Hogan & Hartson: Bonus and Salaries for the New Year

Much of the recent talk about Hogan & Hartson has focused on their merger with Lovells. While transatlantic mergers thrill the imagination, back on the ground in the States, people are still concerned about their paychecks.
Hogan has long had a two-track salary system. The higher track paid market salary with the expectation that associates bill 1950 hours. The lower track paid less and had an 1800-hour billable expectation. Associates traditionally got to choose which track they wanted.
But Hogan turned its system on its head last spring. In April, Hogan placed associates in the lower salary track if they weren’t on target with their hours through the first quarter. The firm promised to pay the money back at the end of the year if associates did hit 1950 hours.
Well, here we are at the end of the year, and Hogan & Hartson is making restitution. And it’s paying a bonus. And it’s unfreezing salaries (although it’s not giving its people a “true-up” to where they would have been without last year’s salary freeze).
The Hogan salary structure for its two tracks, plus discussion, after the jump.



Let’s start with the Hogan thaw. It doesn’t give people back the class year they lost last year, but it is a lot better than a second straight year of salary freezing. From the firm-wide memo:

But before we get to 2010, restitution must be paid for 2009!

We’re not sure how many associates actually hit 1950 hours, but at least the firm is making good on its promise to those who were able to scrounge together the hours this year.
There’s also an hours cutoff to receive the Hogan bonus:

Hogan is doing a lot of good things here. Which should be expected. They don’t want to look weak in front of the Brits, do they?
Earlier: Hogan & Hartson: ‘1800 Hours’ Track Follow Up

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