Since we broke the news of the market bonus scale for associates at large law firms in the United States — a trend that was started by Cravath on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, and included Milbank’s special summer bonuses — firms are falling in line to match the scale. When will your firm announce its bonuses?
Today, for your viewing pleasure, we unveil a table of all of the firms that have already matched the bonus scale, the date those matches were made, the minimum hours required to receive bonuses (if available), and the date bonuses will be paid. We will be updating this table on a daily basis, sometimes multiple times, as news on bonuses unfolds. If you see any information here that is incorrect or needs clarification, let us know.
We are covering this trend extensively, so please drop us a line — text (646-820-8477) or email (subject line: “[Firm Name] Matches”) — when you know of a firm making a compensation move. 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. Sources are kept confidential.
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| Firm | Date Matched | Minimum Hours | Payout Date |
| Cravath Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2018: $115K / $25K |
November 18, 2025 | None | December 12, 2025 |
| Paul Hastings Class of 2024: $20K / $6K Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K |
November 18, 2025 | 2000 hours | Undisclosed |
| Cadwalader Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2017: $115K / $25K |
November 18, 2054 | Additional bonuses “equal to 120% of [market bonuses]” for high billers with 2200 hours or more | By or before end of February 2026 |
| Fried Frank Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K |
November 19, 2025 | 1850 hours for special bonus (including billable, pro bono, qualified nonbillable, and firm matter hours); associates eligible for “premium” bonus ranging from $3K to $34.5K for 2200 hours or 2450 hours | On or before December 31, 2025 |
| McDermott Will & Schulte Class of 2025: $0 / $6K (prorated) Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K |
November 19, 2025 | 2000 hours (merit bonuses available for eligible associates; “two-thirds” of legacy MWE associates will see bonuses above market) | December 26, 2025 (legacy MWE) / January 16, 2026 (legacy SRZ) |
| Dechert Class of 2024: $20K / $6K Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K |
November 19, 2025 | 1950 hours (client billable, pro bono, firm as client, maximum of 50 community hours); associates who exceeded hours expectations eligible to receive an “extraordinary” bonus (i.e., 2200 hours = addt’l 30%; 2400+ hours = addt’l 40%) | By or before end of January 2026 |
| Wilkinson Stekloff Class of 2025: $22.5K / $0 spring bonus Class of 2017+: $172.5K / $60K spring bonus |
November 19, 2025 | None | By December 15, 2025 |
| Ropes & Gray Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2017+: $130K / $25K |
November 20, 2024 | 1900 creditable hours (bonuses “may be increased up to 150% of the year-end bonus amounts” for those who have billed “materially more” than 1900 hours) | Undisclosed |
| Hogan Lovells Class of 2024: $20K / $6K Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K |
November 20, 2025 | 2000 hours; additional bonuses available include incremental hours-based bonuses, discretionary bonuses, and business-generation bonuses | End of December 2025 |
| Vartabedian Hester & Haynes Class of 2025: $21K (total bonus, including $5K summer bonus) Class of 2018: $140K (total bonus, including $5K summer bonus) |
November 20, 2025 | 1800 hours | On or before December 31, 2025 |
| Paul Weiss Class of 2025: $15K / $6K Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K |
November 21, 2025 | None (additional discretionary bonuses for “outsized contributions”) | December 22, 2025; discretionary bonuses to be paid in early 2026 |
| Proskauer Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2017: $115K / $25K |
November 21, 2025 | 2000 hours | On or before December 24, 2025 |
| Baker Botts Class of 2024: $20K / $6K Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K |
November 21, 2025 | 2000 hours (1800 client billable hours and 200 non-client billable hours, including pro bono, business development, etc.); “enhanced” bonuses available for “exceptional” performance | Undisclosed |
| Davis Polk Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K |
November 21, 2025 | None | December 30, 2025 |
| White & Case Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2018: $115K / $25K |
November 21, 2025 | Eligibility criteria detailed in separate memo | February 13, 2026 |
| Debevoise Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K |
November 21, 2025 | None | Undisclosed |
| Skadden Class of 2025: $15K / $6K Class of 2018+: $115K or $125K / $25K |
November 21, 2025 | 1800 “productive hours” (including unlimited pro bono time and up to 150 hours of productive non-billable work) | December 15, 2025 |
| Cleary Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K |
November 21, 2025 | None | December 19, 2025 |
| A&O Shearman Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K |
November 21, 2025 | 2000 hours (including a minimum of 25 pro bono hours and up to 100 investment hours (e.g., DEI/mental health; personal development/training; community involvement; management & talent development; knowledge development; origination, client relationships, business development; and market innovation group)); associates eligible for an “enhanced year-end bonus” if they “significantly exceed” the firm’s hourly requirements | Undisclosed |
| Covington Class of 2025: $15K / $6K Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K |
November 21, 2025 | 1950 hours (including pro bono and up to 50 DEI hours) | January 2026 |
| Vinson & Elkins Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K |
November 24, 2025 | Based on hours and good standing | On or about January 30, 2026 |
| Simpson Thacher Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2018: $115K / $25K |
November 24, 2025 | Undisclosed | December 2025 |
| Morgan Lewis Class of 2024: $20K / $6K Class of 2018: $115K / $25K |
November 24, 2025 | 1900+ hours (20 of which must be pro bono hours) | January 2026 |
| Milbank Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (paid 9/25) Class of 2017: $115K / $25K (paid 9/25) |
November 24, 2025 | None | December 31, 2025 |
| Willkie Farr Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K |
November 24, 2025 | None | December 31, 2025 |
| Weil Gotshal Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K |
November 25, 2025 | None | January 30, 2026 |
| Holwell Shuster Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2018: $115K / $25K |
November 25, 2025 | None | On or before December 31, 2025 |
| Linklaters Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K |
November 26, 2025 | 1900 hours (including unlimited pro bono, up to 400 hours of marketing, and other work) | Undisclosed |
| Clifford Chance Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K |
November 26, 2025 | None (based on overall performance, quality of work, contributions to firm, teamwork, and pro bono) | January 15, 2026 |
| Perkins Coie Class of 2025: $6K Class of 2018+: $25K |
November 26, 2025 | Undisclosed; year-end bonuses announced separately | December 31, 2025 |
| Sidley Class of 2024: $15K / $6K Class of 2017: $115K / $25K |
December 1, 2025 | 2000 hours required for base bonuses; associates with “higher productivity and/or exceptional performance” will receive additional bonuses, in some cases “more than 50% above base bonus” | Prior to December 31, 2025 |
| Sheppard Mullin A1: $15K / $6K C2: $115K / $25K |
December 2, 2025 | 2000 hours for base bonus (associates who record 1950 hours will receive a partial bonus; associates who record 2200 and 2400 hours will receive 110% and 120% of the market bonus); 2000 hours for special bonus | January 16, 2026 |
| McKool Smith Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2018: $115K / $25K |
December 2, 2025 | Undisclosed; high billers will receive additional bonus money, with some exceeding the market scale more than 35%; firm previously awarded Thanksgiving bonuses based on tenure at the firm (ranging from $2.5K to $10K) | December 19, 2025 |
| Cahill Class of 2025: $15K / $7.5K (prorated) Class of 2017: $115K / $40K |
December 4, 2025 | Undisclosed; select associates in Classes of 2018-2022 who have demonstrated “extraordinary” performance eligible for a “super bonus” up to $200K (based on performance and seniority) in lieu of special bonus | Second half of January 2026 |
| Katten Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K |
December 4, 2025 | 2000 hours (2100 hours for $16.5K-$126.5K; 2200 hours for $18K-$138K; 2300 hours for $19.5K-$149.5K; 2400 hours for $22.5K-$172.5K); additional “superstar” bonuses available | Undisclosed |
| Orrick Assoc Year 1: $15K / $6K (prorated) Senior Assoc Year 2+: $115K / $25K |
December 4, 2025 | Overmarket merit bonuses for those who have displayed “exceptional performance” | December 31, 2025 (special bonuses); mid-February 2025 (merit bonuses) |
| Morrison & Foerster Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K |
December 4, 2025 | Undisclosed; high hours bonus of 10/20/40% of base by class year ($16.5K (prorated) to $161K) and merit incentive bonus of 10/20% of base + high hours by class year ($16.5K (prorated) to $193.2K) also available; potential bonus total by class year of $21K to $218.2K | February 13, 2026 |
| Kellogg Hansen Assoc Year 1: $65K median / $75K high / $30K special Assoc Year 6: $225K median/$300K high / $55K special Of Counsel: $60K |
December 9, 2025; December 10, 2025 | Undisclosed; year-end bonuses announced separately | Undisclosed |
| Yetter Coleman Class of 2025: $21K (prorated) Class of 2018+: $140K |
December 9, 2025 | Undisclosed; bonuses expected to be “significantly higher” than market for “almost all” associates | December 11, 2025 |
| Dunn Isaacson Rhee Bonuses ranging from $21K to $140K (based on seniority) / Special bonus $35K for all class years |
December 9, 2025 | Undisclosed | Undisclosed |
| Boies Schiller Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K |
December 10, 2025 | 2000 hours for associates on the “market” system; more than 88% of associates received bonuses as high as, and in most cases higher than market system bonuses; some junior associates received bonuses of $200K+ or $300K+, top associate bonuses were more than 8 times what they would have received under the market system | December 12, 2025 |
| Ross Aronstam Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K |
December 10, 2025 | None | Undisclosed |
| Sullivan & Cromwell Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K |
December 10, 2025 | Undisclosed | Before Christmas 2025 |
| Freshfields Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K |
December 10, 2025 | Undisclosed | December 30, 2025 |
| Perry Law Class of 2025: $20K / $6K Class of 2018: $120K / $25K |
December 10, 2025 | Undisclosed | By or before the end of December 2025 |
| Pallas Partners Class of 2024: $20K / $6K Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K |
December 11, 2025 | 2000 hours for base bonus; step up bonuses for all class years and counsel based on hours (2100 hours for 15% more; 2200 hours for 30% more; 2350 hours for 50% more; 2400 hours for 60% more; 2500 hours for 80% more) | Undisclosed |
| Axinn Class of 2025: $20K (prorated) / $6K (prorated) Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K |
December 11, 2025 | 2000 hours (some associates earned bonuses of up to $100K above market; others earned total bonuses of up to $240K) | December 19, 2025 |
| Elsberg Baker & Maruri Class of 2025: $26.25K / $6K Class of 2015+: $201.25K / $25K |
December 11, 2025 | Undisclosed | December 19, 2025 |
| Cohen Ziffer Class of 2024: $20K / $6K Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K |
December 12, 2025 | Undisclosed | December 19, 2025 |
| Bursor & Fisher Class of 2024: $50K Class of 2023+: $100K+ |
December 12, 2025 | Undisclosed; bonuses are based on business origination and revenue; highest bonus awarded was $770K+ | Undisclosed |
| Glenn Agre Class of 2025: $15K (prorated) / $6K (prorated) Class of 2018: $115K / $25K |
December 12, 2025 | Undisclosed; associates will be eligible to receive a “premium” above base bonuses if they’ve shown “extraordinary dedication and/or performance” this year | December 19, 2025 |
| Massumi + Consoli Class of 2025: $2.5K / $1.5K Class of 2017: $115K / $25K |
December 15, 2025 | 1900 hours | December 19, 2025 |
| Goodwin Class of 2024: $20K / $6K Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K |
December 15, 2025 | 1900 hours (including pro bono hours and up to 100 hours of culture & innovation hours); counsel eligible for $25K special bonus as well as individualized bonuses; department and discovery attorneys eligible for $6K special bonus; individualized bonuses for all Global Operations Team members | January 30, 2026 |
| Susman Godfrey Class of 2023: $130K (median) Class of 2016: $280K (median) |
December 16, 2025 | None | Undisclosed |
| Arnold & Porter Class of 2025: $15K (prorated) / $6K (prorated) Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K |
December 16, 2025 | 2000-2199 hours (1800 billable) for year-end bonus; 2200-2399 hours (2000 billable) for special bonus | Undisclosed |
| Selendy Gay Class of 2025: $17.25K / $6K Class of 2018+: $132.25K / $25K |
December 16, 2025 | None (some associates will receive even more bonus money based on performance, hours, and firm citizenship; some associates received bonuses more than 50% above market) | Undisclosed |
| Irell & Manella Class of 2025: $45K (prorated) / N/A Class of 2017+: $175K / $42K |
December 16, 2025 | Undisclosed | December 19, 2025 |
| Gjerset & Lorenz Class of 2025: $21K Class of 2018: $140K |
December 16, 2025 | 1900 hours for base bonus; 2000 hours for $26K-$180K bonus; 2100 hours for $34K-$200K bonus; 2200 hours for $41K-$215K bonus; maximum potential bonuses of $61K-$355K; additional bonuses of up to $160K to be paid out over the next four quarters, with the first installment on March 31, 2026 | December 19, 2025 |
| Groombridge Wu Class of 2025: $30K Class of 2018: $155K |
December 17, 2025 | Undisclosed | Undisclosed |
| Foley & Lardner Tier I, Year 1 (2024): $20K / $6K Sr. Counsel: $115K / $25K |
December 17, 2025 | 1950 hours for partial special bonus (ranging from $3K to $12.5K); 2000 hours for partial year-end bonus (ranging from $12.5K to $65K); 2000 hours for market special bonus; 2100 hours for market year-end bonus; 2200 hours for above-market year-end bonus (ranging from $40K to $140K) | End of January 2026 |
| HSF Kramer Class of 2024: $20K / $6K Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K |
December 17, 2025 | Undisclosed | February 13, 2026 |
| Hueston Hennigan | December 17, 2025 | All associates in good standing reportedly received above-market bonuses, and in some cases, near or more than double the market bonus | Undisclosed |
| WilmerHale Class of 2025: $15K (prorated) / $6K (prorated) Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K |
December 18, 2025 | Undisclosed | Undisclosed |
| Seward & Kissel Class of 2024: $15K / $7.5K Class of 2018+: $115K / $40K |
December 18, 2025 | 2000 total hours for year-end bonus, with at least 1850 billable hours and up to 150 qualified non-billable hours; 2200 total hours for special bonus, with at least 2050 billable hours and up to 150 qualified non-billable hours; special contribution bonus for associates who exceed the billable hours req for special bonus (based on hours by which they exceed target of 2200) | First quarter of 2026 |
| King & Spalding Class of 2025: $15K (prorated) / $6K (prorated) Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K |
December 19, 2025 | Undisclosed | Undisclosed |
| Haynes Boone Class of 2025: $15K (prorated) / $6K (prorated) Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K |
December 19, 2025 | 2000 creditable hours (billable hours and 100 pro bono hours, plus up to 50 inclusion & engagement hours); all associates eligible to receive “catch-up” bonuses if their performance later meets hourly standards | Undisclosed |
| Alston & Bird Class of 2025: $15K (prorated) / $6K (prorated) Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K |
December 19, 2025 | 2000 hours for base bonus and special bonus | Undisclosed |
| Rolnick Kramer Sadighi Class of 2025: $15K (prorated) / $6K (prorated) Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K |
December 22, 2025 | Undisclosed; the firm reportedly awarded associate bonuses that in some cases were “significantly” above market | Undisclosed |
| DLA Piper Class of 2024: $20K / $6K Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K |
December 24, 2025 | Bonus eligibility based on seniority, performance rating, productivity (the firm has a 2000-hour billable goal), compliance with firm policies, and good standing status; 2000 hours for special bonus; enhanced bonuses available for those with qualifying performance ratings, as well as associates who billed more than 2000 hours (additional bonus increases for each 100 billable hour threshold they meet, up to 2700 hours) | December 26, 2025 and early February 2025 |
Staci Zaretsky is the managing editor of 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 Bluesky, X/Twitter, and Threads, or connect with her on LinkedIn.