* Delegates from five non-state territories get limited voting rights in the House; critics cry “no representation without taxation!”. [Jurist]
* Nice try. Jury doesn’t buy man’s attempt to blame murder of his wife on his daughter. [CNN]
* DeLay case before Texas Court of Appeals. [Jurist]
* Cold case involving murders in the heat of the Philadelphia, Mississippi night possibly solved; ex-deputy indicted for 1964 killings. [MSNBC]
* What is 15 years of your life worth? Apparently, if you spend it in an Oklahoma prison for a rape you didn’t commit, $4 million. [AP via FindLaw]
* Do you know where you end up if you don’t study, if you are smart, if you’re intellectually honest with yourself? You end up withdrawing from a presidential race you had no shot in hell of winning. [FT via MSNBC]
Latest Stories
Okay, folks, we’re signing off for now. It has been a long and frustrating day (thanks to all the server problems, over which we have no control).
We’ve been at our computer since before 7:00 AM. And we, unlike those of you who toil for Biglaw, don’t get paid to work twelve-hour days.
To recap, here are the law firms that have raised base salaries for (at least some of) their associates:
– Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft
– Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton
– Dewey Ballantine
– Fried Frank
– Greenberg Traurig
– Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy
– Morrison & Foerster
– O’Melveny & Myers
– Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison
– Quinn Emanuel
– Shearman & Sterling
– Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
– Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom
– Sullivan & Cromwell
– Weil Gotshal & Manges
– Willkie Farr & Gallagher
Feel free to continue the conversation in the comments, which we’ll review when we get back online in the morning. See you tomorrow.
Earlier: Previous announcements of law firm associate salary increases (scroll down through “Skaddenfreude” archives)
We believe the Greenberg Traurig memo was posted, multiple times, in the comments. But just to make it official, here’s the (verified) memorandum:
To our New York associates:
We are pleased to announce that our New York office will be increasing associate compensation retroactive to January 1, 2007.
The new standard salary range will start at $160,000 for the class of 2006 (and for new associates arriving with the 2007 incoming class) and increase for each subsequent class through the class of 1999 and beyond. Each associate will be advised of her or his salary by the end of this week.
As you know, at Greenberg Traurig, the timing and opportunity for making shareholder and having a long term home, as well as our unique cultural environment, are more favorable to our associates than is the case at other large New York firms. While these facts are themselves of high value for forward-thinking individuals, we also desire to fairly compensate all of our people along the way based on all conditions.
We have always been committed to providing our associates a unique opportunity to be a real part of an organization based on change, and which will be at the forefront of our profession as we move into a bright future together. At the same time, we believe in a strong, merit-based compensation system at all levels of our firm, and we believe that total compensation, including year-end bonuses which will be determined at the end of 2007, should reflect your contributions. Providing for increased base salaries at this time allows our associates to feel highly rewarded while still retaining these important features of our culture.
Thanks, let’s have a great year together!!
Yes, let’s!!!
(We also have a weakness for multiple exclamation points.)
Earlier: Previous announcements of law firm associate salary increases (scroll down through “Skaddenfreude” archives)
Here’s what the associate pay raise memo for Skadden’s Class of 2003 looked like:
From: Garfinkel, Jodie
Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2007 12:26 PM
To: [redacted]
Subject: Compensation
TO: Class of 2003
We are pleased to advise you that we are increasing base salaries retroactive to January 1, 2007. The salary for most associates in the class of 2003 will be increased from $190,000 to $210,000. Increases will be reflected in paychecks of February 15th and retroactive payments will be made only to those attorneys who are employed with the Firm on February 15th.
Annual bonuses will be determined at year end based upon individual performance, levels of activity in the Firm’s practice areas and the economic environment as it affects our Firm.
We thank you for your continued commitment and dedication.
SASM&F
********************************
If you’re a Skadden associate in a class other than 2003, please provide your new base salary in the comments. We will “Wiki” our way towards a comprehensive Skadden memo. Thanks everyone!
Earlier: Previous announcements of law firm associate salary increases (scroll down through “Skaddenfreude” archives)
- Movies, Parties, Pictures, Politics, SCOTUS, SCOTUS Potential, Senate Judiciary Committee, Seth Waxman, Stephen Breyer, Supreme Court
Movie Night With Justice Breyer (Part 2)
By David Lat
“You mean to tell me that this guy has argued before the Supreme Court? This guy, in the button-down shirt? Seriously?”
******************************
Here are the remaining photos from our recent Movie Night With Justice Breyer. The first batch was posted over here.
As we previously explained, these pictures are pretty awful — dark and blurry. Because of all the priceless art lying around, we weren’t allowed use a flash inside the darkened precincts of the Phillips Collection.
And we’re not great at photography to begin with. And we could use a better camera. (Did you catch that, Sony and Canon publicists?)
But if you’re looking for a break from all the law firm pay raise coverage, maybe you’ll appreciate them. Check them out, after the jump.
We have confirmed this Morrison & Foerster memo with sources at the firm. So you can take it as 100 percent reliable.
Please note that it pertains only to the New York office. MoFo has historically paid its NYC associates more than their counterparts in other cities, which some non-Gothamites have grumbled about. But that’s probably not about to change — especially when New York newbies pull down $160K…
From: Wetmore, Keith C.
Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2007 5:21 PM
To: LIST/Non-Partner Atty/NY
Cc: LIST/Partner/NY
Subject: 2007 New York Associate Compensation
I am pleased to announce the 2007 compensation structure for associates in our New York office. Associates eligible to receive an increase to their base compensation as a result of progressing to the next salary class will see the increase reflected in their February 15 paycheck retroactive to January 1, 2007. These step increases will be based on the following schedule:
Class of 2006 – $160,000
Class of 2005 – $170,000
Class of 2004 – $185,000
Class of 2003 – $210,000
Class of 2002 – $230,000
Class of 2001 – $250,000
Class of 2000 – $265,000
Class of 1999 – $280,000
Class of 1998 – $290,000
We will be determining compensation for of counsel on a separate basis and will send individual compensation messages in the next few weeks.
On behalf of the Firm, thank you for your part in making 2006 a great year for the Firm and for your hard work and commitment to the Firm and its clients as we look to the future.
Keith
[Ed. note: We'll get back to associate pay raises shortly. But for those of you with no interest in the staggeringly high sums being earned by your Biglaw buddies, Stella Q has some Non-Sequiturs for you.]
* I’m not sure how they do it, but Reputation Defender can rid cyberspace of slanderous detritus, even if you’re probably the one who put it out there in the first place. [Reputation Defender via Daily Candy]
* For those of you who are solo practitioners and/or have your face on a bus, then this service may actually make good business sense. [Blawg]
* So we’ve been preoccupied with Charney, Shanetta and the tightening of the golden handcuffs — don’t forget the juicy bits (betrayal! secrets! lies! some racial stuff!?) coming out of the Scooter Libby trial too. [Dean’s World via Media Bloggers]
* Puns kill. [Law.com]
* Is it presumptuous for the gorgeous, ageless Sidney Poitier to identify with Thurgood Marshall? (The answer is no, doubters! The evidence lies in these 25 questions.) [Vanity Fair]
* Yeah, but do any of them look like this? Also, I welcome recommendations as to up-and-coming bloggers or just quirky, personal favorites. [Blawg Review]
We haven’t confirmed it 100 percent. But the Weil Gotshal memo reprinted below, which has been posted several times in the comments, strikes us as pretty safe to consider authentic.
(We’re waiting to hear back from certain contacts at Weil. When we do, we’ll update this post.)
Update (6:30 PM): Official sources at Weil declined to comment: “We’re not in the business of confirming internal memos or emails.”
But unofficial sources have confirmed, informing us that the “Town Hall Meeting” mentioned below took place at 4:10 PM. So you can regard the memo below as a true copy.
WEIL, GOTSHAL & MANGES
To: US Associates
From: Stephen J. Dannhauser
As announced at today’s Town Hall Meeting, effective January 1, 2007, annual U.S. associate base salaries have been increased, as set forth below. You will receive a retroactive adjustment reflecting this increase in your paycheck or direct deposit on February 9th. Bonuses will be paid this Friday, January 26th. As we have previously told you, it is our intention to pay our associates commensurately with our peer firms.
The firm has enjoyed a very good year, and we recognize that your dedication and hard work have contributed, and will continue to contribute, to our success.
Class Year 2007 Salary
2006 $160,000
2005 $170,000
2004 $185,000
2003 $210,000
2002 $230,000
2001 $250,000
2000 $265,000
1999 $280,000
Base salaries for associates in the class of 1998 and more senior will be determined on an individual basis.
Earlier: Previous announcements of law firm associate salary increases (scroll down through “Skaddenfreude” archives)
Amazing! Our uncooperative servers are allowing us to post something (or so it seems). Allah be praised.
On the associate pay raise front, here’s what we’ve heard most recently:
1. O’Melveny & Myers: They did it by voicemail, presumably to prevent forwarding of emails or cutting and pasting of text. Cute, guys.
Here’s what a tipster tells us:
You’re not going to get a memo, but we (NY, DC, LA) just got a voicemail left for us basically saying we’re matching in NY the recent raises and LA and DC are getting bumps too. I didn’t write down the numbers, but the LA and DC base salaries are not the same as for NY.
Another tipster confirms the LA and DC raises, with more detail: “O’Melveny is bumping first years from $135K to $145K in DC.”
2. Simpson Thacher (summer associate addendum). This isn’t exactly a surprise. But for the record:
The wave of postings and comments in response to Simpson’s announcement to raise associate salaries has left some of you wondering what the application will be to the summer class. I wanted to confirm that summer associates will be paid the same salary as first year associates, prorated on a weekly basis, which is $3080 per week. A copy of our Chairman’s memo appears below.
We’re all looking forward to seeing you soon.
All the best, Dee
Dee Pifer
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
We’re working on a few other confirmations. Please continue to send us memos and other info. Thanks!
Earlier: Previous announcements of law firm associate salary increases (scroll down through “Skaddenfreude” archives)
Consider the rumors about Dewey Ballantine and Fried Frank joining in the associate pay raise fun to be confirmed. We’ve been in touch with multiple sources at both shops.
We’re working on getting a copy of the DB memo. Here is the text of the Fried Frank announcement (which reportedly went out by email at 2:11 PM today):
FRIED FRANK
To: All DC and New York Associates and Special Counsel
cc: All Partners
From: Valerie Jacob, Justin Spendlove
We are pleased to announce an increase to the associate base salary scale as follows:
Class Year Adjusted Base Salary
2006 $160,000
2005 $170,000
2004 $185,000
2003 $210,000
2002 $230,000
2001 $250,000
2000 $265,000
1999 $280,000
1998 $290,000
This increase is retroactive to January 1, 2007, and will be reflected in the February 9, 2007 payroll. Bonuses for 2007 will be determined at year-end, as usual.
Base salaries and bonuses for Special Counsel will be determined on an individual basis in the Spring, as usual.
The Firm’s continued success depends upon the support and contribution of all our associates. We are very appreciative of the efforts and hard work of all our attorneys during this fiscal year and we look forward to continued success next year.
******************************
As several of you noted in the comments, news of a pay raise sounds even sweeter when it comes from a man named “Justin Spendlove.”
Earlier: Previous announcements of law firm associate salary increases (scroll down through “Skaddenfreude” archives)
It looks like the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Law Association of New York (“LeGal”) has gotten tired of receiving angry emails from random gay law students at Columbia, NYU, and Fordham.
Over at their website, LeGal has posted an interesting statement (gavel bang: Soloway) about Charney v. Sullivan & Cromwell. LeGal, you may recall, is the gay rights group whose vice-president, John Scheich, spoke out publicly in defense of S&C (as discussed here and here).
The statement, issued by LeGal’s Board of Directors, reads as a whale of a bitchslap stinging rebuke of Jack Scheich. It’s unintentionally amusing, in a smirk-inducing, Schadenfreude-ish sort of way.
We reprint (1) the LeGal Board’s statement, and (2) a personal email that Scheich sent to Charney — yeah, seriously!!! — after the jump.
Capitalization in the original. All lowercase is very appropriate for the youthful, fun, California-based Quinn Emanuel firm.
—–Original Message—–
From: John Quinn
Sent: Wed 1/24/2007 12:14 PM
To: Associates
Cc:
Subject:
Attachments:
beginning february 1 the firm will match the recently announced increases in base salaries for years 2001 through 2006. incomes of more senior lawyers will be dealt with on a case by case basis, given the firm’s partnership track.
John B. Quinn
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart Oliver & Hedges, LLP
-
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