $ 225,000 $ 25,000 $ 250,000
2001 $ 235,000 $ 30,000 $ 265,000
2000 $ 240,000 $ 40,000 $ 280,000
Compensation for Associates in the New Orleans Office:
Atlanta/New Orleans
Class Base Deferred Total
2007 $ 145,000 $ 7,500 $ 152,500
2006 $ 155,000 $ 7,500 $ 162,500
2005 $ 160,000 $ 10,000 $ 170,000
2004 $ 165,000 $ 20,000 $ 185,000
2003 $ 170,000 $ 30,000 $ 200,000
2002 $ 180,000 $ 40,000 $ 220,000
2001 $ 190,000 $ 50,000 $ 190,000
2000 $ 195,000 $ 50,000 $ 245,000
The deferred portion of the compensation will be payable at year-end to those associates who work at least 2,000 billable hours for the year. No deferred amount will be payable to those associates who work less than 2,000 billable hours. For this purpose, billable hours will include up to 100 hours of pro bono work which has been approved by the Firm for credit. Procedures for approval of pro bono work may be found on the intranet.
We will continue to evaluate our year-end merit-based bonus program in light of changing market conditions. As in prior years, we will have a three tiered discretionary bonus with that will take into account several factors to include but not be limited to the hours worked and the quality of the individual attorney’s work product. As in the case of the performance target for the deferred amounts, the performance targets for the year-end bonuses will take into account up to 100 hours of pro bono work approved by the Firm for credit.
Thanks once again for all that you do for our Firm and our clients. We truly appreciate the value of our associates as professionals and as people. Please feel free to contact me or any member of the Executive Committee if you should have any questions.

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