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.
Since 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: |
FIRST MOVER January 20, 2022 March 14, 2022 (re-raise) |
| Cadwalader Class of 2021: $215K Class of 2014: Class of 2013+: |
January 20, 2022 February 24, 2022 (re-raise) March 9, 2022 (second re-raise) |
| McDermott Will & Emery Class of 2021: $215K Class of 2014+: |
January 20, 2022 February 22, 2022 (re-raise) March 1, 2022 (second re-raise) |
| Hueston Hennigan Class of 2021: $215K Class of 2014+: |
January 20, 2022 February 23, 2022 (re-raise) March 1, 2022 (second re-raise) |
| Fried Frank Class of 2021: $215K Class of 2014+: |
January 21, 2022 February 25, 2022 (re-raise) March 8, 2022 (second re-raise) |
| Steptoe Class of 2021: $215K Class of 2014+: |
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+: |
January 21, 2022 April 5, 2022 (re-raise) |
| Goodwin Class of 2021: $215K Class of 2014+: |
January 21, 2022 March 7, 2022 (re-raise) |
| Irell Class of 2021: $215K Class of 2014: |
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+: |
January 24, 2022 February 24, 2022 (re-raise) March 3, 2022 (second re-raise) |
| WilmerHale Class of 2021: $215K Class of 2013+ (counsel): |
January 24, 2022 March 15, 2022 (re-raise) |
| Boies Schiller Class of 2021: $215K Class of 2014+: |
January 24, 2022 March 4, 2022 (re-raise) |
| Duval & Stachenfeld Class of 2021: $215K Class of 2014+: |
January 25, 2022 |
| DLA Piper Class of 2021 (Level 1): $215K Class of 2014 (Level 3): |
January 25, 2022 March 15, 2022 (re-raise) |
| Winston & Strawn Class of 2021: $215K Class of 2014+: |
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+: |
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: |
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 |
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: |
February 16, 2022 March 9, 2022 (re-raise) |
| Fenwick & West T1/L1: $215K T3: |
February 18, 2022 March 7, 2022 (re-raise) |
| Wilson Sonsini Class of 2021: $215K Class of |
February 18, 2022 March 23, 2022 (re-raise) |
| Davis Polk Class of 2021: $215K Class of 2014+: |
February 22, 2022 March 3, 2022 (re-raise) |
| Paul Weiss Class of 2021: $215K Class of 2014+: |
February 22, 2022 February 28, 2022 (re-raise) |
| Cleary Class of 2021: $215K Class of 2014+: |
February 23, 2022 March 2, 2022 (re-raise) |
| Kirkland & Ellis Class of 2021: $215K Class of 2016: |
February 23, 2022 March 1, 2022 (re-raise) |
| Debevoise Class of 2021: $215K Class of 2013+: |
February 23, 2022 March 1, 2022 (re-raise) |
| Ropes & Gray Class of 2021: $215K Class of 2013+: |
February 23, 2022 March 2, 2022 (re-raise) |
| Dechert Class of 2021: $215K Class of 2014+: |
February 23, 2022 March 8, 2022 (re-raise) |
| Simpson Thacher Class of 2021: $215K Class of 2014: |
February 23, 2022 March 2, 2022 (re-raise) |
| Willkie Class of 2021: $215K Class of 2014+: |
February 23, 2022 March 14, 2022 (re-raise) |
| Skadden Class of 2021: $215K Class of 2014+: |
February 23, 2022 March 2, 2022 (re-raise) |
| Proskauer Class of 2021: $215K Class of 2014+: |
February 23, 2022 March 7, 2022 (re-raise) |
| O’Melveny Class of 2021: $215K Class of 2014: |
February 23, 2022 March 3, 2022 (re-raise) |
| Linklaters Class of 2021: $215K Class of 2014+: |
February 24, 2022 March 7, 2022 (re-raise) |
| Schulte Roth & Zabel Class of 2021: $215K Class of 2013: |
February 24, 2022 March 9, 2022 (re-raise) |
| Freshfields Class of 2021: $215K Class of 2014+: |
February 24, 2022 March 7, 2022 (re-raise) |
| Sidley Austin Class of 2021: $215K Class of 2014: |
February 24, 2022 March 2, 2022 (re-raise) |
| Vinson & Elkins Class of 2021: $215K Class of 2014: |
February 24, 2022 March 3, 2022 (re-raise) |
| Selendy Gay Elsberg Class of 2021: $215K Class of 2014+: |
February 24, 2022 April 12, 2022 (re-raise) |
| Kramer Levin Class of 2021: $215K Class of 2013+: |
February 24, 2022 March 8, 2022 (re-raise) |
| Clifford Chance Class of 2021: $215K Class of 2014+: |
February 25, 2022 March 8, 2022 (re-raise) |
| Weil Gotshal Class of 2021: $215K Class of 2014: |
February 25, 2022 March 7, 2022 (re-raise) |
| Gibson Dunn Class of 2021: $215K Class of 2014: |
February 27, 2022 March 14, 2022 (re-raise) |
| Paul Hastings Class of 2021: $215K Class of 2014+: |
February 28, 2022 March 3, 2022 (re-raise) |
| Allen & Overy Class of 2021: $215K Class of 2014: |
February 28, 2022 March 8, 2022 (re-raise) |
| Stroock Class of 2021: $215K Class of 2014+: |
February 28, 2022 March 21, 2022 (re-raise) |
| Akin Gump Class of 2021: $215K Class of 2014+: |
February 28, 2022 March 11, 2022 (re-raise) |
| Jenner & Block Class of 2021: $215K Class of 2015: |
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+: |
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 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.
