Some Law Firms ‘Can’t Afford’ Not To Match Milbank’s Summer Bonuses

Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day.

There’s a new pecking order at the top of [Biglaw]. This helps separate the wheat from the chaff in terms of those who compete at the very top. Some firms can’t afford not to follow.

— Peter Zeughauser, a legal consultant with the Zeughauser Group, in comments given to Law360 Pulse, concerning the likelihood that other firms will match Milbank’s generous summer bonuses. Milbank’s bonuses range from $6,000 to $25,000, based on class year. While no other Biglaw firms have matched, thus far, four other firms have announced their own summer bonuses: Vartabedian Hester & Haynes ($5,000), Otterbourg ($15,000), Bell Nunnally (up to $15,000), and Hueston Hennigan ($10,000 to $30,000, based on billable hours).

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 any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Bluesky, X/Twitter, and Threads, or connect with her on LinkedIn.