Salary Wars Scorecard: Firms That Have Announced Raises (2022)

Where does your firm stand when it comes to salary increases? Get all the latest updates here.

money briefcaseSince we broke the news of the new $215K salary scale for associates at large law firms in the United States — a trend that was started by Milbank on Thursday, January 20, 2022, just six months after the firm started the last salary war in 2021 — several firms have fallen in line and matched the scale, but dozens more firms have remained completely silent. Davis Polk finally decided to step in with more money for associates, and Cravath added even more money on top of that. Coupled with Cravath’s final say, maybe this Above the Law feature will encourage more firms to pay up. After all, the lateral scene is white-hot right now, and increased salaries will only encourage talent to remain loyal to their firms.

[Ed. note: This table was last updated on September 6.]

Today, we unveil a table of all of the firms that have already matched the new salary scale (or instituted raises, generally, because of the new salary scale) and the date those matches were made for your viewing pleasure. We will be updating this table on a daily basis, sometimes multiple times, as news on raises unfolds. If you see any information here that is incorrect or needs further 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.

Firm Date Matched
Milbank
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014: $385K $415K
FIRST MOVER
January 20, 2022
March 14, 2022 (re-raise)
Cadwalader
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014: $385K $396.5K $415K
Class of 2013+: $406.5K $425K
January 20, 2022
February 24, 2022 (re-raise)
March 9, 2022 (second re-raise)
McDermott Will & Emery
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014+: $385K $396.5K $415K
January 20, 2022
February 22, 2022 (re-raise)
March 1, 2022 (second re-raise)
Hueston Hennigan
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014+: $385K $396.5K $415K
January 20, 2022
February 23, 2022 (re-raise)
March 1, 2022 (second re-raise)
Fried Frank
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014+: $385K $396.5K $415K
January 21, 2022
February 25, 2022 (re-raise)
March 8, 2022 (second re-raise)
Steptoe
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014+: $385K $415K
January 21, 2022
June 22, 2022 (re-raise (effective 7/1, but those who are under the firm’s “utilization expectation” have been moved to “reduced utilization budgets and prorated compensation”))
McKool Smith
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014+: $385K $415K
January 21, 2022
April 5, 2022 (re-raise)
Goodwin
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014+: $385K $415K
January 21, 2022
March 7, 2022 (re-raise)
Irell
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014: $385K $396.5K $415K
January 21, 2022
February 25, 2022 (re-raise)
March 3, 2022 (second re-raise)
Loeb & Loeb
Tier 1: $205K
Tier 8: $340K
January 21, 2022
Baker McKenzie
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014+: $385K $396.5K $415K
January 24, 2022
February 24, 2022 (re-raise)
March 3, 2022 (second re-raise)
WilmerHale
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2013+ (counsel): $385K $415K
January 24, 2022
March 15, 2022 (re-raise)
Boies Schiller
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014+: $385K $415K
January 24, 2022
March 4, 2022 (re-raise)
Duval & Stachenfeld
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014+: $385K $415K
January 25, 2022
DLA Piper
Class of 2021 (Level 1): $215K
Class of 2014 (Level 3): $385K $415K
January 25, 2022
March 15, 2022 (re-raise)
Winston & Strawn
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014+: $385K
January 26, 2022
March 8, 2022 (re-raise)
Dovel & Luner
1st Year: $225K
6th Year: $360K
January 27, 2022
Elias Law Group
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014+: $385K
January 31, 2022
Axinn Veltrop
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014+: $385K
February 1, 2022
Norton Rose Fulbright
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014+: $385K $396.5K
February 4, 2022
February 28, 2022 (re-raise)
Morgan Lewis
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014: $415K
February 4, 2022 (firm is monitoring the market; will match prevailing scale (i.e., Cravath) effective April 2022, plus true-up “bonus” dating back to January 2022)
Cooley
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014: $385K $415K
February 7, 2022 (firm is reportedly issuing Milbank match raises during associate reviews)
February 15, 2022 (firm officially matches Milbank)
March 11, 2022 (re-raise)
Groom Law Group
1st Year: $215K
Eighth Year: $385K
February 9, 2022
Choate
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2013 2014+: $395K $415K
February 10, 2022
March 24, 2022 (re-raise)
Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors
1st Years: $235K
All Other Class Years: commensurate raises
February 15, 2022
Lynn Pinker Hurst & Schwegmann
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014: $385K
February 16, 2022
Gunderson Dettmer
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2013: $395K $425K
February 16, 2022
March 9, 2022 (re-raise)
Fenwick & West
T1/L1: $215K
T3: $370-385K+ $415K
February 18, 2022
March 7, 2022 (re-raise)
Wilson Sonsini
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2013 2014+: $395K $415K
February 18, 2022
March 23, 2022 (re-raise)
Davis Polk
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014+: $396.5K $415K
NEW MARKET LEADER
February 22, 2022
March 3, 2022 (re-raise)
Paul Weiss
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014+: $396.5K $415K
February 22, 2022
February 28, 2022 (re-raise)
Cleary
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014+: $396.5K $415K
February 23, 2022
March 2, 2022 (re-raise)
Kirkland & Ellis
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2016: $360.5K $370K
February 23, 2022
March 1, 2022 (re-raise)
Debevoise
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2013+: $406.5K $425K
February 23, 2022
March 1, 2022 (re-raise)
Ropes & Gray
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2013+: $406.5K $425K
February 23, 2022
March 2, 2022 (re-raise)
Dechert
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014+: $396.5K $415K
February 23, 2022
March 8, 2022 (re-raise)
Simpson Thacher
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014: $396.5K $415K
February 23, 2022
March 2, 2022 (re-raise)
Willkie
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014+: $396.5K $415K
February 23, 2022
March 14, 2022 (re-raise)
Skadden
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014+: $396.5K $415K
February 23, 2022
March 2, 2022 (re-raise)
Proskauer
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014+: $396.5K
February 23, 2022
March 7, 2022 (re-raise)
O’Melveny
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014: $396.5K $415K
February 23, 2022
March 3, 2022 (re-raise)
Linklaters
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014+: $396.5K $415K
February 24, 2022
March 7, 2022 (re-raise)
Schulte Roth & Zabel
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2013: $406.5K $425K
February 24, 2022
March 9, 2022 (re-raise)
Freshfields
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014+: $396.5K $415K
February 24, 2022
March 7, 2022 (re-raise)
Sidley Austin
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014: $396.5K $415K
February 24, 2022
March 2, 2022 (re-raise)
Vinson & Elkins
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014: $396.5K $415K
February 24, 2022
March 3, 2022 (re-raise)
Selendy Gay Elsberg
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014+: $396.5K $415K
February 24, 2022
April 12, 2022 (re-raise)
Kramer Levin
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2013+: $406.5K $420K
February 24, 2022
March 8, 2022 (re-raise)
Clifford Chance
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014+: $396.5K $415K
February 25, 2022
March 8, 2022 (re-raise)
Weil Gotshal
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014: $396.5K $415K
February 25, 2022
March 7, 2022 (re-raise)
Gibson Dunn
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014: $396.5K $415K
February 27, 2022
March 14, 2022 (re-raise)
Paul Hastings
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014+: $396.5K $415K
February 28, 2022
March 3, 2022 (re-raise)
Allen & Overy
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014: $396.5K $415K
February 28, 2022
March 8, 2022 (re-raise)
Stroock
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014+: $396.5K $415K
February 28, 2022
March 21, 2022 (re-raise)
Akin Gump
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014+: $396.5K $415K
February 28, 2022
March 11, 2022 (re-raise)
Jenner & Block
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2015: $381K $400K
February 28, 2022
March 7, 2022 (re-raise)
Cravath
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014: $415K
NEW MARKET LEADER
February 28, 2022
Quinn Emanuel
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014: $415K
February 28, 2022
Latham
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2013+: $425K
March 1, 2022
Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014+: $396.5K $415K
March 2, 2022
March 15, 2022 (re-raise)
Foley Hoag
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014+: $415K
March 3, 2022
Kaplan Hecker & Fink
Class of 2021: $220K
Class of 2014+: $425K
Mid-Year Bonuses
Class of 2021: $5K
Class of 2014+: $15K
March 3, 2022
Tensegrity
Class of 2021: $220K
Class of 2013+: $425K
March 3, 2022
White & Case
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014+: $415K
March 4, 2022
Shearman & Sterling
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014+: $415K
March 4, 2022
Covington & Burling
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014+: $415K
March 4, 2022
Orrick
Associate Year 1: $215K
Senior Associate Year 2+: $415K
March 4, 2022
Cahill
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014+: $415K
March 4, 2022
Holwell Shuster & Goldberg
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014+: $415K
March 4, 2022
Mayer Brown
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014+: $415K
March 8, 2022
Sheppard Mullin
Associate 1: $215K
Counsel 2: $415K
March 8, 2022
Kellogg Hansen
Year 1: $255K
Year 6+: $420K
March 9, 2022
Katten Muchin
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2015+: $400K
March 10, 2022
Hogan Lovells
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014+: $415K
March 11, 2022
Desmarais LLP
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014: $415K
Spring Bonuses
Class of 2021: $7.5K
Class of 2014: $20K
March 11, 2022
King & Spalding
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2015+: $400K+
March 14, 2022
Keker Van Nest & Peters
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014+: $415K+
March 14, 2022
Mintz
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014+: $415K+
March 15, 2022
Morrison & Foerster (MoFo)
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014+: $415K+
March 15, 2022
Sullivan & Cromwell
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014+: $415K+
March 17, 2022
Perkins Coie
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014+: $415K
March 18, 2022
Pillsbury
1st Years: $215K
Counsel: $415K
March 21, 2022
Wilkinson Stekloff
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014+: $415K
March 21, 2022
Holland & Knight
L1: $215K
L8+: $415K
March 22, 2022
Fish & Richardson
A1: $215K
A7: $400K
March 22, 2022 (must bill 2000 hours)
Hunton Andrews Kurth
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014+: $415K
Special Bonuses
Class of 2020: $4K
Class of 2014+: $23K
March 24, 2022
Alston & Bird
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2015+: $400K
March 24, 2022
Brown Rudnick
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2015+: $370K
March 25, 2022
Baker Botts
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014+: $415K
March 25, 2022
Haynes & Boone
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014: $415K
March 25, 2022
Lowenstein Sandler
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2020: $225K
Class of 2019: $250K
All Other Class Years: Individualized
March 25, 2022
Jones Day
Class of 2021: $225K
All Other Years: Black Box
March 28, 2022
Seward & Kissel
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014+: $415K
March 31, 2022
Cohen Ziffer
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014: $415K
April 15, 2022
Yetter Coleman
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014+: $415K
April 18, 2022
Ross Aronstam
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014: $415K
April 27, 2022
Norton Rose Fulbright
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014: $415K
May 3, 2022
Foley & Lardner
Tier 1/Class of 2021/22: $215K
Senior Counsel: $400K
May 18, 2022
BakerHostetler
Class of 2021: $215K
All Other Class Years: Commensurate raises
May 26, 2022
Wiley Rein
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014: $415K
June 1, 2022
Kasowitz
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014: $415K
June 2, 2022
Bilzin Sumberg
Class of 2021: $215K
All Other Years: Merit-Based Black Box
June 24, 2022
Bracewell
Class of 2021: $215K
Class of 2014: $415K
August 30, 2022
Littler
Raises for all class years, ranging from $10K to $65K (depending on seniority)
Early October 2022

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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