FIRST first first

so unlike skadden, W&C shafted its associates

second

wtf happened? All my witty 'firsts' were ERASED?

where'd the comments go?

Holy crap! Are they going to fire or suddenly find unacceptable the work of a whole bunch of associates?

That's the scariest raise memo I've ever seen in my life!

First

second

Holy crap! Are they going to fire or suddenly find unacceptable the work of a whole bunch of associates?

That's the scariest raise memo I've ever seen in my life!

fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiirrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrssssssssssssttttttttttttttttttt bitches

huh

fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiirrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrssssssssssssttttttttttttttttttt

CWT just sort of announced bonuses.... said they will pay them, but not what they are....
We are pleased to announce that the Firm will award year-end and special bonuses to associates in recognition of your hard work, dedication and contributions to the Firm and for your very important role in helping us achieve our clients' goals. Bonuses will be based on overall performance and are expected to be paid in January 2008. Associates who joined the Firm subsequent to January 1, 2007 and prior to October 1, 2007 will receive a pro-rated portion of the bonus.

Also, Senior Attorney, Special Counsel and Counsel bonus awards will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Thank you again for your efforts and your strong commitment to the Firm and our clients.

ROL

come on Lat....8 ads per page....you're making enough...it's time to upgrade the site NOW!

W&C non-NYC associates care to comment on this?

I can has working ATL?

Weil matched!! finally!!

Weil matched!! finally!!

Wow--so nothing for W&C DC?

Oh come on, nobody was really expecting W&C to match in all offices. And this is standard policy at the vast majority of Biglaw firms - only the NY office will match the top tier bonus, and tied to hours at that. THIS IS NOTHING NEW!!!

Wow--so nothing for W&C DC?

no one cares about non-NY associates. at any firm. they don't count.

Helllooooooo WilmerHale, where are you in all this?

W&C DC, LA, etc. associates get nothing?

Where's the list of shame? Latham where are you?

teh jokes are less funny this week. cmon people!

White and Case Riyadh to 190!

I can has working ATL?

Weil matched, bitches.

NYC Bonus List of Shame

2008 Vault Rank / Firm / 2005 RPL (if known)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 Latham & Watkins LLP / $875,000
* 9 Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP / $954,000 (rumored to have matched)
10 Covington & Burling LLP / $774,000
* 11 Kirkland & Ellis LLP / $987,000 (Punted)
12
13
14
15 WilmerHale / 846,000
16 Williams & Connolly LLP /
17 Sidley Austin LLP / $774,000
18 Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP / $1,011,000
19 O'Melveny & Myers LLP / $828,000
20
21 Arnold & Porter LLP / $816,000
22 Jones Day / 602,000
23 Morrison & Foerster LLP / $735,000
24
25
26 Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft / $940,000
27 Hogan & Hartson LLP / $735,000
28 Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP / $750,000
29
30 Ropes & Gray LLP / 841,000
31 Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker / $766,000
32
33 Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP / $779,000
34 Winston & Strawn LLP / $718,000
35
36 Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati / $752,000
37 Linklaters /
38 Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe / 767,000
39 Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP /
40 Proskauer Rose LLP / $745,000
...
...
43. (Quinn Matched)
55. (Cahill Matched)
NR. McKee Nelson (Failed to Match)

anyone from latham's associates committee on here. bueller... bueller...

Non-NY lawyers should get SUPERAIDS

Weil matched, bitches.

If Skadden, SullCrom, Willkie, and Clifford can spread the love at least to DC, why can't White & Case?

DC = TT

I am a Counsel at a V10 firm. There is so much information out there about the size of associate bonus payments, but almost nothing about what Counsel receive. Please share if you know anything about Counsel comp.

I will go first:

Firm: Vault 10
City: NYC
Class Year: 1996
Salary: $350K
Bonus: $150K
Book of Business: $0

Any other Counsel willing to share?

Where's all the CC bashing now--they matched in NY and DC with no hours requirement

I heard CWT fake matched without putting numbers in their memo and adding a performance clause. Dirt. That's terrible.

I am a Counsel at a V10 firm. There is so much information out there about the size of associate bonus payments, but almost nothing about what Counsel receive. Please share if you know anything about Counsel comp.

I will go first:

Firm: Vault 10
City: NYC
Class Year: 1996
Salary: $350K
Bonus: $150K
Book of Business: $0

Any other Counsel willing to share?

5:56 - ...i'll bite. CC sux?

COUNSEL,

How are your hours? Less/more than a junior partner?

CWT is a terrible, terrible hellhole and I hope bob link gets cancer for their terrible, terrible bonus announcement.

Not bad counsel. 500K a year and you generate no business. nice gig. will you be expected to build business or can you keep it going the way it is.

so is this considered a match or not?

whatever happened to lockstep bonuses?

i guess you have to go to a v10 to get a guaranteed bonus.

Matching only in NY is NOT matching. Willkie, Milbank, etc are paying this bonus at ALL US offices

Matching only in NY is NOT matching. Willkie, Milbank, etc are paying this bonus at ALL US offices

6:03 - you should be ashamed of yourself. you greedy little nerd. how dare you think that could even come across as funny or be so mean to wish that on someone. i have friends at cwt and they talk about what a nice place it is to work. are you still hung up on getting rejected from them?

*bashes CC*

6:03 - you should be ashamed of yourself. you greedy little nerd. how dare you think that could even come across as funny or be so mean to wish that on someone. i have friends at cwt and they talk about what a nice place it is to work. are you still hung up on getting rejected from them?

CWT matched vague notions of a bonus but subject to vaguer requirements, conditions and standards.

Someone please defend that shithole now? Please where are the CWT lovers who were ready to use their hand on Bob Link for changing the paradigm? Die in a fire.

6:07 I hope you get cancer of the testicles.

Why on earth should attorneys in places like TEXAS be making the same as lawyers in New York? Doctors in different markets make different salaries; engineers, accountants - there is a regional salary disparity. Same goes for law. No one will leave NYC over $$$ alone. People are here because it is the center of the universe.

To 6:00: Less than a JP. Usually about 2100. The other Counsel's that are trying to be made partner (we are an equity-only firm) are working like the senior associates, closer to 2400-2700.

To 6:03: no need to generate business, although that would help if I wanted to make the push for partner. We (Counsels) act in the role of service partners. Just run the rainmaker's cases/deals so he can focus on client relationships.

To 6:00: Less than a JP. Usually about 2100. The other Counsel's that are trying to be made partner (we are an equity-only firm) are working like the senior associates, closer to 2400-2700.

To 6:03: no need to generate business, although that would help if I wanted to make the push for partner. We (Counsels) act in the role of service partners. Just run the rainmaker's cases/deals so he can focus on client relationships.

To 6:00: Less than a JP. Usually about 2100. The other Counsel's that are trying to be made partner (we are an equity-only firm) are working like the senior associates, closer to 2400-2700.

To 6:03: no need to generate business, although that would help if I wanted to make the push for partner. We (Counsels) act in the role of service partners. Just run the rainmaker's cases/deals so he can focus on client relationships.

@5:56

Good point--funny how some other firms don't get the negative press CC got when they lay people off quietly. Me thinks CC needs a good PR firm--would seem like a sound investment

maybe they can use the dough from the CC 6 to get a good one. I believe they paid them bonuses for the pro rated year but screwed them on the specials. That's got to be enough savings to at least get a mid tier PR firm..

lat: i'm guessing that posting "FIRST" ad nauseam doesn't count?

Guaranteed Bonus firms (year-end and special):

Cahill
S&S
Wilkie
Davis
Milbank
Cravath
S&C
Clifford Chance
Simpson

I left off Skadden b/c it has that "reasonably busy" language and others have said there is a 1600 hours requirement.

How may associates receive the "overall strong" and "distinguished" ratings?

You have to respect and admire Weil and Skadden for their "one firm" concept and paying NY base/bonus in all domestic offices. I wish I could get a job at Weil Dallas or Austin.

To Counsel:

the money is a good long term gig, although 2100 is not exactly lifestyle.

Can I ask what dep't you are in? I understand that only certain dept's are open to granting counsel status

How may associates receive the "overall strong" and "distinguished" ratings?

To Counsel:

the money is a good long term gig, although 2100 is not exactly lifestyle.

Can I ask what dep't you are in? I understand that only certain dept's are open to granting counsel status

Everyone at Weil gets market (everyone is "overall strong")...then about 25% get the above market "distinguished" bonus

I'm a 5th year associate in a satellite Weil office. 99% of the associates receive the "overall strong" bonus (that just means that you didn't screw up or bill less than half as much as the average). About 33% receive the "distinguished" bonus, which makes Weil significantly above the top of the market, especially in non-NY offices. Last year, my distinguished bonus was $20K and I billed 2100 hours.

Everyone at Weil gets market (everyone is "overall strong")...then about 25% get the above market "distinguished" bonus

I don't think 99% get "overall strong". It doesn't make sense to have a bonus linked to something called "overall strong" and then give more to the 33% that get "distinguished". I am going to guess that the latter percentage overlaps with the form for the sake of the math adding up, but it makes little PR sense. They could just say "in good standing" like all other firms and add that those who are exceptional performers get paid above-market.

If they do indeed pay everyone as "overall strong" then they have the dummest HR managers in the business.

Weil alum here. The vast majority get overall strong or higher. If you don't its probably a good sign to start looking for a new job.

99% get overall strong and 33% get distinguished... Does't equal 132% ??? How can there be 132% of attorneys???

If you're distinguished, then you're also overall strong. Retard.

How do the rating work at Weil? Is it three tiered, as in “Distinguished” is above class, “Overall Strong” is about where you should be, and "Sucks" is lagging behind??

I can confirm (from discussions with WGM attorneys this summer) that the virtually all WGM associates get a market bonus or above. the "overall strong" rating is the default. You only get a lower rating if they are trying to show you the door. It is still a lockstep system, unless they're giving you the polite boot.

Ditto 10:30 above.

10:13

You are correct. I am a Weil associate. That's how they've always done it. This "overall strong" formulation is nothing new.

Is the special bonus reserved for the "distinguished" ?? Or do the "overall strong" (default) get the special bonus, and the "distinguished" get even more on top of that?

special bonus is for all. as for the normal end of year bonus: overall strong is the "default" bonus; distinguished is almost impossible to get.

special bonus is for all. as for the normal end of year bonus: overall strong is the "default" bonus; distinguished is almost impossible to get.