What did you miss if you didn't peruse last Sunday's NYT weddings section? The marriage of Theodore Roosevelt V, for starters. Also, a whole lot of gayness! We counted seven same-sex weddings on this week's list, which we suspect is a an all-time high. (And how sociologically interesting that all seven were men marrying men!) None of this week's same-sex weddings made it into the finals, but LEWW is delighted to reflect (in a rare moment of seriousness) on how much has changed since August 2002, when the paper announced that it would include same-sex weddings for the first time. Long live love!

Here are this week's couples:

1. Tania Brief and Andrew Ehrlich

2. Jori Finkel and Michael Lubic

3. Laura Millendorf and Mark Yopp

Click on the link below to read all about these legal lovebirds.

The theme of yesterday's LEWW was the hotness disparity between three glowing brides and their very lucky grooms. Today we're delighted to report that the wedding gods stepped it up with our most recent batch of newlyweds. They've brought us four grooms who are at least as attractive as their brides or co-grooms. (And needless to say, all six of our newlyweds have the shiny credentials that you've come to expect from the Legal Eagle Wedding Watch.)

On to the finalists! Here they are:

1. Joanna Schwab and Nathan Pusey

2. Joseph Loy and Michael Kavey

3. Zoe Palitz and Brian Goldman

Click on the link below to find out more about these couples.

In honor of the new Vault rankings, we're doing a series of open threads on the 100 most prominent law firms. We invite you to compare and contrast the firms in the comments. In the last open thread on Vault firms 6-10, there was an animated discussion about litigation at Cleary and which Kirkland office is best to work for.

Moving on down the Vault 100 list, here's the next bunch up for discussion, with prestige scores in parentheses:

11. Covington & Burling LLP (7.428)
12. Debevoise & Plimpton LLP (7.417)
13. Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP (7.290)
14. Williams & Connolly LLP (7.238)
15. Sidley Austin LLP (7.201)

The oddest language in the "notable perks" in this bunch is at Williams & Connolly: "Fancy bunch of smarties." Well-dressed intelligent lawyers, or a big basket of the tart candy?

Please discuss the work, perks, and lifestyle at these firms in the comments. More threads to come.

Earlier: Vault 100 Open Threads- 2009

A staff attorney reader of ATL once described his position as "either the bluest white-collar job, or the whitest blue-collar job." We found the description quite apt, based on what we know about being a staff attorney.

For those of you who are not familiar with them, staff attorneys perform work similar to contract attorneys -- e.g., document review, document production, other discovery-related tasks -- but, unlike contract attorneys, they are "on staff" at their specific firms (hence the title of staff attorney). They don't have to worry, like contract attorneys, about what their next gig will be, since they are employed directly by their Biglaw shops (i.e., not placed through an agency). Staff attorneys have stable jobs, good benefits, and reasonable hours (at least most of the time; they may have to work overtime if a case is busy).

But there are also disadvantages to being a staff attorney. All that document work can be monotonous, even mind-numbing. Unlike associates, staff attorneys are not on the track towards partnership. They are often the first to be let go during downturns (e.g., at Milbank Tweed; see here and here).

Some staff attorneys claim they are treated like second-class citizens. Back in March, over at the Huffington Post, Yolanda Young -- a former staff attorney at Covington & Burling -- decried what she described as the firm's "staff attorney ghetto," noting the high proportion of minorities among the staff attorney ranks (and the low percentage of minorities among the ranks of partnership-track associates).

If it is a "ghetto," however, it's a rather well-paid one. From one tipster:

I'm a Paul Weiss staff attorney. [ATL] has a loyal following among us.

I'd be interested in seeing a post on SA salaries. I wonder how much they differ from firm to firm here in NYC, or in other cities.

I'm sure such a post would get hammered with comments from BigLaw associates. But it would be widely read, and interesting to the growing ranks of the staff attorney underclass.

We're happy to oblige. Here is the requested post.

Find out how much Paul Weiss pays its staff attorneys in New York -- and, if you're a staff attorney at another firm or in another city, dish about how much you make -- after the jump.

Congratulations to Keira Driansky and David Simon, chosen by ATL readers over Kristy Hong and Jonas Blank III as April's Legal Eagle Couple of the Month.

Now for the next set of entrants, and it's a crowded field. We think this week's column sets a record for total number of Ivy League JDs. Here's our latest crop of outstanding newlyweds:

1. Deborah Adler and Brian Sutherland

2. Rachel Hannaford and Justin Lerer

3. Zoe Segal-Reichlin and Daniel Garodnick

4. Alison Franklin and Shane Milam

Read up on their pedigrees and passions, after the jump.

In Lawyerly Lairs, we follow the real-estate moves of leading lawyers and law firms. The focus is typically residential. For example, last year we visited the Park Avenue apartment of this year's commencement speaker at Georgetown Law, Joel Klein.

But every now and then, we go commercial, and write about law firm offices. E.g., Cleary Gottlieb; Gibson Dunn; Cravath.

Today's featured tenant: Paul Weiss. From the New York Observer:

High-powered law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison is in negotiations with Vornado Realty Trust for more than one-third of the tower planned for atop the Port Authority bus station, a move that, if cemented, would extend the legal establishment’s apparently inexorable drift westward from the white-shoe stronghold of midtown.

A source close to the negotiations confirmed that Paul, Weiss is in serious, though early, negotiations to take 500,000 square feet in the middle of the 42-story building slated to rise from a platform atop the seedy bus terminal.

Seedy is right -- but there are advantages to being based at Port Authority. Check out this list of shops and restaurants. It will be easy for beleaguered associates to slip away to Duane Reade, to fill that prescription for anti-anxiety medication. And lavish lunches at Munchy's Gourmet -- second floor, South Wing -- will seal the deal for PW recruits.

Meanwhile, another top law firm is venturing beyond midtown. Also from the Observer (which covers the commercial real estate world as thoroughly as we cover Biglaw):

The largest tenant in the GM Building is relocating a portion of its operations from the gilded midtown tower to the decidedly humbler environs of downtown Brooklyn.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges, a global law firm with a New York staff of 1,300, has signed a lease for 35,000 square feet at Brooklyn’s 15 Metrotech Center, owned by Forest City Ratner.

Over the past few years, Brooklyn has been booming, growing increasingly attractive as a residential option for young professionals. But if you're a Manhattan snob and Weil associate, have no fear. The Brooklyn digs will house information systems, finance, and operations; the lawyers will stay in the GM Building.

P.S. Speaking of the GM Building, here's a digression on "safe email." One ATL tipster likes to email us, using a non-work email account, from a computer in that building's Apple store.

But you don't need to be quite that cloak-and-dagger. It's usually safe to email us, from a non-work account, using the web browser on your wireless device (like a Blackberry or iPhone); that traffic doesn't pass through your law firm's servers.

Of course, to be ultra-cautious, wait until you get home, and email us from your personal computer. Thanks.

Law Firm Nears Lease Atop Bus Terminal [New York Observer]
Big Manhattan Law Firm Exits GM Building for ... Downtown Brooklyn [New York Observer]
Terminal Information & Services [Port Authority of New York and New Jersey]

Paul Weiss has matched. The year-end bonuses top out at $65,000 (like Debevoise and Simpson, and unlike Cravath).

The special bonuses will be paid out on November 21.

Bonuses for counsel TBD.

Earlier: Associate Bonus Watch 2007 archives (scroll down)

Since our last two threads on Vault 100 law firms have generated healthy (and generally enlightening) discussion, we'll continue to move on down the list.

Please pose questions about or share insights into these five law firms (in Vault 100 order, with prestige scores in parentheses):

11. Kirkland & Ellis LLP (7.492)
12. Debevoise & Plimpton LLP (7.468)
13. Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP (7.444)
14. Shearman & Sterling LLP (7.240)
15. Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP (7.237)

Please discuss them in the comments. Thanks.

The Vault Top 100 Law Firms [Vault]

Earlier: Vault 1-5; Vault 6-10

Okay, commenters, break it up. There's no need to come to blows over the propriety of discussing clerkship bonuses in a salary post.

Here at ATL, there's enough cyberspace for everyone. We're putting an end to the turf wars, by giving you a new, dedicated thread for talking about clerkship bonuses.

We'll kick things off with some news. First, a reader alerted us to a change made to Cahill Gordon's website:

Sign-on Bonuses: The firm pays sign-on bonuses of $50,000 to judicial clerks and $15,000 to LL.M. (tax) graduates when they start at the firm.

Second, from a law clerk tipster, about Paul Weiss:

I'm clerking for two years. Paul Weiss just notified me, by phone, that they will be giving $70K bonuses to all two-year clerks. Hurray!

Congratulations, law clerks! Your Memorial Day holiday weekend is off to a good start.

Compensation & Benefits [Cahill Gordon & Reindel]

First, how delectable is that Tiffany engagement ring currently being advertised all over the NYT wedding pages? So big, so sparkly, so inevitably overpriced! We pity the poor guys who'll be shelling out their clerkship bonuses for that one.

Second, memo to the New York Times: Since when does summer employment merit mention in the wedding pages? If we once spent Christmas break shoveling David Souter's driveway, would that get us a write-up? Or is it just that the word "Skadden" makes you all trembly?

Here are this week's couples (no summer associates here!):

1. Alexis Krock and Grant Mainland

2. Emily Sheehy and Reed Carey

3. Jessica Rodriguez and Emile Lisboa

More on this week's couples, after the jump.

Multiple sources have just confirmed to ATL that Paul Weiss has matched the $50,000 clerkship bonus paid by Sullivan & Cromwell and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett.

The head of recruiting called people with outstanding offers today to make the announcement.

From a source:

PLEASE post this news so that it will continue to put pressure on the other NY-based firms. The more publicity ATL gives this, the more buzz there is in the market. It's a beautiful thing for us lowly law clerks.

Congratulations to Paul Weiss for joining this very select group. We predict that $35k is soon going to start looking pretty paltry in certain quarters.

Here's some news about an unusual move at our former employer, Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz (at right: founding partner Marty Lipton).

From the American Lawyer (via the WSJ Law Blog):

After losing two partners in recent months, Wachtell Lipton has quietly hired Michael Segal, the former cohead of executive compensation and benefits at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, who will start on Monday.

The move is an unusual one for Wachtell, which has rarely sought out lateral partners. In the firm’s 42-year history, just two other partners have lateraled into the firm. In 1997 antitrust partner Ilene Knable Gotts joined from Foley & Lardner. And in 1977, tax specialist Peter Canellos (now of counsel) joined as a partner from Cravath, Swaine & Moore.

Some random observations:

1. After the recent losses of executive comp partners Adam Chinn (to an investment banking boutique) and Michael Katzke (to a career in social work -- good for him), the firm had to make a high-profile hire in this niche. It's a specialized area that is critical to WLRK's flagship M&A practice.

2. For many years, Wachtell's general policy against lateral hiring extended to associates as well. But they've been taking on lateral associates with increasing frequency in recent years. So if you're working at another firm, but like the idea of a 100 percent bonus, send in your résumé.

3. Antitrust queen Ilene Knable Gotts, one of the two lateral partners mentioned above, is a diva with a capital "D." And she works insane hours, even by Wachtell standards (as do her associates).

In addition, here's an interesting profile of WLRK founder Marty Lipton, from our friends on the other side of the pond. Good stuff.

In a Rare Move, Wachtell Brings on a Lateral [American Lawyer]
US Top 50/New York: What Marty Says [Legal Week]
Wachtell Lipton Hires a Lateral! [WSJ Law Blog]

Some notable moves within the legal profession:

Government to Private Sector:

* Former Maryland Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele, to LeBoeuf Lamb in DC. Last November, Steele lost his bid to represent Maryland in the U.S. Senate.

* Michele Hirshman, who served as Eliot Spitzer's top deputy at the Attorney General’s office before he became Governor, is joining Paul Weiss, as a litigation partner. Described by the New York Times as "very smart, very tough and rather short," she sounds perfectly diva-licious.

Lateral Moves:

* Antitrust superstar Charles "Rick" Rule, to Cadwalader, from Fried Frank. This truly IS like musical chairs: Cadwalader, Rule's new home, recently lost its antitrust group to Skadden.

* Celebrated criminal defense lawyer Abbe Lowell -- who did an excellent job defending Hamlet against murder charges -- is moving from Chadbourne & Parke to McDermott Will & Emery.

* Mark Holscher and Jeffrey Sinek are joining the Los Angeles office of Kirkland & Ellis. They're coming from O’Melveny & Myers and Thelen Reid, respectively. From the Law Blog:

Holscher and Sinek are best friends. They were roommates when they served as federal prosecutors in Los Angeles. Holscher, 44, served as an assistant U.S. Attorney from 1989-1995; Sinek, 46, served from 1989 to 1994. Sinek was the best man at Holscher’s wedding; Holscher was a groomsman in Sinek’s. Both graduated from Boalt Hall law school. Holscher told the Law Blog they’ve always wanted to work together.

Such ambiguously gay commentary led an anonymous reader to quip: "Hope that Alexandra Korry doesn’t read about this…"

On The Move: Charles “Rick” Rule [Antitrust Review]
Kirkland Beefs Up West Coast White-Collar Practice [WSJ Law Blog]
Abbe Lowell to Join McDermott from Chadbourne [WSJ Law Blog]
Former Maryland Pol Michael Steele Joins LeBoeuf Lamb [WSJ Law Blog]
Spitzer’s Longtime No. 2 Michele Hirshman to Join Paul Weiss [WSJ Law Blog]

Every time we step away from our computer, big news breaks. Here's a thread for discussion of the verdict in the Scooter Libby case.

We'll update this post with comments and links as we read the coverage.

***************************

Okay, so here's the Washington Post lede (which we like better than the NYT and AP ledes -- it's the most substantive and informative of the three):

A federal jury today convicted I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby of lying about his role in the leak of an undercover CIA officer's identity, finding the vice president's former chief of staff guilty of two counts of perjury, one count of making false statements and one count of obstruction of justice, while acquitting him of a single count of lying to the FBI.

It's a big victory for special counsel Patrick J. Fitzgerald (a proud graduate of Regis High School, which is also our alma mater). It's a blow for Libby's two talented defense lawyers: Theodore V. Wells Jr., of Paul Weiss, and William Jeffress Jr., of Baker Botts.

(Random digression: Ted Wells was at Lowenstein Sandler in New Jersey for many years, before he was wooed to the other side of the Hudson. Bill Jeffress was previously at the super-elite boutique of Miller Cassidy Larroca & Lewin, which was acquired by Baker Botts.)

During his closing argument, Ted Wells broke down in tears. Now he has real cause for crying.

His client must be even more sad. Per the Post:

Under federal sentencing guidlines, Libby faces a probable prison term of 1 1/2 to three years when he is sentenced by U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton June 5.

Update: As one of you notes, sentencing guru Doug Berman thinks Libby's sentence could go much higher. See here.

Libby reacted to the verdict stoically. Again from the Post:

As the jury forewoman read each guilty count in a clear, solemn voice, Libby was impassive, remaining seated at the defense table, gazing straight ahead and displaying no visible emotion. His wife, Harriet Grant, sat in the front row with tears in her eyes and was was embraced by friends. Later she hugged each of Libby's lawyers.

Personally we feel bad for Scooter Libby. Much of his defense rested upon claims of memory lapses, and we know all too well about memory problems. We blame our rapidly deteriorating memory upon blogging, which does strange things to one's mental architecture, and excessive consumption of artificial sweeteners.

Libby Found Guilty in CIA Leak Case [Washington Post]
Libby Guilty of Lying in C.I.A. Leak Case [New York Times]
Libby Found Guilty in CIA Leak Trial [Associated Press]

Now it's time for a post about one of our favorite subjects: the magnificent Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. First, check out what's currently gracing the front page of the Drudge Report:

The audio clip is pretty awesome. To listen, click here.

Second, we'd like to take this opportunity to chastise any and all lawyers who enjoyed top government posts during the Clinton Administration, but now refuse to support Senator Clinton in her bid for the White House.

Here are two prominent examples. With apologies to Stephen Colbert, who isn't exactly a Hillary supporter, a "Wag of the Finger" to:

1. Gregory Craig. Washington insider Greg Craig, the Williams & Connolly partner who served as Special Counsel to President Clinton, is supporting Sen. Barack Obama.

Craig is doing this despite his close personal ties to the Clintons; the fact that he held multiple posts in the Clinton Administration, at the White House and State Department; and the alma mater he shares with the Clintons (Yale Law School -- rival to Obama's Harvard Law).

2. Jeh Charles Johnson. Paul Weiss partner Jeh Johnson, a successful New York litigator and prominent political fundraiser, served as general counsel to the Air Force under President Clinton. Yet he too has also turned his back on Senator Clinton, his home state legislator, to raise funds for Barack Obama.

Whatever happened to gratitude? To loyalty? To standing by your friends? Apparently there is no honor among thieves -- or, for that matter, political fund-raisers.

Messrs. Craig and Johnson, you may live to regret your decisions. After Senator Clinton tramples "Obambi" in the Democratic primaries, you may try to get back into her good graces. But Senator Clinton has a long memory. And you have placed yourselves on the wrong side of it.

We hope you enjoy private practice. -- 'cause you shouldn't expect a return to government anytime soon.

Kentucky Fried Hillary [iFilm]
Clinton ally, a Washington superlawyer, switches allegiance to back Obama [Chicago Sun-Times]
In Clinton's Backyard, It's Open Season as an Obama Fund-Raiser Lines Up Donors [New York Times]

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?

As you can see from the time of our first post of the day, we've been in front of our computer for about twelve hours. Our eyes hurt. And we're hungry.

We need to stand up. Maybe we'll be really daring and leave our apartment.

Hence this open comment thread. Some of the biggest Biglaws -- Cravath, Sullivan & Cromwell, Paul Weiss -- have already announced their bonuses. But if Skadden comes along and blows the top off the bonus market while we're gone, please post it in the comments (along with a link to your source).

We'll follow up when we return. Thanks.

P.S. We realize this is unlikely. First, Skadden will probably do what everybody else has done, and match the market bonuses (as set last week by Milbank). Second, based on the buzz over at Greedy NY, it seems that a Skadden announcement will probably come tomorrow.

Earlier: Prior ATL coverage of bonuses (scroll down)

Consider the Paul Weiss rumor from earlier this afternoon CONFIRMED.

1. We've spoken on the phone with Madelaine Miller, communications manager for Paul Weiss. She confirmed that the firm just announced bonuses ranging from $30,000 for the class of 2006 to $65,000 for the most senior classes.

2. We have the Paul Weiss memo, which includes both 2006 bonus and 2007 base salary information. Check it out, after the jump.

That's the latest rumor. We're checking with our Paul Weiss sources (and waiting for a memo).

Update (1:12 PM): This is looking pretty solid. No memo yet, and one of our Paul Weiss sources reports not hearing anything yet. But two other Paul Weiss sources confirm that the firm has matched. One of the two confirming sources explains why our first source might not have heard anything:

They have a junior partner on each floor come around and tell you, to make it "more personal."

So this might explain why associates are getting the news at different times. It all depends upon when your particular junior partner gets around to dropping by your office.

Update (3:28 PM): Officially CONFIRMED, by Madelaine Miller, Paul Weiss's communications manager. And we have the memo, too. Click here.

Paul Weiss matches... [Infirmation / Greedy NY]

Our big brother brings to our attention an interesting article, from New York magazine, about urban professionals and burnout. And no article on the subject would be complete without a discussion of Biglaw attorneys:

An epidemic of malaise among bankers and lawyers is far more likely to inspire jokes—Wouldn’t it be nicer if it were terminal?—than concern and rafts of psychological studies. (And the few studies out there are funny, if inadvertently. In a special “burnout” issue of the Journal of Clinical Psychology six years ago, the essay on lawyers was most notable for the “Select References and Recommended Reading” that followed—four of eight were about masochism.)

Not surprising in the least -- although where are the sadism articles?

[C]onsider lawyers for a moment: According to the New York Bar Association, turnover rates among mid-level associates in this city’s law firms is 36 percent. The whole system is predicated on burnout. Why even bother treating associates well?

Sad but true. We're reminded of one of our all-time favorite reader comments, in a thread discussing whether Paul Weiss is a gay-friendly firm. Here's the comment:

Paul Weiss isn't a magnet for gays, but it is a great place to get f*cked in the ass no matter what your sexual orientation is.

At least you get great sushi while grabbing your proverbial ankles.

Can’t Get No Satisfaction [New York Magazine via DealBreaker]