The compensation wave keeps rolling, and this time it’s coming out of Texas.
Vartabedian Katz Hester Haynes, the fast-growing complex commercial litigation boutique with offices in Dallas, Fort Worth, and Houston, has matched the new Milbank salary scale, effective July 1, 2026. The firm, known around these parts as VKHH, sent associates a memo signed by all four name partners — Rob Vartabedian, Marc Katz, Conrad Hester, and Craig Haynes — and the numbers are nothing to sneeze at.
Here’s the new VKHH scale:
| Class Year | New Scale |
|---|---|
| 2025/2026 | $235,000 |
| 2024 | $245,000 |
| 2023 | $270,000 |
| 2022 | $320,000 |
| 2021 | $385,000 |
| 2020 | $410,000 |
| 2019 | $440,000 |
| 2018+ | $455,000 |
Junior associates see a $10,000 bump; mid-levels and seniors are picking up $20,000. That is the full Milbank match, and it comes with a memo that’s notably warm in tone. The partners wrote that VKHH is “in the midst of a second quarter that will be the strongest in the Firm’s history by a wide margin, from both a productivity and financial performance standpoint,” which is the kind of thing you love to read before your salary goes up.
A tipster at the firm told ATL, “Not surprised we matched quickly, associates are treated very well here, and the 1800-hour requirement is real.”
And this isn’t the first time VKHH has put its money where its mouth is on associate compensation. Back when the firm was still known as Vartabedian Hester & Haynes, it handed out summer bonuses to all attorneys and staff at a time when Biglaw hadn’t yet stirred on the bonus front.
VKHH is a young firm, founded in early 2024, so matching Milbank this fast is a statement. As the partners put it: “We look forward to continuing this momentum in the second half of the year.”
Congratulations to the associates at Vartabedian Katz Hester Haynes, y’all are having a good summer.
Remember everyone, we depend on your tips to stay on top of compensation updates. When your firm matches, please text us (646-820-8477) or email us (subject line: “[Firm Name] Matches”). Memo preferred, photo works just fine.
Read the full memo below.
Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter @Kathryn1 or Bluesky @Kathryn1