Baker Botts Rolls Back COVID Cuts, And Makes Another Round Of Special Bonuses

Bonuses will be paid before year end.

I don’t know about you, but I could sure use some good news. I don’t expect an election result, well, any time today, so how about some Biglaw news? Like maybe a Biglaw firm doing an about face on COVID austerity measures and throwing in some extra bonuses for good measure.

Thanks for the election news reprieve Baker Botts.

After previously announcing a plan of “collective sacrifice” to get through the global health crisis, Baker Botts changed course. In July, the salary cuts — 20 to 30 percent based on salary level for counsel, 20 percent for associates, and 0 to 20 percent based on salary level for staff — were reduced by 50 percent (at the associate level, that made it just 10 percent). And now the firm has announced, that effective November 1st, the entirely of the COVID salary cuts will be reversed.

What’s more, when announcing the July rollbacks, they also did a round of interim bonuses for the May 1 – July 31 period. In announcing this rollback, there is another round of bonuses in the offing:

As mentioned in prior announcements, we will also be awarding interim bonuses to non-partner timekeepers who have made exceptional contributions over the past months. Bonus eligibility will be determined based on a number of factors, including utilization and exemplary client service, for the August 1 – October 31 period, as recorded in adherence with the Firm’s time entry policy and deadlines.  To be eligible for this interim bonus, which will be paid before year-end, timekeepers must be in good standing and actively employed at the Firm on the date of payment.

Read the full email on the next page.

Remember everyone, we depend on your tips to stay on top of important bonus updates, so when your firm announces any type of bonus payment for associates, please text us (646-820-8477) or email us (subject line: “[Firm Name] Bonuses”). Please include the memo if available. You can take a photo of the memo and send it via text or email if you don’t want to forward the original PDF or Word file.

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headshotKathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, and host of The Jabot podcast. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).

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