Elite West Coast Firm Adopts Davis Polk Salary Scale

California firms are making their voices heard during this round of raises.

Money transfer concept – $100 US dollar banknote with blurred motion effect.Way back in January, when Milbank first announced its new salary scale, which ranged from $215,000 to $385,000, Biglaw firms couldn’t really be counted on to match that money. Boutique firms, on the other hand, jumped at the chance to offer associates more money, perhaps as a way to differentiate themselves and strike while the iron was hot during a time of increased lateral activity.

Now that Biglaw firms are falling all over themselves to match the new Davis Polk salary scale, which ranges from $215,000 to $396,500, the boutiques have been a little more quiet about making additional money moves — until now.

Hueston Hennigan, an elite California-based firm, is the first boutique to match the DPW scale. If you recall, the firm was also one of the very first to match the Milbank scale. This is what salaries now look like at the firm:

Hueston Hennigan Salary Scale 2022

Brian Hennigan, the firm’s managing partner, included this spirit-lifting note when notifying associates that the firm had matched the prevailing salary scale:

“We know how hard you all have been working and continue to work. Our successes are due to the effort you exert, and skill you display, on behalf of our clients. Please know we see, appreciate, and respect your work.”

Congratulations to everyone at the firm!

(Flip to the next page to read the full memo from Hueston Hennigan.)

Remember everyone, we depend on your tips to stay on top of this stuff. So when your firm matches, please text us (646-820-8477) or email us (subject line: “[Firm Name] Matches”). 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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Staci ZaretskyStaci 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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