Another day, and another firm is retreating from the salaries of the past. Our sources report that Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney has decided to cut associate salaries between 5% and 10%.
The cuts will affect all class years.
Buchanan Ingersoll CEO Jack Barbour furnished Above the Law with this statement. Barbour suggests that the cuts are in part to due to Buchanan’s attempts to keep its billing rates competitive in this recession economy:
The firm generally has reduced associate compensation at a rate of between 5 and 10% per year. Certain associates may receive a higher or lesser reduction based on individual circumstances. This decision was not an easy one, but we feel that it is in the best interest of the firm and our clients to maintain the quality of service our clients have come to expect while keeping our rates at competitive levels.
The firm did not elaborate on what those individual circumstances might be.
Our sources believe the cuts will be based on hours, but you never know. Wouldn’t it be funny if the firm did it alphabetically. Nobody would be expecting that! It’s good to keep people on their toes.
It’s a little surprising that the firm cut salaries while summers are in the office, simply because the summers are only around for a short period of time. Buchanan scaled back this year’s summer program to seven weeks.
But if cutting salaries now saves jobs later, associates and summers might be all for it.
Earlier: Summer Cuts at Buchanan Ingersoll