First-year associates at Milbank will see their base pay jump from $215,000 to $225,000 under the firm’s new seniority-based salary scale, according to an internal memo viewed by Reuters. The firm will also pay year-end bonuses to associates ranging from $15,000 pro-rated to $115,000 based on seniority.
Milbank, which had not increased associate salaries since early 2022, appears to be the first big U.S. law firm to announce a salary bump and publicly set year-end bonuses for 2023. Read more about the pay raise and what it means for other firms.
More from the legal industry …
Law firms slowed down their first-year associate hiring this fall … The Oregon Supreme Court approved an alternative program that will allow law graduates to become licensed in the state without taking the bar exam … Thirty-two of the 73 largest U.S. law firms with a presence in China shrank their numbers of attorneys there in the last decade … The DOJ’s bankruptcy watchdog sought to force Jackson Walker to give back millions of dollars in fees it earned in cases presided over by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge David Jones … Gibson Dunn teamed up with a group of Jewish organizations to launch a legal helpline for college students and teachers who experience antisemitism on campus … Winston & Strawn was sued by two oil companies for alleged negligence in their purchase of oil and gas wells … Former President Donald Trump’s lawyer John Eastman faces potential disbarment as his disciplinary trial winds down.
Moves:
In Washington, D.C. …
Arnold & Porter hired Philip Desjardins, the former vice president of global regulatory affairs at Johnson & Johnson … Former U.S. Army Chief Trial Attorney Scott Flesch joined Miller & Chevalier’s government contracts counseling and litigation practice … Former Acting DEA Administrator Uttam Dhillon joined Frost Brown Todd as a litigation partner from Michael Best.
In New York …
Sidley brought on Greg Lavigne as a partner in the firm’s energy, transportation, and infrastructure group from Allen & Overy … MoloLamken picked up former federal prosecutor Jennifer Schubert as a partner … Simpson Thacher added energy and infrastructure partner Gabriel Silva from Vinson & Elkins.
In Los Angeles …
McDermott expanded its legal work for Elon Musk after hiring partner Jonathan Hawk from White & Case, where he had been representing X in cases in California, New York and other states.
In San Francisco …
Goodwin hired Katherine Wawrzyniak, the former deputy chief of the criminal division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California.
In San Diego …
Randy Grossman, who was the top federal prosecutor in the Southern District of California, joined Manatt, Phelps & Phillips … Buchalter added two new partners: Jose Patiño will join the IP and litigation group from Eversheds Sutherland, while Craig Nickerson will join the firm’s labor and employment practice from Gordon Rees.
In Portland …
Davis Wright Tremaine partner Cliff DeGroot moved to Holland & Knight’s corporate, M&A and securities practice.
In Miami …
Cooley opened an office in the city with corporate M&A partner Derek Colla relocating from D.C. to lead the new office.
In Pittsburgh …
Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough added litigation partner Benjamin Sitter from Porter Wright Morris & Arthur.
In St. Louis …
Armstrong Teasdale picked up partner Keith Grissom from Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale for its tax and estate planning practices … Quarles & Brady opened an office in the city which will be led by employment attorney Travis Kearbey.
In Milwaukee …
Quarles & Brady hired Lindsey Canonie Grady, a former Milwaukee County Circuit Court judge, in the firm’s fiduciary litigation team as of counsel.
In London …
Alston & Bird added arbitration partner Will Hooker from Pallas Partners.
In Milan …
Ashurst hired disputes partner Loris Bovo from Linklaters.
And finally …
Wachtell appointed two new co-chairs … McGuireWoods voted to elevate 15 new partners in 2024, including a former clerk of the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg … Alan Mills is retiring from Barnes & Thornburg after 40 years. Mills was the first Black lawyer to join the firm and also the first lawyer to make partner at Barnes & Thornburg in the state of Indiana.
