Based off what Covington & Burling has in store for its associates outside of New York City (i.e., nary a salary bump), you might have thought that law firms would start getting stingy with salary raises outside of New York. Thanks to the latest news we’ve received, we’re happy to let you know you were likely wrong.
A leading law firm that now finds itself on the cutting edge for large law firm parental leave policies is now matching the Cravath base salary raise across all offices in America. Winston & Strawn, a Chicago-based firm with other offices in Charlotte, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Newark (NJ), San Francisco, Silicon Valley (Menlo Park, CA), and Washigton, D.C., will be improving associates’ wealth across the country.
Managing partner Tom Fitzgerald and co-chairs Jeffrey Kessler and Dan Webb said the following in an email to associates announcing the good news this afternoon:
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This increase in salaries recognizes the talent and hard work of our associates and their commitment to legal excellence and client service. Together with the firm’s parental leave benefits, this salary increase reflects our commitment to recruiting and maintaining a talented, diverse, and energetic team of associates and the next generation of leaders.
A thrilled associate had this to say of the firm’s generous pay raises: “In what I would consider a surprising (but exciting and very appreciated) move, Winston has matched Cravath for all U.S. offices! We are beyond excited but a bit surprised, because we don’t often consider Winston to be one of the trendsetters in such matters. This is a very welcome switch from the usually conservative approach to change.”
Congratulations to everyone at Winston & Strawn! Your firm is doing big things, and you should be proud to be a part of history in the making.
(Flip to the next page for the full Winston & Strawn pay raise memo, from managing partner Tom Fitzgerald and co-chairs Jeffrey Kessler and Dan Webb.)
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Earlier: Biglaw Firm Makes Big Waves With Gender-Neutral Parental Leave Policy
Staci Zaretsky is an editor at Above the Law. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments. Follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.