Since
we
broke
the
news
of
the
market
bonus
scale
for
associates
at
large
law
firms
in
the
United
States
—
a
trend
that
was
started
Cravath
on
Tuesday,
November
18,
2025,
and
included
Milbank’s
special
summer
bonuses
—
firms
are
falling
in
line
to
match
the
scale.
When
will
your
firm
announce
its
bonuses?
Today,
for
your
viewing
pleasure,
we
unveil
a
table
of
all
of
the
firms
that
have
already
matched
the
bonus
scale,
the
date
those
matches
were
made,
the
minimum
hours
required
to
receive
bonuses
(if
available),
and
the
date
bonuses
will
be
paid.
We
will
be
updating
this
table
on
a
daily
basis,
sometimes
multiple
times,
as
news
on
bonuses
unfolds.
If
you
see
any
information
here
that
is
incorrect
or
needs
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.
Don’t
forget,
if
you’d
like
to
sign
up
for
ATL’s
Bonus
Alerts,
please
enter
your
email
address
in
the
box
below.
If
you
previously
signed
up
for
the
bonus
alerts,
you
don’t
need
to
do
anything.
You’ll
receive
an
email
notification
within
minutes
of
each
compensation
announcement
that
we
publish.
Cheers
to
a
happy
bonus
and
raise
season,
everyone!
|
Firm |
Date Matched |
Minimum Hours |
Payout Date |
|
Cravath Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2018: $115K / $25K |
November 18, 2025 |
None |
December 12, 2025 |
|
Paul Hastings Class of 2024: $20K / $6K Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K |
November 18, 2025 |
2000 hours |
Undisclosed |
|
Cadwalader Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2017: $115K / $25K |
November 18, 2054 |
Additional bonuses “equal to 120% of [market bonuses]” for high billers with 2200 hours or more |
By or before end of February 2026 |
|
Fried Frank Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K |
November 19, 2025 |
1850 hours for special bonus (including billable, pro bono, qualified nonbillable, and firm matter hours); associates eligible for “premium” bonus ranging from $3K to $34.5K for 2200 hours or 2450 hours |
On or before December 31, 2025 |
|
McDermott Will & Schulte Class of 2025: $0 / $6K (prorated) Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K |
November 19, 2025 |
2000 hours (merit bonuses available for eligible associates; “two-thirds” of legacy MWE associates will see bonuses above market) |
December 26, 2025 (legacy MWE) / January 16, 2026 (legacy SRZ) |
|
Dechert Class of 2024: $20K / $6K Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K |
November 19, 2025 |
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%) |
By or before end of January 2026 |
|
Wilkinson Stekloff Class of 2025: $22.5K / $0 spring bonus Class of 2017+: $172.5K / $60K spring bonus |
November 19, 2025 |
None |
By December 15, 2025 |
|
Ropes & Gray Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2017+: $130K / $25K |
November 20, 2024 |
1900 creditable hours (bonuses “may be increased up to 150% of the year-end bonus amounts” for those who have billed “materially more” than 1900 hours) |
Undisclosed |
|
Hogan Lovells Class of 2024: $20K / $6K Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K |
November 20, 2025 |
2000 hours; additional bonuses available include incremental hours-based bonuses, discretionary bonuses, and business-generation bonuses |
End of December 2025 |
|
Vartabedian Hester & Haynes Class of 2025: $21K (total bonus, including $5K summer bonus) Class of 2018: $140K (total bonus, including $5K summer bonus) |
November 20, 2025 |
1800 hours |
On or before December 31, 2025 |
|
Paul Weiss Class of 2025: $15K / $6K Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K |
November 21, 2025 |
None (additional discretionary bonuses for “outsized contributions”) |
December 22, 2025; discretionary bonuses to be paid in early 2026 |
|
Proskauer Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2017: $115K / $25K |
November 21, 2025 |
2000 hours |
On or before December 24, 2025 |
|
Baker Botts Class of 2024: $20K / $6K Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K |
November 21, 2025 |
2000 hours (1800 client billable hours and 200 non-client billable hours, including pro bono, business development, etc.); “enhanced” bonuses available for “exceptional” performance |
Undisclosed |
|
Davis Polk Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K |
November 21, 2025 |
None |
December 30, 2025 |
|
White & Case Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2018: $115K / $25K |
November 21, 2025 |
Eligibility criteria detailed in separate memo |
February 13, 2026 |
|
Debevoise Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K |
November 21, 2025 |
None | Undisclosed |
|
Skadden Class of 2025: $15K / $6K Class of 2018+: $115K or $125K / $25K |
November 21, 2025 |
1800 “productive hours” (including unlimited pro bono time and up to 150 hours of productive non-billable work) |
December 15, 2025 |
|
Cleary Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K |
November 21, 2025 |
None |
December 19, 2025 |
|
A&O Shearman Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K |
November 21, 2025 |
2000 hours (including a minimum of 25 pro bono hours and up to 100 investment hours (e.g., DEI/mental health; personal development/training; community involvement; management & talent development; knowledge development; origination, client relationships, business development; and market innovation group)); associates eligible for an “enhanced year-end bonus” if they “significantly exceed” the firm’s hourly requirements |
Undisclosed |
|
Covington Class of 2025: $15K / $6K Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K |
November 21, 2025 |
2000 hours |
January 2026 |
|
Vinson & Elkins Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K |
November 24, 2025 |
Based on hours and good standing |
On or about January 30, 2026 |
|
Simpson Thacher Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2018: $115K / $25K |
November 24, 2025 |
Undisclosed |
December 2025 |
|
Milbank Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (paid 9/25) Class of 2017: $115K / $25K (paid 9/25) |
November 24, 2025 |
None |
December 31, 2025 |
|
Weil Gotshal Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K |
November 25, 2025 |
None |
January 30, 2026 |
|
Holwell Shuster Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated) Class of 2018: $115K / $25K |
November 25, 2025 |
None |
On or before December 31, 2025 |
Staci
Zaretsky is
the
managing
editor
of
Above
the
Law,
where
she’s
worked
since
2011.
She’d
love
to
hear
from
you,
so
please
feel
free
to
email
her
with
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tips,
questions,
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