Associate Compensation Scorecard: Which Firms Are Sharing The Wealth Through Special Bonuses?
Is your firm listed here? If not, what are the partners waiting for?
Spring is in the air, and bonus season is here once again. We don’t usually see many bonuses in March, but like 2020, 2021 is turning out to be an odd year.
Since we broke the news of the special bonus scale for associates and counsel at large law firms in the United States — a trend that was started by Willkie on Friday, March 19, 2021 (offering between $7,500 and $40,000), and quickly one-upped by Davis Polk on Monday, March 22, 2021 (offering between $12,000 and $64,000) — many firms quickly fell in line and matched the generous scale. When will your firm announce its special bonuses?
As usual, we are compiling a table of all the firms that have already matched the special bonus scale, the minimum hours required to receive those bonuses (if available), and the date those bonuses will be paid. Today, we unveil that table for your viewing pleasure. We will be updating this table on a daily basis, sometimes multiple times, as news on bonuses is announced. If you see any information here that is incorrect or needs clarification, let us know.
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Help us help you now (and if/when you decide to make a lateral move in the future). Let us know what your firm’s minimum billable hours targets are for special bonus eligibility and when your firm will pay those bonuses. You generally must remain at your firm until the payout date to receive them, as stated in most memos, which could make it all the more difficult for you to leave your job.
As a little reminder, we love covering Biglaw bonuses, but we need your help. As soon as your firm’s bonus memo comes out, please email it to us (subject line: “[Firm Name] Bonus”). We always keep our sources on bonus stories anonymous. There’s no need to send the memo using your firm email account; your personal email account is fine. Please be sure to include the memo as proof; we like to post complete bonus memos as a service to our readers. You can take a photo of the memo and attach as a picture if you’re worried about metadata in a PDF/Word file.
| Firm | Date Matched | Minimum Hours | Payout Date |
| Willkie Class of 2020: Class of 2014+: |
FIRST MOVER March 19, 2021 |
None | June 30, 2021 / September 30, 2021 |
| Davis Polk Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014+/Counsel: $64K |
March 22, 2021 | None | April 26, 2021 / September 30, 2021 |
| Fenwick & West Tier 1/Level 1: $12K Tier 3/Counsel: $64K |
March 23, 2021 | 1950 creditable hours, measured pro rata (the firm also offered reward credits of up to $15K for rest, recreation, and relaxation in mid-March) | May 2021 / September 2021 |
| Milbank Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2013: $64K |
March 24, 2021 | None (September bonuses “may take into account individual contributions” and “some individuals may receive a higher or lower amount than the specific level described above”; counsel bonuses “determined and communicated on an individual basis”) | April 30, 2021 / September 30, 2021 |
| Skadden Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014+: $64K |
March 24, 2021 | 1800 “productive” hours, measured pro rata (those who don’t meet the eligibility requirement in June will receive “catch-up” payments in December if the hours threshold is met by then) | June 2021 / December 2021 |
| Cleary Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014+: $64K |
March 24, 2021 | None | April 30, 2021 / August 30, 2021 |
| Paul Weiss Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014+/Counsel: $64K |
March 24, 2021 | None | June 30, 2021 / September 30, 2021 |
| Debevoise Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014+/Counsel: $64K |
March 24, 2021 | None | June 30, 2021 / September 30, 2021 |
| Simpson Thacher Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2013: $64K |
March 25, 2021 | None (bonuses for counsel/senior counsel “determined at year-end on a case-by-case basis”) | June 30, 2021 / September 30, 2021 |
| Paul Hastings Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014+: $64K |
March 25, 2021 | Eligibility details to come sometime in April 2021 | May 28, 2021 / October 29, 2021 |
| Goodwin Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014+: $64K |
March 25, 2021 | 1850 annualized hours (1750 hours for special counsel ($64K total), senior attorneys ($44K total), and department and discovery attorneys/science advisors/science law clerks ($12K total)) | July 1, 2021 / October 1, 2021 |
| Proskauer Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2013: $64K |
March 25, 2021 | None | May 14, 2021 / November 15, 2021 |
| Hueston Hennigan Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2013: $64K |
March 26, 2021 | None | June 2021 / September 2021 |
| DLA Piper Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014+: $64K |
March 26, 2021 | None | May 2021 / September 2021 |
| Ropes & Gray Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014+/Counsel: $64K |
March 26, 2021 | None | April 30, 2021 / Late December 2021 |
| Gunderson Dettmer Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014+/Counsel: $64K |
March 26, 2021 | 1950 annualized hours (if anyone misses the cutoff for either period, but finishes the year with 1950+ hours, they’ll receive “catch-up” bonus payments) | May 2021 / September 2021 |
| Cooley Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014+/Counsel: $64K |
March 26, 2021 | 1950 creditable hours, measured pro rata (those who miss the June payout will be eligible to receive the September payment if they hit the required hours) | June 30, 2021 / September 30, 2021 |
| Morgan Lewis Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014+: $64K |
March 26, 2021 | None | June 2021 / October 2021 |
| Latham Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014+: $64K |
March 29, 2021 | Associates who are “at or above their individual hours budget” as of April 30 and September 30 will receive bonuses | May 14, 2021 / October 15, 2021 |
| Wilson Sonsini Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2012+: $64K |
March 29, 2021 | Those on track to bill at least 1950 bonus-eligible hours in 2021 will receive payouts based on year-to-date hours billed as of May 31 and August 31; make-up payments will be available | June 30, 2021 / September 30, 2021 |
| Weil Gotshal Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014+/3-Year Counsel: $64K |
March 29, 2021 | None | May 2021 / November 2021 |
| White & Case Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2013+: $64K |
March 29, 2021 | Associates on track with standard hourly requirements, annualized, will receive bonuses; those who miss the mark for the June payment but later catch up will be made whole in December | June 28, 2021 / December 28, 2021 |
| Lowenstein Sandler Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2013: $64K |
March 29, 2021 | Annualized minimum of 1800 client billable hours and at least 150 firm directed hours (e.g., pro bono, diversity efforts, recruiting, practice group activities, or additional billable hours) from October 1, 2020 through the applicable measurement dates (April 30, 2021 and July 31, 2021); firm will offer catch-up payments for anyone who misses the mark on April 30, but meets the eligibility threshold at July 31 | June 30, 2021 / September 30, 2021 |
| Cravath Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014: $64K |
March 29, 2021 | None | April 30, 2021 / September 30, 2021 |
| Kirkland & Ellis Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2015+: $59.2K NSP: $64K |
March 29, 2021 | None | April 30, 2021 / September 30, 2021 |
| Pillsbury Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014/Counsel: $64K |
March 29, 2021 | Those who are “tracking to meet or exceed” client billable and total creditable hours targets for the periods ending April 30 and September 30 are eligible for bonuses; “catch up” credit available to be met by September 30 or December 31 | May 15, 2021 / October 15, 2021 |
| Sidley Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014+: $64K |
March 29, 2021 | None | June 2021 / November 2021 |
| Akin Gump Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014+: $64K |
March 30, 2021 | “[P]roductivity will not be factored into the May bonus”; unstated in memo, but October payment may be hours-based | May 15, 2021 / October 15, 2021 |
| Shearman & Sterling Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014+: $64K |
March 30, 2021 | “[I]ndividual bonus amounts will be discretionary, based on performance”; “[r]elevant prorations will apply” | July 2021 / October 2021 |
| Freshfields Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014+: $64K |
March 30, 2021 | None | April 30, 2021 / October 15, 2021 |
| Winston & Strawn Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2013+: $64K |
March 30, 2021 | 1900 hours, annualized as of May 31 and August 31; catch-up payments available for those who miss May 31 hourly threshold | June 2021 / September 2021 |
| Cadwalader Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014+: $64K |
March 30, 2021 | 2000 hours (100 of which can be qualified non-billable hours), annualized as of June 30 and December 31; catch-up payments available for those who miss June 30 hourly threshold | July 2021 / February 2022 |
| Clifford Chance Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014+: $64K |
March 31, 2021 | None (“based upon an assessment of each associate’s overall performance, including quality of work, contribution to the Firm, teamwork and pro bono efforts”) | June 30, 2021 / December 30, 2021 |
| Fried Frank Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014+/Counsel: $64K |
March 31, 2021 | 1850 hours, annualized as of April 30 and October 31; catch-up payments available for those who miss April 30 hourly threshold | June 2021 / December 2021 |
| Schulte Roth & Zabel Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2012: $64K |
March 31, 2021 | Associates expected to meet (or exceed) firm’s customary hours requirements; catch-up payments available for those who miss June hourly threshold | June 2021 / December 2021 |
| Orrick Class of 2020: $12K/$13.1K Class of 2014/Counsel: $64K/$70K |
March 31, 2021 | 1950 hours for standard market bonus, annualized as of March 31 and year-end; 2300 hours for premium above-market bonus, annualized as of March 31 and year-end | April 2021 / Merit Bonus Time |
| McDermott Will & Emery Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014+: $64K |
March 31, 2021 | 1850 client-billable hours (additional eligibility details to come) | June 30, 2021 / October 30, 2021 |
| Kramer Levin Class of 2021: $7.2K Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014+: $64K |
March 31, 2021 | 1900 hours (only client-billable hours count); opportunity to make-up bonus dollars at year end if associates miss the mark for the first payment period | July 2021 / January 2022 |
| O’Melveny & Myers Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014+: $64K |
March 31, 2021 | 1900 hours (annualized as of April 30 and August 31) | May 31, 2021 / September 30, 2021 |
| Vinson & Elkins Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014+/Counsel: $64K |
March 31, 2021 | 1900 hours, annualized (opportunity for catch-up payment if associates miss the hourly threshold for the first payment period) | May 31, 2021 / October 29, 2021 |
| Sullivan & Cromwell Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014: $64K |
March 31, 2021 | None | April 30, 2021 / September 30, 2021 |
| WilmerHale Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014+: $64K |
April 2, 2021 | 2000 hours, annualized, plus pro bono (“true-up” payments available for those who miss hourly thresholds) | May 25, 2021 / September 25, 2021 |
| Mayer Brown Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014+/Counsel: $64K |
April 2, 2021 | Based on annualized hours, with target dates of May 31 and October 31; those who miss the first hourly threshold may receive only the second payment if hours are met then; those who do not meet the hourly thresholds at either date but do so by year end could receive a “discretionary” special bonus | June 25, 2021 / November 26, 2021 |
| Stroock Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014+/Counsel: $64K |
April 2, 2021 | 2000 hours (1800 billable and 200 non-billable legal); those unable to meet the hours requirement for the June payment will receive the entire bonus in November if all hours requirements are met | June 2021 / November 2021 |
| Torys Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014+/Counsel: $64K |
April 2, 2021 | Associates/counsel will automatically receive the first payment; associates/counsel must be have 1900 billable/non-billable client hours annualized for second payment (with no more than 150 non-billable client hours) | June 30, 2021 / November 30, 2021 |
| Dechert Class of 2020: $12K minimum Class of 2014+/Counsel: $12K minimum, “enhanced” up to $64K |
April 2, 2021 | Associates/counsel will receive a minimum of $12K total in special bonus money; those who meet the firm’s standard bonus hours requirements will be eligible for an “enhanced” bonus, which is a Davis Polk match; catch-up payment for “enhanced” bonuses available at year-end | June 23, 2021 / December 23, 2021 |
| Cahill Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014: $64K |
April 2, 2021 | None | June 2021 / Year-End 2021 |
| Gibson Dunn Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014+: $64K |
April 2, 2021 | 1950 “creditable” hours, annualized as of April 30, 2021 and October 31, 2021; catch-up payment opportunities available for those who miss the hourly benchmark for the first payment | May 14, 2021 / November 12, 2021 |
| Irell & Manella Class of 2020: $26.5K Class of 2014+: $73K |
April 2, 2021 | None | April 30, 2021 / Fall 2021 |
| Covington Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014+: $64K |
April 2, 2021 | 1950 hours, annualized from April 1, 2020 to March 30, 2021 for spring payment; 1950 hours, annualized from January 2021 to December 2021 for year-end payment | May 2021 / January 2022 |
| McKool Smith Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014+: $64K |
April 5, 2021 | 1950 hours, annualized as of June 1 and November 1; associates who miss the mark on either date but catch up by year-end will be made whole in their year-end bonus | June 2021 / November 2021 |
| Arnold & Porter Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014+: $64K |
April 5, 2021 | 2000 hours, annualized as of May 31 and August 31; associates who miss the mark on either date but catch up by year-end will be made whole in their year-end bonus | June 2021 / September 2021 |
| Alston & Bird Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014+: $64K |
April 5, 2021 | 1950 hours, annualized as of May 31 and November 30; associates who miss the mark in May but make the threshold by November will earn a “catch-up” payment | June 30, 2021 / December 31, 2021 |
| Sheppard Mullin A1: $12K C2: $64K |
April 6, 2021 | 2000 hours (1850 of which must be billable), annualized as of March 31 and September 30; associates who miss the mark in March but make the threshold by September will earn a “catch-up” payment | June 2021 / November 2021 |
| Fish & Richardson A1: $12K A7: $64K |
April 6, 2021 | Eligibility details to be announced during meeting on April 13, 2021 | April 2021 / October 2021 |
| Hogan Lovells Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014+: $64K |
April 7, 2021 | 1850 hours, annualized as of May 31 and October 31 (including up to 150 pro bono hours and up to 50 hours for diversity and inclusion initiatives); catch-up payment available for those who miss hourly threshold for June bonus | June 30, 2021 / November 30, 2021 |
| Norton Rose Fulbright Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014+: $64K |
April 7, 2021 | 1950 client and firm chargeable annualized hours, including up to 50 diversity and/or pro bono hours and approved shadow time (only associates in California, New York, Texas, and Washington, D.C. will receive market bonuses; associates in Denver, St. Louis, and Minneapolis will receive bonus payouts on a “regional scale”); true-up payments are available in December for those who missed the hourly threshold in June but later caught up | June 2021 / December 2021 |
| Baker Botts Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014+: $64K |
April 9, 2021 | Subject to firm’s “traditional bonus hours requirements”, annualized; if an associate misses the threshold by May 31 for the June bonus, catch-up payment will be available for the December bonus | June 2021 / December 2021 |
| Morrison & Foerster Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014+: $64K |
April 9, 2021 | Associates must have met “minimum legal service hours requirement”, pro rata, as of May 31 and November 30; if an associate misses the threshold by May 31 for the June bonus, catch-up payment will be available for the December bonus | June 2021 / December 2021 |
| Boies Schiller Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014+: $64K |
April 9, 2021 | None | May 2021 / November 2021 |
| Hunton Andrews Kurth Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014+: $64K |
April 9, 2021 | 1900 hours, annualized | October 30, 2021 / April 30, 2022 |
| Perkins Coie Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014+: $64K |
April 9, 2021 | 1950 hours, annualized (only associates in major market offices (Austin, Bellevue, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, New York, Palo Alto, San Diego, San Fran, Seattle, and WDC) will receive market bonuses; associates in Anchorage, Boise, Madison, Phoenix, and Portland will receive half market bonuses) | April 2021 / November 2021 |
| Baker McKenzie Class of 2020: $12K/$15K Class of 2013+: $64K/$80K |
April 13, 2021 | 2000-2299 hours for standard market bonus, including 125 approved pro bono and D&I hours, annualized as of May 31 and year-end; 2300 hours for premium above-market bonus, including 125 approved pro bono and D&I hours, annualized as of May 31 and year-end | June 2021 / January 2022 |
| Foley & Lardner Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014+/Senior Counsel: $64K |
April 13, 2021 | 1950 hours, annualized; catch-up payout available at year-end for those who miss the mark during the first bonus period | May 31, 2021 / November 30, 2021 |
| Katten Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014+/Counsel: $64K |
April 13, 2021 | 1900 hours annualized (including pro bono, firm citizenship, and firm legal work); firm is offering two catch-up payment periods (one in August, one in December) | May 2021 / September 2021 |
| Quinn Emanuel Class of 2020: $12K/$15K Class of 2014: $64K/$80K |
April 14, 2021 | 900 for 1/2 market bonus; 2000 hours for 3/4 market bonus; 2100 hours for market bonus; 2200+ hours for 125% of market bonus (hours measured based on the 12 months looking back from March 31, 2021 and September 30, 2021) | June 2021 / November 2021 |
| King & Spalding Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014+: $64K |
April 15, 2021 | 1950 hours, annualized; opportunity for catch-up bonus payments available if hourly thresholds are missed at reporting dates but later achieved | June 2021 / November 2021 |
| Jenner & Block Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014: $64K |
April 16, 2021 | 2000 hours, annualized (pro bono hours and other non-client work does not count toward bonus hours); catch-up bonus payment available if associate misses the mark for hourly threshold at reporting deadline | May 14, 2021 / December 31, 2021 |
| Holland & Knight Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014: $64K |
April 16, 2021 | 1900 hours, annualized (pro bono hours and other approved non-client will count toward bonus hours); catch-up bonus payment available if associate misses the mark for hourly threshold at first reporting deadline | June 2021 / November 2021 |
| Allen & Overy Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2013: $64K |
April 19, 2021 | None | June 2021 / Fall 2021 |
| Thompson & Knight Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014: $64K |
April 19, 2021 | 1900 creditable hours, annualized (no language about whether associates will receive an opportunity to be made whole if they catch up on their billable hours at a later time) | June 2021 / November 2021 |
| Reed Smith Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014: $64K |
April 20, 2021 | 1950 hours, annualized (including pro bono and other non-client work); catch-up payment available for associates who miss hourly threshold during first payment period | June 2021 / December 2021 |
| Troutman Pepper Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014+: $64K |
April 21, 2021 | 1950 hours, annualized (including client billable work, legal work for the firm, and up to 100 pro bono hours); catch-up payment available for associates who miss hourly threshold during first payment period | July 2021 / January 2022 |
| Linklaters Class of 2020: $12K Class of 2014+: $64K |
April 23, 2021 | None | June 30, 2021 / December 2021 |
| Dentons Tier 1: $12K Tier 9: $64K |
May 4, 2021 | 2000 creditable hours, annualized (those who hit 2250 hours or more will be entitled to a bonus boost); only associates on track to hit their minimum hours will receive bonus money; smaller bonus scale for associates located in Honolulu, Kansas City, and St. Louis (Tier 1: $9K; Tier 9: $48K) | July 2021 / January 2022 |
| Selendy & Gay Class of 2020: $13.8K Class of 2014+: $73.6K |
May 4, 2021 | None | May 31, 2021 / September 15, 2021 |
| Loeb & Loeb Tier 1: $12K Income Partner: $70K |
May 6, 2021 | 1950 hours, annualized; opportunity for a catch-up payment if you fail to meet the hours by the first payment date | June 15, 2021 / December 15, 2021 |
| Dorsey & Whitney 1800-1899 hours: $2.5K 2400 or more hours: $20K |
May 20, 2021 | Bonuses are strictly hours based, not by class year, and below market standard | June 2021 |
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Staci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.
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