Associate Compensation Scorecard: Biglaw’s 2023 Cash Bash

Firm Salaries Bonuses Minimum Hours Bonus Payout Date Milbank
FIRST MOVER
November 7, 2023
December 5, 2023 (re-raise) Class of 2023: $225K
Class of 2016: $435K Class of 2023: $15K
Class of 2016: $115K None December 31, 2023 Wilkinson Stekloff
November 20, 2023 Undisclosed Class of 2023: $26.25K
Class of 2016+: $201.25K None December 15, 2023 Cravath
NEW MARKET LEADER
November 28, 2023 Class of 2023: $225K
Class of 2017: $420K Class of 2023: $15K
Class of 2017: $105K None December 15, 2023 McDermott
November 28, 2023 Class of 2023: $225K
Class of 2016+: $435K Class of 2023: $15K
Class of 2016+: $115K 2000 hours Undisclosed Paul Hastings
November 28, 2023 Class of 2023: $225K
Class of 2016+: $435K Class of 2023: $15K
Class of 2016+: $115K 2000 hours February 9, 2024 Paul, Weiss
November 29, 2023 Class of 2023: $225K
Class of 2016: $435K Class of 2023: $15K
Class of 2016: $115K
Addt’l discretionary bonuses in 2024 None Undisclosed Baker McKenzie
November 29, 2023 Class of 2024: $225K
Class of 2016+: $435K Class of 2022: $15K
Class of 2016+: $115K Undisclosed; Addt’l “premium” bonuses for those who “materially exceeded” billables February 9, 2024 Proskauer
November 29, 2023 Class of 2023: $225K
Class of 2015: $435K Class of 2023: $15K (pro-rated)
Class of 2015: $115K None December 22, 2023 Dechert
November 29, 2023 Class of 2023: $225K
Class of 2016+: $435K Class of 2022: $20K
Class of 2016+: $115K 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%) Undisclosed Hogan Lovells
November 29, 2023 Class of 2023: $225K
Class of 2016+: $435K Class of 2022: $20K
Class of 2016+: $115K 2000 hours (including up to 150 pro bono hours until associates meet 1850 hours, then unlimited pro bono hours, and including up to 50 D&I hours, if they have billed at least 1800 hours; additional bonuses available for those who exceed hours minimums) Last pay period in 2023 Skadden
November 29, 2023 Class of 2023: $225K
Class of 2016+: $435K Class of 2023: $15K
Class of 2016+: $115K or $125K 1800 “productive hours” (including unlimited pro bono time and up to 150 hours of productive non-billable work) Undisclosed Cleary
November 29, 2023 Class of 2023: $225K
Class of 2016+: $435K Class of 2023: $15K (pro-rated)
Class of 2016+: $115K None December 22, 2023 Sidley
November 30, 2023 Class of 2023: $225K
Class of 2015: $445K Class of 2022: $20K
Class of 2015+: $115K 2000 hours required for base bonuses; associates with “higher productivity and/or exceptional performance” will receive additional bonuses Prior to December 31, 2023 Davis Polk
November 30, 2023 Class of 2023: $225K
Class of 2016+: $435K Class of 2023: $15K
Class of 2016+: $115K None Undisclosed Fried Frank
November 30, 2023 Class of 2023: $225K
Class of 2016+: $435K Class of 2023: $15K (pro-rated)
Class of 2016+: $115K 1850-1999 hours for up to 25% of full bonus; 2000-2199 hours for full bonus; 2200-2449 hours for full bonus plus 15% premium; 2450+ hours for full bonus plus 30% premium; premiums range from $3,000 to $34,500 On or before December 31, 2023 Norton Rose Fulbright
November 30, 2023 Class of 2023: $225K
Class of 2016: $435K TBA Undisclosed TBA Mayer Brown
November 30, 2023 Class of 2023: $225K
Class of 2016: $435K Class of 2023: $15K (pro-rated)
Class of 2016+: $115K NY: 1900 client equivalent hours; Outside NY: 2000 hours for base bonus, stub years not included (1900 CE hours required); 2100 hours for $23K-$132.25K, 2200 hours for $24K-$138K, 2300 hours for $26K-$149.5K February 16, 2024 Kirkland
November 30, 2023 Class of 2023: $225K
Class of 2018: $390K TBA None TBA Willkie
November 30, 2023 Class of 2023: $225K
Class of 2016: $435K Class of 2023: $15K (pro-rated)
Class of 2016: $115K None December 29, 2023 Holwell Shuster
November 30, 2023 Class of 2023: $225K
Class of 2017: $420K Class of 2023: $15K (pro-rated)
Class of 2017: $105K None On or before December 31, 2023 Akin Gump
November 30, 2023 Class of 2023: $225K
Class of 2016+: $435K Class of 2023: $15K (pro-rated)
Class of 2016+: $115K 1950 hours (including pro bono hours, general counsel hours, business development hours, and up to 100 hours of time spent on recruiting, diversity & inclusion, and/or innovation activities); associates with “exceptional” performance will receive larger bonuses February 2024 O’Melveny
November 30, 2023 1st Year Assocs: $225K
3rd Year Counsel: $435K Class of 2022: $20K
Class of 2016+: $115K None Undisclosed Debevoise
November 30, 2023 Class of 2023: $225K
Class of 2016+: $435K Class of 2023: $15K (pro-rated)
Class of 2016+: $115K None Undisclosed Vinson & Elkins
November 30, 2023 Class of 2023: $225K
Class of 2016+: $435K Class of 2023: $15K (pro-rated)
Class of 2016+: $115K Based on hours and good standing; “supplemental bonuses” available for associates who had an “exceptional year” January 31, 2024 Simpson Thacher
November 30, 2023 Class of 2023: $225K
Class of 2016: $435K Class of 2023: $15K (pro-rated)
Class of 2016: $115K None December 29, 2023 Covington
December 1, 2023 Class of 2023: $225K
Class of 2016+: $435K Class of 2023: $15K (pro-rated)
Class of 2016+: $115K Undisclosed Undisclosed Baker Botts
December 1, 2023 Class of 2023: $225K
Class of 2016+: $435K Class of 2022: $20K
Class of 2016+: $115K Based on hours (“enhanced” bonuses available for “exceptional” performance) Undisclosed Yetter Coleman
December 1, 2023 Class of 2023: $225K
Class of 2017+: $420K Class of 2023: $15K (pro-rated)
Class of 2017+: $105K 1850 hours for partial bonus (including up to 100 pro bono hours); 2050 hours for full bonus (including up to 120 pro bono hours, up to 10 diversity & inclusion hours, and up to 10 professional development hours) December 18, 2023 Gibson Dunn
December 1, 2023 Class of 2023: $225K
Class of 2016+: $435K Class of 2023: $15K (pro-rated)
Class of 2016+: $115K Undisclosed Undisclosed Morgan Lewis
December 1, 2023 Class of 2023: $225K
Class of 2016: $435K Class of 2023: $15K (pro-rated)
Class of 2016: $115K 1900+ hours (20 of which must be pro bono hours) Undisclosed Clifford Chance
December 4, 2023 Class of 2023: $225K
Class of 2016+: $435K Class of 2023: $15K (pro-rated)
Class of 2016+: $115K None (based on overall performance, quality of work, contributions to firm, teamwork, and pro bono) January 12, 2024 AZA
December 4, 2023 Class of 2023: $225K
Class of 2020: $310K Class of 2023: $15K (pro-rated)
Class of 2020: $57.5K None (based on overall performance; elder class years also have the chance to receive salary and bonus matches, but they must be “strong performers”) Undisclosed Boies Schiller
December 4, 2023 Class of 2023: $225K
Class of 2016+: $435K Class of 2023: $15K (pro-rated)
Class of 2016+: $115K For market bonuses: 2000-2349 hours for regular bonus; 2350-2599 hours for extraordinary bonus (last year was $30K (pro-rated)-$150K); 2600+ hours for extra-extraordinary bonus (last year was $40K (pro-rated)-$165K); formula bonuses up to $300K or more) Week of December 4, 2023 Weil Gotshal
December 4, 2023 Class of 2023: $225K
Class of 2016+: $435K Class of 2023: $15K (pro-rated)
Class of 2016+: $115K None January 31, 2024 Fish & Richardson
December 4, 2023 A1: $225K
A7: $420K Individualized 2100 hours (including up to 200 pro bono/DEI hours) or strongest reviews based on quality of work; above-market bonuses for “a number of associates” Undisclosed Ropes & Gray
December 4, 2023 Class of 2023: $225K
Class of 2015+: $445K Class of 2023: $15K (pro-rated)
Class of 2015+: $130K 1900 creditable hours (increased bonuses for associates who annualized above hourly target) December 22, 2023 White & Case
December 4, 2023 Class of 2023: $225K
Class of 2016: $435K Class of 2023: $15K (pro-rated)
Class of 2016: $115K Eligibility criteria detailed in separate memo February 14, 2024 Winston & Strawn
December 4, 2023 Class of 2023: $225K
Class of 2016+: $435K Class of 2023: $15K (pro-rated)
Class of 2016+: $115K 2000 hours for market bonus (additional bonus money for associates who “substantially exceed” productivity goals) January 31, 2024 DLA Piper
December 5, 2023 Class of 2023: $225K
Class of 2016+: $435K Class of 2023: $15K (pro-rated)
Class of 2016+: $115K Based on seniority, performance rating (3, 4 or 5), and total bonus hours (2000 hours, 1850 of which must be client billable, with up to 150 approved non-billable hours, including pro bono, shadowing, and knowledge management hours); incremental increases for 2100+ hours Undisclosed Fenwick & West
December 5, 2023 Tier 1/Level 1: $225K
Tier 3: $420K+ Tier 1/Level 1: $15K
Tier 3: $115K 1950 hours (“Triple R” rewards for associates who bill 2100+ hours, ranging from $3K to $12K; condominium program rewards for associates who made “extraordinary contributions” to the firm) December 29, 2023 Cadwalader
December 6, 2023 Class of 2023: $225K
Class of 2015: $435K Class of 2023: $15K (pro-rated)
Class of 2015: $115K Additional bonuses “equal to 120% of [market bonuses]” for high billers with 2200 hours or more February 2024 Cahill
December 6, 2023 Class of 2023: $225K
Class of 2015: $435K Class of 2023: $15K (pro-rated)
Class of 2015: $115K Special bonuses ranging from $2.5K (class of 2022) to $40K (class of 2015) Undisclosed Massumi + Consoli LLP
December 6, 2023 Class Year 1: $225K
Class Year 6: $390K TBA 1900 hours (associates participate in “phantom equity” program that adds more bonus cash to their compensation) Undisclosed Arnold & Porter
December 7, 2023 Class of 2023: $225K
Class of 2016+: $435K Class of 2023: $15K (pro-rated)
Class of 2016+: $115K Based on hours (10% additional class-year bonus for 2400-2499 hours; 15% additional class-year bonus for 2500-2599 hours; 20% additional class-year bonus for 2600+ hours) January 31, 2024 Sheppard Mullin
December 7, 2023 A1: $225K
C2: $435K A1: $20K
C2: $115K 2000 hours for base bonus (associates who record 1950 hours will receive a partial bonuse; associates who record 2200 and 2400 hours will receive 110% and 120% of the market bonus) January 26, 2024 Herbert Smith Freehills
December 8, 2023 Class of 2023: $225K
Class of 2016: $435K Class of 2023: $15K (pro-rated)
Class of 2016: $115K Undisclosed January 12, 2024 Shearman & Sterling
December 8, 2023 Class of 2023: $225K
Class of 2016+: $435K Class of 2023: $15K (pro-rated)
Class of 2016+: $115K Undisclosed January 31, 2024 Freshfields
December 8, 2023 Class of 2023: $225K
Class of 2016+: $435K Class of 2023: $15K (pro-rated)
Class of 2016+: $115K None December 29, 2023 Susman Godfrey
December 11, 2023 Class of 2023: $225K
Class of 2016+: $435K Class of 2021: $150K
Class of 2014: $350K
(medians) None (all employees will also receive special bonuses on top of their year-end bonuses) Undisclosed Pillsbury
December 11, 2023 First-Years: $225K
Counsel: $435K First-Years: $15K (pro-rated)
Counsel: $115K Undisclosed (top performers at the firm could earn an additional super bonus ($50,000) on top of market bonuses) Undisclosed Ross Aronstam
December 12, 2023 Class of 2023: $225K
Class of 2016: $435K Class of 2023: $15K (pro-rated)
Class of 2016: $115K None December 15, 2023 Selendy Gay Elsberg
December 12, 2023 Class of 2023: $225K
Class of 2016+: $435K Class of 2023: $17.25K
Class of 2016+: $132.5K None (some associates will receive even more bonus money based on “holistic assessment of performance, hours, and commitment to the firm”; some associates received bonuses more than 60% above market) December 15, 2023 Hueston Hennigan
December 12, 2023 Class of 2023: $225K
Class of 2016+: $435K All associates in good standing reportedly received above-market bonuses (with some topping $200K) Based on class year, hours, and good standing Undisclosed