2021 End of Year Bonuses Forum

[Anonymous User]

White & Case matched DPW yesterday. The end of year bonus is subject to the usual hours requirements while the special bonus is not. As usual, the bonus won’t be paid until February 14, 2022 which sucks.

What is the current hours policy to hit the non-special bonus?

In order to be eligible for a full bonus Associates and Counsel must:
 Bill a minimum of 2,000 hours (the “Aggregate Hours Threshold”) per calendar year.
• Of the 2,000 hours, a minimum of 1,750 hours must be billed to client chargeable matters.
• The remaining 250 hours may consist of additional client chargeable hours and/or may be
obtained as follows:
o Up to 50 hours can be obtained through approved Diversity and Inclusion hours.
o Up to 200 hours can be obtained through a combination of Pro Bono hours and/or
other Firm Chargeable hours (including additional approved Diversity and Inclusion
hours) as set forth in this policy below.
o The Firm values these types of non-client chargeable contributions, and wants to
encourage associates in these areas.
• First year associates will not be held to the billable hours requirement.
 Substantially comply with the Firm’s policy on average diary time release which is five (5) days or
less from the date the unit of time is worked. If not compliant, there will be a deduction in your
bonus award determined based upon the amount by which your average diary release time
exceeds five (5) days.
Associates who have substantially exceeded expectations, in terms of hours and outstanding
contribution, may be eligible for compensation up to 110-125% of the bonus amount announced for their
level in a given year.
Bonus eligibility and amounts for Counsel and Associates beyond Level 8 will continue to be determined
on an individual basis by Section leaders.
The Firm reserves the right to reduce a bonus payment due to performance or other concerns

5 days or *FEWER c'mon now

Bonus for the previous year's performance being paid out in the middle of goddamn February, and the schtick about diary release time. So fucking cheap. As someone that moved to W&C from a different firm, their bonus policy objectively sucks.

Well at least they don't deduct 20% of regular salary if you don't release the prior week's time by Tuesday morning like at STB.

Not a real thing at STB. Thanks.

[Anonymous User]

Cadwalader matched DPW yesterday

[Anonymous User]

Any word on Fenwick/Gunderson/Cooley and other similar EC/VC firms?

We are getting pretty late in the game not to have a match.

[ExpOriental]

Any word on Fenwick/Gunderson/Cooley and other similar EC/VC firms?

We are getting pretty late in the game not to have a match.

They are obviously going to match. There is a long list of firms that are substantially worse off financially that are also obviously going to match. The handwringing is dumb.

[Anonymous User]

Any calls out at any Greenberg Traurig offices yet? Uncharacteristically late in the month for bonus calls unless it’s just the two offices I know of.

I'm interested in this as well.

[Anonymous User]

Wilmer match

[Anonymous User]

Any word on Fenwick/Gunderson/Cooley and other similar EC/VC firms?

We are getting pretty late in the game not to have a match.

Goodwin matched, so pretty certain all of the firms mentioned above plus WSGR/Orrick/etc. are matching.

[Anonymous User]

Skadden raised special bonus scale.

10
14
27.5
37
44
50.6
55

[Mullens]

Skadden raised special bonus scale.

10
14
27.5
37
44
50.6
55

Think this is just delayed payment of the second part of the spring/summer bonuses?

[Anonymous User]

DLA matched DPW special bonuses.

[Anonymous User]

White & Case matched DPW yesterday. The end of year bonus is subject to the usual hours requirements while the special bonus is not. As usual, the bonus won’t be paid until February 14, 2022 which sucks.

What is the current hours policy to hit the non-special bonus?

In order to be eligible for a full bonus Associates and Counsel must:
 Bill a minimum of 2,000 hours (the “Aggregate Hours Threshold”) per calendar year.
• Of the 2,000 hours, a minimum of 1,750 hours must be billed to client chargeable matters.
• The remaining 250 hours may consist of additional client chargeable hours and/or may be
obtained as follows:
o Up to 50 hours can be obtained through approved Diversity and Inclusion hours.
o Up to 200 hours can be obtained through a combination of Pro Bono hours and/or
other Firm Chargeable hours (including additional approved Diversity and Inclusion
hours) as set forth in this policy below.
o The Firm values these types of non-client chargeable contributions, and wants to
encourage associates in these areas.
• First year associates will not be held to the billable hours requirement.
 Substantially comply with the Firm’s policy on average diary time release which is five (5) days or
less from the date the unit of time is worked. If not compliant, there will be a deduction in your
bonus award determined based upon the amount by which your average diary release time
exceeds five (5) days.
Associates who have substantially exceeded expectations, in terms of hours and outstanding
contribution, may be eligible for compensation up to 110-125% of the bonus amount announced for their
level in a given year.
Bonus eligibility and amounts for Counsel and Associates beyond Level 8 will continue to be determined
on an individual basis by Section leaders.
The Firm reserves the right to reduce a bonus payment due to performance or other concerns

5 days or *FEWER c'mon now

Bonus for the previous year's performance being paid out in the middle of goddamn February, and the schtick about diary release time. So fucking cheap. As someone that moved to W&C from a different firm, their bonus policy objectively sucks.

Well at least they don't deduct 20% of regular salary if you don't release the prior week's time by Tuesday morning like at STB.

Not a real thing at STB. Thanks.

STB Associate, this actually is basically policy. If you have 4 or more days of late time every Tuesday you get hit with a very punitive salary deduction.

[Anonymous User]

Any calls out at any Greenberg Traurig offices yet? Uncharacteristically late in the month for bonus calls unless it’s just the two offices I know of.

I'm interested in this as well.

As an incoming associate, also interested

[Anonymous User]

White & Case matched DPW yesterday. The end of year bonus is subject to the usual hours requirements while the special bonus is not. As usual, the bonus won’t be paid until February 14, 2022 which sucks.

What is the current hours policy to hit the non-special bonus?

In order to be eligible for a full bonus Associates and Counsel must:
 Bill a minimum of 2,000 hours (the “Aggregate Hours Threshold”) per calendar year.
• Of the 2,000 hours, a minimum of 1,750 hours must be billed to client chargeable matters.
• The remaining 250 hours may consist of additional client chargeable hours and/or may be
obtained as follows:
o Up to 50 hours can be obtained through approved Diversity and Inclusion hours.
o Up to 200 hours can be obtained through a combination of Pro Bono hours and/or
other Firm Chargeable hours (including additional approved Diversity and Inclusion
hours) as set forth in this policy below.
o The Firm values these types of non-client chargeable contributions, and wants to
encourage associates in these areas.
• First year associates will not be held to the billable hours requirement.
 Substantially comply with the Firm’s policy on average diary time release which is five (5) days or
less from the date the unit of time is worked. If not compliant, there will be a deduction in your
bonus award determined based upon the amount by which your average diary release time
exceeds five (5) days.
Associates who have substantially exceeded expectations, in terms of hours and outstanding
contribution, may be eligible for compensation up to 110-125% of the bonus amount announced for their
level in a given year.
Bonus eligibility and amounts for Counsel and Associates beyond Level 8 will continue to be determined
on an individual basis by Section leaders.
The Firm reserves the right to reduce a bonus payment due to performance or other concerns

5 days or *FEWER c'mon now

Bonus for the previous year's performance being paid out in the middle of goddamn February, and the schtick about diary release time. So fucking cheap. As someone that moved to W&C from a different firm, their bonus policy objectively sucks.

Well at least they don't deduct 20% of regular salary if you don't release the prior week's time by Tuesday morning like at STB.

Not a real thing at STB. Thanks.

I get that it's very hard to believe, but it's very much real.

[Anonymous User]

STB Associate, this actually is basically policy. If you have 4 or more days of late time every Tuesday you get hit with a very punitive salary deduction.

Ouch. At Kirkland, if you miss the time deadline for the prior week's time (Tuesday night; effectively something like 2:00 AM on Wednesdays), they deduct a portion of your forthcoming year-end bonus to give to charity instead. You get one freebie per year, and after that even the second and third offense are pretty small deductions I think. So there is effectively no penalty at all if you are going to leave during the same calendar year before the bonus is paid out.

[Anonymous User]

STB Associate, this actually is basically policy. If you have 4 or more days of late time every Tuesday you get hit with a very punitive salary deduction.

Ouch. At Kirkland, if you miss the time deadline for the prior week's time (Tuesday night; effectively something like 2:00 AM on Wednesdays), they deduct a portion of your forthcoming year-end bonus to give to charity instead. You get one freebie per year, and after that even the second and third offense are pretty small deductions I think. So there is effectively no penalty at all if you are going to leave during the same calendar year before the bonus is paid out.

yeesh, my (boutique) firm uses a carrot instead of a stick. we get an extra few-thousand-dollar bonus at the end of the year if we hit every deadline. i think we also get one freebie. is that unique? i always thought it was a nice little perk. but as compared garnishing wages, i clearly should have appreciated it more.

[splitmuch]

STB Associate, this actually is basically policy. If you have 4 or more days of late time every Tuesday you get hit with a very punitive salary deduction.

Ouch. At Kirkland, if you miss the time deadline for the prior week's time (Tuesday night; effectively something like 2:00 AM on Wednesdays), they deduct a portion of your forthcoming year-end bonus to give to charity instead. You get one freebie per year, and after that even the second and third offense are pretty small deductions I think. So there is effectively no penalty at all if you are going to leave during the same calendar year before the bonus is paid out.

yeesh, my (boutique) firm uses a carrot instead of a stick. we get an extra few-thousand-dollar bonus at the end of the year if we hit every deadline. i think we also get one freebie. is that unique? i always thought it was a nice little perk. but as compared garnishing wages, i clearly should have appreciated it more.

Im not actually sure that’s a substantive difference in policy if you think about it

[Anonymous User]

STB Associate, this actually is basically policy. If you have 4 or more days of late time every Tuesday you get hit with a very punitive salary deduction.

Ouch. At Kirkland, if you miss the time deadline for the prior week's time (Tuesday night; effectively something like 2:00 AM on Wednesdays), they deduct a portion of your forthcoming year-end bonus to give to charity instead. You get one freebie per year, and after that even the second and third offense are pretty small deductions I think. So there is effectively no penalty at all if you are going to leave during the same calendar year before the bonus is paid out.

Kirkland stub here. Does anyone actually care if I enter all my time on Tuesday night, as long as I don’t miss the deadline? Or is some share partner poring over the numbers and thinking I’m an asshole for not doing it more frequently?

[Anon-non-anon]

STB Associate, this actually is basically policy. If you have 4 or more days of late time every Tuesday you get hit with a very punitive salary deduction.

Ouch. At Kirkland, if you miss the time deadline for the prior week's time (Tuesday night; effectively something like 2:00 AM on Wednesdays), they deduct a portion of your forthcoming year-end bonus to give to charity instead. You get one freebie per year, and after that even the second and third offense are pretty small deductions I think. So there is effectively no penalty at all if you are going to leave during the same calendar year before the bonus is paid out.

yeesh, my (boutique) firm uses a carrot instead of a stick. we get an extra few-thousand-dollar bonus at the end of the year if we hit every deadline. i think we also get one freebie. is that unique? i always thought it was a nice little perk. but as compared garnishing wages, i clearly should have appreciated it more.

Im not actually sure that’s a substantive difference in policy if you think about it

This is an interesting point. It just feels like it's not something being taken away because the "base" is set with everyone else.

[Anonymous User]

STB Associate, this actually is basically policy. If you have 4 or more days of late time every Tuesday you get hit with a very punitive salary deduction.

Ouch. At Kirkland, if you miss the time deadline for the prior week's time (Tuesday night; effectively something like 2:00 AM on Wednesdays), they deduct a portion of your forthcoming year-end bonus to give to charity instead. You get one freebie per year, and after that even the second and third offense are pretty small deductions I think. So there is effectively no penalty at all if you are going to leave during the same calendar year before the bonus is paid out.

Kirkland stub here. Does anyone actually care if I enter all my time on Tuesday night, as long as I don’t miss the deadline? Or is some share partner poring over the numbers and thinking I’m an asshole for not doing it more frequently?

At both the firms I was at, if you entered any time for each day, it registered as in, and the partners didnt look / get reports until the end of the month as to each case, unless there was some particular reason otherwise.

[Anonymous User]

STB Associate, this actually is basically policy. If you have 4 or more days of late time every Tuesday you get hit with a very punitive salary deduction.

Ouch. At Kirkland, if you miss the time deadline for the prior week's time (Tuesday night; effectively something like 2:00 AM on Wednesdays), they deduct a portion of your forthcoming year-end bonus to give to charity instead. You get one freebie per year, and after that even the second and third offense are pretty small deductions I think. So there is effectively no penalty at all if you are going to leave during the same calendar year before the bonus is paid out.

Kirkland stub here. Does anyone actually care if I enter all my time on Tuesday night, as long as I don’t miss the deadline? Or is some share partner poring over the numbers and thinking I’m an asshole for not doing it more frequently?

No one cares as long as you aren't missing the deadline, unless you have a deal closing orr something like that that requires an interim entry (and if you have something like that you'll know because you'll get a request to get your time in--people will get pissed, rightly, if you don't comply with those one-off requests).

Maybe I'm a minority here but, sorry, I don't have sympathy around the time entry stuff. It's a big, shitty part of our jobs but it's an important part of the job and insisting on weekly entry is really not shocking. No one complies without the stick so, there's a stick.

[Anonymous User]

By how much is Reichman Jorgensen under-paying associates this year? I know they paid no special bonuses last year, and also failed to increase base salaries to match Biglaw base. So how laughably false is their advertisement of "above market" compensation this year? Under-market by $50,000 or more?

[Anonymous User]

Arnold & Porter just matched DPW.

Only thing of note is that the firm increased the 20% “high productivity” bump from 2,400 to 2,600 hours.

[Anonymous User]

Cahill special bonus raise according to ATL? Will this be market?

[Anonymous User]

Cahill special bonus raise according to ATL? Will this be market?

As the ATL article notes, Cahill often beats the market and it generally doesn't cause others to rethink.

[BrowsingTLS]

Cahill special bonus raise according to ATL? Will this be market?

No, ATL, it will not be market for the reasons stated in your article. Cahill generally beats market and waited long enough for the market to settle. Firms are already paying bonuses this week (rest in peace to Cadwalader, Baker McKenzie, Akin, W&C, etc. associates, who have to wait until February. Special RIP to Mayer Brown associates who have to wait until whatever early 2022 means).