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