* State Farm reaches Katrina settlement. [Jurist]
* What would you buy if you embezzled $6.9 million? [CNN]
* Bush told us what condition our condition is in. [Jurist]
* I guess if you’re a DT for the Bears, the Super Bowl counts as work; judge allows Tank Johnson to play in XLI, but tells him to keep his metaphorical nose clean. [AP via Yahoo!]
* Virginia is for cockfighters. [MSNBC]
Latest Stories
We’re signing off for the night. It’s almost time for the State of the Union (9PM Eastern time). We won’t be back online until tomorrow morning.
Feel free to offer your thoughts on Biglaw compensation matters in the comments to this post. For ease of reference, here are the associate pay raise announcements that we’ve collected so far:
– Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft
– Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton
– Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy
– Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison
– Sullivan & Cromwell
And, of course, the first mover who deserves credit for this largesse:
– Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
Enjoy the State of the Union, everyone. See you tomorrow.
(The Wonkette crew is liveblogging the SOTU. And don’t miss their SOTU Drinking Game, which will make President Bush’s speech twice as fun.)
Update (8:50 PM): A shout-out to the lawyers: Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is the Cabinet official who has been designated NOT to attend the State of the Union, to ensure the continuity of government in the event that disaster strikes on Capitol Hill tonight.
Earlier: Previous announcements of law firm associate salary increases (scroll down through “Skaddenfreude” archives)
* Whatever the state of the current voting systems for Oscar nominations, at least Ryan Gosling was nominated for Half Nelson. Bleeding-heart inner-city teachers-slash-junkies are hot. Perhaps also a little paternalistic. But still really hot. [Concurring Opinions]
* Joe Francis, scapegoat. No, a martyr even. [AP via Yahoo! News]
* Blogs are like PBS: they need private donations because they only feature pseudo-ads. [TalkLeft]
* E-retailer sales assistant decides to editorialize — and once again, thinking outside the box ends up very, very badly. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
* You can be plenty creepy without violating any child pornography laws… [Althouse; Sex Crimes]
* …and just be a Paris Hilton wannabe, and violate those same laws. [Internet Cases]
As the WSJ Law Blog previously reported, Cleary Gottlieb has joined the club of law firms raising salaries for their associates.
One correspondent of ours at Cleary was pleasantly surprised by how quickly the announcement arrived:
I’m amazed that Cleary has been so quick to react to the change. Cleary is typically more lagging in upping salary in response to market change, but this year pulled it off within 48 hours. Color me impressed.
With apologies for the delay, as well as for various technical difficulties (which have resulted in some comments being posted multiple times), here is the memo:
The Simpson Bump: Everybody’s Doin’ It! [WSJ Law Blog]
Earlier: Previous announcements of law firm associate salary increases (scroll down through “Skaddenfreude” archives)
Apologies for the delay — server problems. Trust us, they’re frustrating us ten times more than they’re frustrating you.
With thanks to the various tipsters who sent it to us (including “Goose”), here’s the memo from Milbank Tweed announcing pay raises for their associates:
MILBANK TWEED HADLEY & McCLOY LLP
From: Wagner, Christine
Sent: Tuesday, January 23, 2007 5:12 PM
To: #Asia Associates All; #DC Associates; #LA Associates; #NY Associates; #LN Associates
Subject: Sent On Behalf Of The Executive Committee
MEMORANDUM TO ASSOCIATES – CLASSES 2006-1999 AND SPECIALS
Re: 2007 Salaries
We are pleased to announce salary adjustments as listed below:
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
These increases are retroactive to January 1, 2007 and will be reflected in February 15 paychecks for those who are in good standing and with us on that date.
2007 salary increases for Specials will be determined on an individual basis this quarter as usual.
We appreciate all your contributions and look forward to another great year.
THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Milbank
Christine Wagner
Director of Legal Personnel
Earlier: Previous announcements of law firm associate salary increases (scroll down through “Skaddenfreude” archives)
From an source at Sullivan & Cromwell:
I thought you and your readers would find it interesting to know that H. Rodgin Cohen gave a speech to the Firm yesterday regarding Charney v. Sullivan & Cromwell.
In his speech, Rodge denied every single allegation that “Andrew” made. That’s right, Andrew.
Apparently S&C investigation’s has been so robust that the Firm’s chairman still does not even know the plaintiff’s name.
This must be just another administrative oversight here at S&C.
Our take on this episode is a little different. We see it as compelling proof of the following:
As far as Biglaw partners are concerned, ALL ASSOCIATES ARE FUNGIBLE.
Even associates who sue your ass for discrimination and retaliation, giving rise to a public relations disaster.
Earlier: Skaddenfreude: S&C Says, “Charney Who?”
Prior ATL coverage of Charney v. Sullivan & Cromwell (scroll down)
Sullivan & Cromwell has followed suit. It has tried to distract everyone from the train wreck called Charney v. S&C just announced raises in base salaries for its associates. And its 2007 summer associates will share in the loot, too.
Here’s the memo, from firm chairman H. Rodgin Cohen, which was just sent out by email:
SULLIVAN & CROMWELL LLP
From: Cohen, H. Rodgin
Sent: Tuesday, January 23, 2007 3:59 PM
To: *Associates.Worldwide
Cc: Shenker, Joseph
Subject:
We are pleased to announce that, in addition to the bonuses awarded to lawyers at the end of last year, which ranged from $30,000 for the class of 2005 to $70,000 for the class of 1998, the Firm will be increasing associate compensation retroactive to January 1, 2007.
The new salary range will start at $160,000 for the class of 2006 and move up to $310,000 for the class of 1998. In accordance with our usual practice, each associate will receive individual notification of her or his salary.
In addition, annual base compensation will be increased to $160,000 for new associates arriving with the 2007 incoming class. The weekly compensation for the 2007 summer associate class will also be increased to be based on the new starting annual salary of $160,000.
The Firm is committed to rewarding our lawyers for their contributions to our continued success by maintaining compensation levels, including year-end bonuses, at the forefront of peer firm compensation.
Rodge
Update: According to this comment, the compensation figures for S&C’s most senior classes are as follows: class of 2000, $270K; class of 1999, $290K; and class of 1998, $310K. These amounts are higher than Simpson Thacher’s: class of 2000, $265K; class of 1999, $280K; and class of 1998, $290K.
Earlier: Previous announcements of law firm associate salary increases (scroll down through “Skaddenfreude” archives)
Thanks to everyone who sent this to us — and sorry for the delay in posting it. Here’s the CWT memorandum announcing pay raises for its associates.
CADWALADER, WICKERSHAM & TAFT
From: Link, Robert
Sent: Tuesday, January 23, 2007 3:26 PM
To: MAIL-NY_ASSOCIATES; MAIL-DC_ASSOCIATES
Cc: MAIL-NY_PARTNERS; MAIL-NY_COUNSEL; MAIL-DC_PARTNERS; MAIL-DC_COUNSEL; Freeman, Claudia; Ellis, Patricia; Wallsh, Mitch; Sekler, Mitchel; Pinkerton, Dyana
Subject: 2007 Compensation
In keeping with our pledge to provide compensation that is competitive with the other leading law firms in our markets, we will increase associate base salaries in New York and Washington effective January 1, 2007 as follows:
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
We are also raising the base salary for the members of the Class of 2007, who will arrive in the fall, to $160,000. Thank you for your hard work and efforts on behalf of the firm.
Earlier: Previous announcements of law firm associate salary increases (scroll down through “Skaddenfreude” archives)
That’s what a number of you said in comments.
And then we were emailed this memo (which we have verified with multiple sources at Paul Weiss, so we vouch for it 100 percent):
PAUL WEISS RIFKIND WHARTON & GARRISON
We are pleased to announce that we have increased associate compensation effective January 1, 2007 as follows:
Class / 2007 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 and senior: $290,000
We are very appreciative of your hard work and dedication. The increases will be reflected in your February 15, 2007 paycheck. We expect to determine the bonus portion of your 2007 compensation near year-end as usual.
*****************************
As you can see, these numbers are completely consistent with the new base salaries announced yesterday by Simpson Thacher. Any firm that wants to play in the same league as PW and STB will have to ante up.
Congratulations to the Paul Weiss and Simpson Thacher folks!
Earlier: Breaking: Simpson Thacher Raises Associate Base Salaries!!!
Skaddenfreude: Who Has Matched Simpson?
- Celebrities, Margaret Carlson, Media and Journalism, Movies, Parties, Pictures, Seth Waxman, Stephen Breyer, Television, The Week Magazine
Movie Night With Justice Breyer (Part 1)
By David Lat
Poor Justice Breyer — he’s totally trapped! (But nice necktie, Your Honor. Is it Hermes?)
Supreme Court justices: They’re just like us. They get cornered at cocktail parties by matronly women they don’t really know.
And no, that’s not Beverly D’Angelo, aka Barbara “Babs” Miller of Entourage. We wish.
But yes, that is the Washington Post’s Dan Froomkin — FROOMKIN!!! — over her shoulder, on the far right.
*****************************
Last week, we attended a movie night with Justice Stephen G. Breyer, sponsored by The Week magazine. It was held at the Phillips Collection, an amazing modern art museum here in Washington, DC. We were treated to cocktails and dinner, followed by a screening of The Third Man — Justice Breyer’s cinematic selection.
Photographs, plus brief commentary, after the jump.
Yesterday’s big story, which has carried over into today, is the associate pay raise by Simpson Thacher & Bartlett. Right now everyone is wondering: Which firms will match?
A digression: We’re having one of those days. We woke up late, not feeling that great, and wondering if Shanetta Cutlar had hexed us. So we apologize in advance — we’re not firing on all cylinders today.
Since we’re feeling out of it today, we’re going to begin our pay raise coverage by simply highlighting the most interesting reader comments on this news. There have been over 150 comments so far, and we’re guessing that you haven’t had the time to read through all of them.
That’s what we’re here for. We have sifted through all of your comments. And we’ve collected the most interesting, thoughtful, or funny ones, after the jump.
Continue reading “Skaddenfreude: Your Comments on the Simpson Raise (Part 1)”
Amidst all of the hoopla over associate pay raises and Charney v. Sullivan & Cromwell, some of you have requested updates about Shanetta Y. Cutlar. We’re happy to report that we have some new material for you.
(For those of you who are new to ATL, Shanetta Cutlar is the deliciously imperious, ruler-wielding diva who heads the Special Litigation Section, in the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. To get a sense of Shanetta Cutlar, in case you haven’t read our prior coverage of her, see here, here, or here.)
We hope that Shanetta Cutlar has been pleased by our coverage of her — ’cause if she’s not, she might put a curse on us. Here’s the latest tip about her:
Those who worship together, work together. Principal Deputy Tammie Gregg, who was promoted by Shanetta, as well as the Supervisor of the Investigators, whom Shanetta refers to as her “spiritual advisor,” all attend the same Church. Both were promoted over others more experienced than they, and obviously for their personal connection to Shanetta.
Shanetta is very superstitious. She had her office “excised” of evil spirits and ill will toward her, as evidenced by the cross etched faintly, in some sort of oil, on the upper right hand corner of her door. Most recently, an escapee [from the Section] said she told them that she was “gathering her protections.”
“Gathering her protections”? Boy are we f***ed.
(But not as much as Ty Clevenger, the whistleblower who first brought Shanetta Cutlar to the public eye. We hear that Shanetta has a voodoo doll of him in her desk drawer, which she abuses regularly with a staple gun.)
Earlier: Prior coverage of the Special Litigation Section under Shanetta Cutlar (scroll down)
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Ed. note: The Asia Chronicles column is authored by Kinney Recruiting. Kinney has made more placements of U.S. associates, counsels and partners in Asia than any other recruiting firm in each of the past six years. You can reach them by email: asia@kinneyrecruiting.com.
Deal flow has clearly picked recently up for most US associates, counsels and partners in Hong Kong/China and Singapore. We are on the phone with a lot of these folks on a daily basis, many of whom we have known for years. Further, the head of our Asia team, Evan Jowers, and Kinney’s founder and president, Robert Kinney, frequently meet in person with leading US partners in Asia to assess their needs and keep on top of the inside scoop at as many firms as possible. The need for legal recruiting help in Asia from experienced recruiters appears to be live and well. In March, Evan and Robert were in Beijing at such meetings, in April, Evan was in Hong Kong, and for half of June Evan will be in Shanghai and Hong Kong. Thus its pretty easy for us to tell when there has been an across-the-market pick up in capital markets and corporate work.
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