Associate Compensation Scorecard: Biglaw’s 2024 Bonus Boom

Firm Date Matched Minimum Hours Payout Date Milbank
Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2016: $115K / $25K FIRST MOVER
November 11, 2024 None On or before December 31, 2024 Vartabedian Hester & Haynes
Class of 2024: $15K / $6K
Class of 2016: $115K / $25K November 13, 2024 1800 hours On or before December 31, 2024 Cravath
Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2017: $115K / $25K November 19, 2024 None December 13, 2024 Paul Hastings
Class of 2023: $20K / $6K
Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K November 20, 2024 2000 hours February 14, 2025 Ropes & Gray
Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2016+: $130K / $25K November 20, 2024 1900 creditable hours (increased bonuses for associates who annualized above hourly target) December 24, 2024 Fried Frank
Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K November 20, 2024 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 On or before December 31, 2024 McDermott Will & Emery
Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K November 20, 2024 2000 hours (merit bonuses available for eligible associates; “two-thirds” of associates will see bonuses above market) December 27, 2024 Cleary
Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K November 21, 2024 None December 20, 2024 Paul Weiss
Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K November 21, 2024 None December 20, 2024 Dechert
Class of 2023: $20K / $6K
Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K November 21, 2024 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%); “enhanced” bonuses up to 130% above market available on top of “extraordinary” bonus for those with high billable hours By or before end of January 2025 O’Melveny
Class of 2024: $6K (prorated)
Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K November 21, 2024 None Undisclosed Holwell Shuster
Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K November 21, 2024 None On or before December 31, 2024 Davis Polk
Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K November 22, 2024 None December 27, 2024 Weil Gotshal
Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K November 22, 2024 None January 31, 2025 White & Case
Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2017: $115K / $25K November 22, 2024 Eligibility criteria detailed in separate memo February 14, 2025 Skadden
Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2017+: $115K or $125K / $25K November 22, 2024 1800 “productive hours” (including unlimited pro bono time and up to 150 hours of productive non-billable work) December 13, 2024 Cadwalader
Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2016: $115K / $25K November 22, 2024 Additional bonuses “equal to 120% of [market bonuses]” for high billers with 2200 hours or more By or before end of February 2025 Proskauer
Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2016: $115K / $25K November 22, 2024 None On or before December 24, 2024 Schulte Roth & Zabel
Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K November 22, 2024 2000 hours; step-up bonuses from $3K to $51.75K for associates who have made “extraordinary contributions” to the firm) January 27, 2025 Covington
Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K November 22, 2024 2000 hours; (associates will see a 10% bonus increase at 2200 hours, and another 10% bonus increase 2400 hours) January 2025 Willkie Farr
Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K November 22, 2024 None December 31, 2024 Akin
Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K November 22, 2024 1950 hours (including pro bono hours, general counsel hours, business development hours, and up to 100 hours of time spent on recruiting, diversity & inclusion, and/or innovation activities); associates with “exceptional” performance will receive larger bonuses February 2025 Sidley
Class of 2023: $20K / $6K
Class of 2016: $115K / $25K November 25, 2024 2000 hours required for base bonuses; associates with “higher productivity and/or exceptional performance” will receive additional bonuses, up to “more than 50% above base bonus” Prior to December 31, 2024 Baker Botts
Class of 2023: $20K / $6K
Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K November 25, 2024 2000 hours (1800 client billable hours and 200 non-client billable hours, including pro bono, business development, etc.); “enhanced” bonuses available for “exceptional” performance; special bonuses reportedly require 2000 client billable hours for eligibility Undisclosed A&O Shearman
Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K November 25, 2024 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)) January 31, 2025 Katten Muchin
Class of 2023: $20K / $6K
Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K November 25, 2024 2000 hours (2100 hours for $22K-$126.5K; 2200 hours for $24K-$138K; 2300 hours for $26.5K-$149.5K; 2400 hours for $31K-$172.5K); additional “superstar” bonuses available February 3, 2025 Vinson & Elkins
Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K November 25, 2024 Based on hours and good standing; “supplemental bonuses” available for associates who had an “exemplary year” On or about January 31, 2025 Debevoise
Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K November 26, 2024 None Undisclosed Clifford Chance
Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K November 26, 2024 None (based on overall performance, quality of work, contributions to firm, teamwork, and pro bono) January 15, 2025 Mayer Brown
Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K November 26, 2024 2000 hours; associates eligible for addt’l bonuses based on performance February 28, 2025 Gibson Dunn
Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2017: $115K / $25K November 27, 2024 Undisclosed Undisclosed Seward & Kissel
Class of 2023: $20K / $6K
Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K November 27, 2024 2000 hours (1850 billable hours and 150 qualified non-billable hours); 2200 hours for special bonus (1850 billable hours and 150 qualified non-billable hours; associates who “substantially” exceed the eligibility requirements for special bonuses may receive an “increased” special bonus) First quarter of 2025 Fish & Richardson
Entry-Level: $15K / $6K (prorated)
A7: $115K / $25K November 27, 2024 2100 hours (including up to 200 pro bono/DEI/pitch hours) or strongest reviews based on quality of work December 26, 2024 Morgan Lewis
Class of 2023: $20K / $6K
Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K November 27, 2024 1900+ hours (20 of which must be pro bono hours) January 31, 2025 Wilkinson Stekloff
Class of 2024: $22.5K / $6K
Class of 2017: $172.5K / $25K December 3, 2024 None By December 13, 2024 Norton Rose Fulbright
Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K December 3, 2024 1900 hours (including 50 FIT hours) for special bonus eligibility January 31, 2025 Kramer Levin
Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K December 4, 2024 Eligible associates in good standing will receive bonuses February 14, 2025 Cahill
Class of 2024: $15K / $7.5K (prorated)
Class of 2016: $115K / $40K December 5, 2024 Select associates in Classes of 2017-2020 who have demonstrated “extraordinary” performance eligible for a “super bonus” up to $200K (based on performance and seniority) in lieu of special bonus Second half of January 2025 Ross Aronstam
Class of 2022: $30K / $10K
Class of 2016: $115K / $25K December 5, 2024 None December 15, 2024 AZA
Class of 2024: $15K / $6K
Class of 2021: $57.5K / $15K December 6, 2024 None (based on overall performance; bonuses for elder class years are individualized) December 13, 2024 Perkins Coie
Class of 2024: $15K (prorated) / $6K
Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K December 6, 2024
December 27, 2024 (special bonuses) Undisclosed; associates report no special bonuses are being awarded; firm reversed course on special bonuses after weeks had passed Undisclosed Boies Schiller Flexner
Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K December 10, 2024 2000 hours for associates on the “market” system; 95% of associates received bonuses as high as, and in most cases higher than market system bonuses; several associates received bonuses of $300K+, while others received bonuses of $1M+ Week of December 9, 2024 Winston & Strawn
Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K December 10, 2024 2000 hours (additional bonus money for associates who “substantially exceed” productivity goals); for special bonus, associates who meet or exceed their hours will receive 100%; associates who meet 75% or more of their hours will receive 75%; associates between 50-74% of their hours will receive 50%; associates who are under 50% of their hours will receive 0% End of January 2025 Sullvan & Cromwell
Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K December 11, 2024 Undisclosed December 23, 2024 Freshfields
Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K December 11, 2024 Undisclosed Undisclosed Linklaters
Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K December 12, 2024 1900 hours (including unlimited pro bono, up to 400 hours of marketing, and other work); special bonuses awarded to associates with “higher productivity”; the firm is reportedly requiring 1650 client billable hours for special bonus eligibility December 31, 2024 Pillsbury
Fall Hires: $15K / $6K (prorated)
SA 2/Counsel: $115K / $25K December 12, 2024 1700 client/2000 creditable hours for base bonus; 1900 client/2200 creditable hours for Super Bonus 1 ($20K-$25K, by class year); 2100 client/2400 creditable hours for Super Bonus 2 ($30K all class years); market special bonuses not included Undisclosed Selendy Gay
Class of 2024: $17.25K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2017+: $132.25K / $25K December 12, 2024 None (some associates will receive even more bonus money based on performance, hours, and firm citizenship; some associates received bonuses more than 50% above market) December 13, 2024 Axinn
Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K December 12, 2024 2000 hours; “extraordinary” bonuses available to associates who surpassed their billable hours threshold By December 20, 2024 Gjerset & Lorenz
Class of 2024: $15K
Class of 2017: $115K December 12, 2024 1900 hours for base bonus; 2000 hours for $20K-$130K bonus; 2100 hours for $28K-$150K bonus; 2200 hours for $35K-$165K bonus; maximum potential bonuses of $55K-$330K; additional bonuses to be paid out over the next four quarters, with the first installment on March 31, 2025 Undisclosed Elsberg Baker & Maruri
Class of 2024: $26.25K / $6K
Class of 2017+: $201.25K / $25K December 12, 2024 Undisclosed Undisclosed Rolnick Kramer Sadighi
Class of 2024: $15K / $6K
Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K December 12, 2024 Undisclosed; the firm reportedly awarded bonuses ranging up to 150% over the prevailing market rate to associates Undisclosed Bursor & Fisher
Class of 2023: $50K+
Class of 2020+: $400K+ December 12, 2024 Undisclosed; bonuses are based on business origination and revenue; highest bonus awarded was $725K Undisclosed Cohen Ziffer
Class of 2023: $20K
Class of 2017+: $115K December 13, 2024 Undisclosed; “in exceptional circumstances,” associates may receive higher bonuses “based on individual performance” December 13, 2024 Quinn Emanuel
Class of 2024: $15K / $6K
Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K December 13, 2024 2000-2099 hours for $10K-$76.6K; 2100-2399 hours for base bonus; 2400-2699 hours for $18K-$138K; 2700+ hours for $20.25K-$155.25K Week of December 16, 2024 McKool Smith
Class of 2024: $15K (prorated)
Class of 2017+: $115K December 13, 2024 Undisclosed; high billers will receive additional bonus money, with some exceeding the Milbank scale by more than 35%; firm previously awarded summer bonuses based on hours (1900 hours for $2.5K; 1900-2199 hours for $7.5K; 2200-2299 hours for $10K; 2300-2399 hours for $15K; 2400-2599 hours for $20K; 2600+ hours for $30K) Undisclosed Susman Godfrey
Class of 2022: $110K (median)
Class of 2015: $260K (median) December 17, 2024 None Undisclosed Yetter Coleman
Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K December 17, 2024 Undisclosed; “outstanding” performances will be rewarded with “even higher” bonus amounts December 20, 2024 Hogan Lovells
Class of 2023: $20K / $6K
Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K December 17, 2024
December 29, 2024 (special bonuses) 2000 hours (including up to 150 pro bono hours until associates meet 1850 hours, then unlimited pro bono hours, and including up to 50 D&I hours, if they have billed at least 1800 hours); additional bonuses available for those who exceed hours minimums; associates report no special bonuses are being awarded; firm reversed course on special bonuses after weeks had passed End of December 2024 for year-end bonuses; end of February 2025 for special bonuses Orrick
Associate Year 1: $20K / $6K
Senior Associate Year 2+: $115K / $25K December 18, 2024 Undisclosed December 31, 2024 (special bonuses); Mid-February 2025 (merit bonuses) Hueston Hennigan
Class of 2023: $20K / $6K
Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K December 18, 2024 Based on class year, hours, and good standing; all bonus-eligible associates reportedly received above-market bonuses (with some receiving two or more times the market bonus for their class) Undisclosed Sheppard Mullin
Level A1: $20K / $6K
Level C2: $115K / $25K December 19, 2024 2000 hours for base bonus and special bonus (1950 hours for $10K-$57.5K; 2200 hours for $22K-$126.5K; 2400 hours for $$24K-$138K) January 17, 2025 Irell
New Associate: $45K (prorated)
7th Year (Class of 2017+): $175K December 19, 2024 Undisclosed; further supplemental bonuses to be awarded in April or May 2025 Undisclosed Choate Hall & Stewart
PA & SS: $6K
Class of 2024: $6K (prorated)
Class of 2016+: $25K December 19, 2024 Undisclosed; “customary annual market bonuses” to be announced in March 2025 March 2025 Morrison & Foerster
Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K December 20, 2024 Undisclosed; high hours bonus of 10/20/40% of base by class year ($16.5K (prorated) to $161K) and merit incentive bonus of 10/20% of base + high hours by class year ($16.5K (prorated) to $192.2K) also available; potential bonus total by class year of $21K to $218.2K Undisclosed Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer
Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K December 20, 2024 2000 hours for base bonus (1800 of which must be client billable); 2200 hours for special bonus (2000 of which must be client billable); enhanced bonuses available based on hours (2400-2499 hours (2200 must be billable) for 10% of year-end bonus; 2500-2599 hours (2300 must be billable) for 15% of year-end bonus; 2600+ hours (2400 must be billable) for 20% of year-end bonus) January 31, 2025 Alston & Bird
Class of 2024: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K December 23, 2024 2000 hours for base bonus and special bonus Undisclosed DLA Piper
Class of 2023: $20K / $6K
Class of 2017+: $115K / $25K December 23, 2024 Bonus eligibility based on seniority, performance rating, productivity (the firm has a 2000-hour billable goal), compliance with firm policies, and good standing status; 2000 hours for special bonus; enhanced bonuses available for those with performance ratings of four or five, as well as associates who billed more than 2000 hours (additional bonus increases for each 100 billable hour threshold they meet, up to 2700 hours) December 27, 2024 and February 7, 2025 Perry Law
Class of 2023: $25K
Class of 2017+: $120K December 23, 2024 The firm is awarding bonuses that “significantly exceed the Cravath/Milbank rate (including special bonuses)”; in 2023, the firm paid $5K more than market for each class year By or before the end of December 2024 Massumi + Consoli
Class of 2024: $2.5K / $1.5K
Class of 2016: $115K / $25K December 24, 2024 1900 hours (bonuses may be further adjusted based on billable hours, performance reviews, and extraordinary contributions to the firm) Last payroll of December 2024 Holland & Knight
Level 0: $15K / $6K (major market)
Level 7+: $115K / $25K (market market)
Level 0: $10K / $4.5K (regional market)
Level 7+: $80K / $16.7K (regional market) December 27, 2024 2000 hours; major market offices: Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Century City, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Newport Beach, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Stamford, Tysons, Washington, D.C., and West Palm Beach; regional market offices: Birmingham, Chattanooga, Jacksonville, Nashville, Orlando, Portland, Richmond, Tallahassee, and Tampa; additional bonuses awarded to associates whose performance was “exceptional” (based on billable hours and/or originations); those who came close to target hours threshold will be considered for partial bonuses First quarter of 2025