Top 10 Biglaw Firm Gets On Board With Year-End And Special Bonuses
Extraordinary performance can also get associates extra cash.
Confidential
MEMORANDUM
| To: | All U.S. Associates |
| From: | The Management Committee |
| Re: | U.S. Associate Bonuses and Salary Increases |
| Date: | November 25, 2024 |
We and the rest of the partnership are grateful for your dedication and performance, which have again enabled us to provide the firm’s clients with the highest quality of professional service and have contributed to the firm’s continued success this year. We are pleased to again acknowledge your contributions with annual bonuses and salary increases. This year we are adding a separate special bonus as set forth below.
Associates with 2,000 qualifying hours will receive the base bonus reflected in the chart below. As in prior years, we also recognize associates who have higher productivity and/or exceptional performance with additional bonuses that exceed the base bonus amounts, resulting in those associates receiving more than the base bonus for their class year, and in some cases more than 50% above base bonus.
This year, for those associates with 2,000 qualifying hours, we will also award a one-time special bonus. Our 2024 base year-end bonus and special bonus amounts are as follows:
| Class Year | 2024 Year-end Bonus | Special Bonus |
| 2016 | $115,000 | $25,000 |
| 2017 | $115,000 | $25,000 |
| 2018 | $105,000 | $25,000 |
| 2019 | $90,000 | $25,000 |
| 2020 | $75,000 | $20,000 |
| 2021 | $57,500 | $15,000 |
| 2022 | $30,000 | $10,000 |
| 2023 | $20,000 | $6,000 |
In addition, the contributions of associates with productivity lower than our base bonus target, but who are otherwise in good standing, may be recognized with partial bonuses.
Annual bonuses continue to be discretionary, and general eligibility criteria remain the same as in past years. These year-end bonuses will be paid, as is our tradition, prior to December 31, 2024. In order to receive the bonus, associates must be in good standing and employed by the firm on the date of payment.
We also are pleased to announce our general associate salary scale for 2025.
| Class Year | 2025 Salary |
| 2016 | $445,000 |
| 2017 | $435,000 |
| 2018 | $420,000 |
| 2019 | $390,000 |
| 2020 | $365,000 |
| 2021 | $310,000 |
| 2022 | $260,000 |
| 2023 | $235,000 |
Once again, we thank you for your contributions to making Sidley an extraordinary place to practice law. Best wishes for the holidays and for the New Year.
