It's Time For Bonuses That Are WAY Above Market At This Biglaw Firm

Plus, spring bonuses are still on the table. Great news!

Time is money billable hoursWe’re more than halfway through Hanukkah, Christmas is nearly upon us, and Biglaw bonus season is still going strong. In fact, it’s going really strong at some firms. Irell & Manella is making sure that its associates end the year on a high note with bountiful bonuses.

Irell pulled in $143,500,000 gross revenue in 2021, putting it in 184th place on the Am Law 200 ranking. Once again, the firm is offering its associates major bonus bucks. “In consideration of your exceptional contributions to the firm’s success over the last year, we are thrilled to once again be paying bonuses that are substantially above market at all associate class levels,” writes partner Keith Orso, who serves on the firm’s management committee. “More specifically, while the exact ratios vary by class level, our total bonuses across the associate classes this calendar year (spring plus end of year 2022) average more than twice (2x) the total ‘market’ bonuses being paid by most other high-end firms this year.” Here’s the bonus scale the firm is offering up in 2022:

  • New Associate: $39,000 (pro-rated)
  • Class of 2021: $39,000
  • Class of 2020: $51,000
  • Class of 2019: $89,000
  • Class of 2018: $110,000
  • Class of 2017: $128,000
  • Class of 2016: $156,000
  • Class of 2015: $168,000

But that’s not all, folks. Irell is continuing to offer spring bonuses to associates, based on profit sharing. In April or May, bonus-eligible associates will receive supplemental bonuses when the firm’s fiscal year has closed. Associates will receive their bonuses on December 27, which will put a cap on their holiday season and make for an even happier new year.

Congratulations on the above-market bonuses, Irell associates!

(Flip to the next page to see the memo from Irell & Manella.)

Remember everyone, we depend on your tips to stay on top of important bonus updates, so when your firm announces or 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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