WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI — MEMORANDUM — 2015 YEAR-END MERIT BONUSES
To: Associates, Counsel, and Of Counsel
From: Doug Clark and Jack Sheridan
Cc: All Members
Date: January 15, 2016
Re: Associate Year-End Merit Bonuses
We are pleased to announce associate bonuses for the firm’s fiscal year ending on January 31, 2016. We are on pace to complete a remarkably strong year, thanks in large measure to significant achievements across our corporate, transactional, litigation, intellectual property, and regulatory practices. Everyone has worked hard and we recognize the substantial role our associates played, and continue to play, in the firm’s success. On behalf of the firm, we want to express sincere gratitude for your many efforts and hard work.
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Earlier this year, we announced enhancements to the firm’s Career Development Committee (CDC) as one way to deliver superior performance feedback to our associates. The CDC has worked hard over the past few months, not only to prepare substantive performance evaluations, which each of you will receive in the next two weeks, but also to make bonus determinations in line with the firm’s emphasis on work quality and firm values.
This year’s bonus awards follow the scale below for associates and other nonmember attorneys meeting or exceeding the firm’s threshold requirement of 1,900 bonus-eligible hours.
|
Class
|
Year
|
Bonus
|
|
1st year
|
2014
|
$15,000
|
|
2nd year
|
2013
|
$25,000
|
|
3rd year
|
2012
|
$50,000
|
|
4th year
|
2011
|
$65,000
|
|
5th year
|
2010
|
$80,000
|
|
6th year
|
2009
|
$90,000
|
|
7th year
|
2008
|
$100,000
|
Bonus-eligible hours include chargeable hours recorded, pro bono hours, and hours charged to accounts for the firm’s legal services, as well as approved shadowing hours and a cumulative total of up to 100 hours charged to knowledge management activities, attorney recruiting interviews, preparing and presenting internal training courses that qualify for CLE credit, development and delivery of new business pitches, writing and editing firm publications, and serving on firm committees.
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Awards, which will be paid on Friday, January 29, are prorated for partial year employment, time on leave, and part-time status. Proration is waived for attorneys who achieved 1,900 bonus-eligible hours on an absolute basis.
Additionally, in accordance with our usual practice, associate step increases will be effective on February 1.
Thank you again for your continued hard work and dedication to our clients.
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