Tracking COVID-19's effect on V100 associate pay/layoffs Forum

[Anonymous User]

Day Pitney decreased salaries for all attorneys 15% across the board and reduced hours/salaries for staff. No layoffs however.

[BKing]

Dentons: https://abovethelaw.com/2020/04/mega-fi ... certainty/

Linklaters: https://www.law360.com/legalindustry/articles/1261679

[plmqazw]

• Orrick (V34) - 15% pay cut for senior associates; 10% pay cut for junior and mid-level associates; 5% pay cut for career associates
• Linklaters (V46) - Deferring 50% of its next bonus round payout and pushing back salary reviews by six months
• Alley & Overy (V47) - No raises for non-US associates
• Cadwalader (V52) - 25% pay cut for associates
• Dentons (V55) - 50% of 2019 bonuses will be paid on time and the other 50% will be paid in the second half of 2020
• Norton Rose (V66) - Optional 20% pay cut for associates in Europe, Asia and the Middle East in exchange for reduced hours req.; 10% pay cut for associates in Canada
• Nixon Peabody (V68) - 5% of associates laid off (w/3 mo. health insurance) and 5% of associates furloughed
• Venable (V70) - 20% pay cut for associates (plus additional 10% of compensation above $400k)
• Arent Fox (V77) - 25% pay cut for associates
• Bryan Cave (V82) - 15% pay cut for associates OR a sabbatical while being paid 30% of normal salary OR going onto a part-time schedule with a corresponding reduction in salary
• Blank Rome (V92) - 15% pay cut for associates

Noting that (i) Nixon Peabody (V68) furloughed ~25% of its support staff but not its attorneys and (ii) DLA Piper (V33) furloughed "some" of its UK staff (unclear if this includes attorneys).

[LaLiLuLeLo]

Is it really a furlough if you get full pay?

[objctnyrhnr]

Is it really a furlough if you get full pay?

If you’re referring to the above link to The article about DLA fully paying its U.K. staff while sending them home from work, no—it’s misleading due to its context in this thread (the article was also somewhat misleading at a glance in this respect so I don’t blame the poster) and that’s why I deleted the link from the post.

Moreover this thread is about associate pay so id argue that anything about staff, particularly solely international fully paid staff, does not belong here.

[objctnyrhnr]

• Orrick (V34) - 15% pay cut for senior associates; 10% pay cut for junior and mid-level associates; 5% pay cut for career associates
• Linklaters (V46) - Deferring 50% of its next bonus round payout and pushing back salary reviews by six months
• Alley & Overy (V47) - No raises for non-US associates
• Cadwalader (V52) - 25% pay cut for associates
• Dentons (V55) - 50% of 2019 bonuses will be paid on time and the other 50% will be paid in the second half of 2020
• Norton Rose (V66) - Optional 20% pay cut for associates in Europe, Asia and the Middle East in exchange for reduced hours req.; 10% pay cut for associates in Canada
• Nixon Peabody (V68) - 5% of associates laid off (w/3 mo. health insurance) and 5% of associates furloughed
• Venable (V70) - 20% pay cut for associates (plus additional 10% of compensation above $400k)
• Arent Fox (V77) - 25% pay cut for associates
• Bryan Cave (V82) - 15% pay cut for associates OR a sabbatical while being paid 30% of normal salary OR going onto a part-time schedule with a corresponding reduction in salary
• Blank Rome (V92) - 15% pay cut for associates

Noting that (i) Nixon Peabody (V68) furloughed ~25% of its support staff but not its attorneys and (ii) DLA Piper (V33) furloughed "some" of its UK staff (unclear if this includes attorneys).

NP did furlough/lay off at least 5% of attorneys.

DLA sent some U.K. non jd staff home at full pay (see my post above).

[PeanutsNJam]

A little confused by the "no raises for non-US associates." Nobody is getting raises anywhere right? Also, I think it's Allen & Overy.

[QContinuum]

Moderator hat on
This thread is for news regarding V100 associate pay, including sabbaticals, furloughs and layoffs.

This thread is not for insensitive moaning about how you're "done" with BigLaw and wish you'd get offered a sabbatical, or furloughed, or even flat-out laid off. (To the vast majority of folks, the economy crashing and the danger of getting laid off is the polar opposite of a "tremendous blessing", as one poster described it.) I've quarantined the posts in that vein in a new Lounge thread: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 0&t=305076

Any more "wishing for layoffs" trolling in this on-topic thread will result in warnings and/or bans, as warranted.
Moderator hat off

As for news regarding V100 staff pay, I leave that to the community to work out. My personal opinion (as a poster, not as a Moderator) is that we should leave staff pay out of it, especially as staff pay adjustments and even layoffs do not necessarily track or predict associate pay/layoffs. BigLaw's been shedding staff for years, as younger associates and even partners require significantly less staff support than older lawyers. Long gone are the days when you needed one secretary per lawyer.

[plmqazw]

Sorry for the Allen & Overy typo. Updated list is below. Also removing the references to staff layoffs and furloughs.

In reference to Allen & Overy's raises, my understanding is that the US associates already received their raises in Jan. or Feb., but non-US associates were supposed to receive their raises in May and will not be receiving those raises now.

• Orrick (V34) - 15% pay cut for senior associates; 10% pay cut for junior and mid-level associates; 5% pay cut for career associates
• Linklaters (V46) - Deferring 50% of its next bonus round payout and pushing back salary reviews by six months
• Allen & Overy (V47) - No raises for non-US associates
• Cadwalader (V52) - 25% pay cut for associates
• Dentons (V55) - 50% of 2019 bonuses will be paid on time and the other 50% will be paid in the second half of 2020
• Norton Rose (V66) - Optional 20% pay cut for associates in Europe, Asia and the Middle East in exchange for reduced hours req.; 10% pay cut for associates in Canada
• Nixon Peabody (V68) - 5% of associates laid off (w/3 mo. health insurance) and 5% of associates furloughed
• Venable (V70) - 20% pay cut for associates (plus additional 10% of compensation above $400k)
• Arent Fox (V77) - 25% pay cut for associates
• Bryan Cave (V82) - 15% pay cut for associates OR a sabbatical while being paid 30% of normal salary OR going onto a part-time schedule with a corresponding reduction in salary
• Blank Rome (V92) - 15% pay cut for associates

[Jchance]

I wonder what the real situation is like, given that some firms are not publicizing in light of the backlash.

[cavalier1138]

I wonder what the real situation is like, given that some firms are not publicizing in light of the backlash.

The firms listed here aren't "publicizing" anything. We're finding out through the traditional sources (associates anonymously ratting out the firm to ATL by forwarding the internal emails). So I'd say we're getting fairly accurate information.

[objctnyrhnr]

Sorry for the Allen & Overy typo. Updated list is below. Also removing the references to staff layoffs and furloughs.

In reference to Allen & Overy's raises, my understanding is that the US associates already received their raises in Jan. or Feb., but non-US associates were supposed to receive their raises in May and will not be receiving those raises now.

• Orrick (V34) - 15% pay cut for senior associates; 10% pay cut for junior and mid-level associates; 5% pay cut for career associates
• Linklaters (V46) - Deferring 50% of its next bonus round payout and pushing back salary reviews by six months
• Allen & Overy (V47) - No raises for non-US associates
• Cadwalader (V52) - 25% pay cut for associates
• Dentons (V55) - 50% of 2019 bonuses will be paid on time and the other 50% will be paid in the second half of 2020
• Norton Rose (V66) - Optional 20% pay cut for associates in Europe, Asia and the Middle East in exchange for reduced hours req.; 10% pay cut for associates in Canada
• Nixon Peabody (V68) - 5% of associates laid off (w/3 mo. health insurance) and 5% of associates furloughed
• Venable (V70) - 20% pay cut for associates (plus additional 10% of compensation above $400k)
• Arent Fox (V77) - 25% pay cut for associates
• Bryan Cave (V82) - 15% pay cut for associates OR a sabbatical while being paid 30% of normal salary OR going onto a part-time schedule with a corresponding reduction in salary
• Blank Rome (V92) - 15% pay cut for associates

Womble bond dickenson as well. Feel like there are others missing in this list too, but not sure.

[plmqazw]

Sorry for the Allen & Overy typo. Updated list is below. Also removing the references to staff layoffs and furloughs.

In reference to Allen & Overy's raises, my understanding is that the US associates already received their raises in Jan. or Feb., but non-US associates were supposed to receive their raises in May and will not be receiving those raises now.

• Orrick (V34) - 15% pay cut for senior associates; 10% pay cut for junior and mid-level associates; 5% pay cut for career associates
• Linklaters (V46) - Deferring 50% of its next bonus round payout and pushing back salary reviews by six months
• Allen & Overy (V47) - No raises for non-US associates
• Cadwalader (V52) - 25% pay cut for associates
• Dentons (V55) - 50% of 2019 bonuses will be paid on time and the other 50% will be paid in the second half of 2020
• Norton Rose (V66) - Optional 20% pay cut for associates in Europe, Asia and the Middle East in exchange for reduced hours req.; 10% pay cut for associates in Canada
• Nixon Peabody (V68) - 5% of associates laid off (w/3 mo. health insurance) and 5% of associates furloughed
• Venable (V70) - 20% pay cut for associates (plus additional 10% of compensation above $400k)
• Arent Fox (V77) - 25% pay cut for associates
• Bryan Cave (V82) - 15% pay cut for associates OR a sabbatical while being paid 30% of normal salary OR going onto a part-time schedule with a corresponding reduction in salary
• Blank Rome (V92) - 15% pay cut for associates

Womble bond dickenson as well. Feel like there are others missing in this list too, but not sure.

These are just Vault 100 firms. For a list of other large firms, as another posted noted, Above the Law has a tracker here: https://abovethelaw.com/2020/04/the-cov ... vive/?rf=1

[objctnyrhnr]

Sorry for the Allen & Overy typo. Updated list is below. Also removing the references to staff layoffs and furloughs.

In reference to Allen & Overy's raises, my understanding is that the US associates already received their raises in Jan. or Feb., but non-US associates were supposed to receive their raises in May and will not be receiving those raises now.

• Orrick (V34) - 15% pay cut for senior associates; 10% pay cut for junior and mid-level associates; 5% pay cut for career associates
• Linklaters (V46) - Deferring 50% of its next bonus round payout and pushing back salary reviews by six months
• Allen & Overy (V47) - No raises for non-US associates
• Cadwalader (V52) - 25% pay cut for associates
• Dentons (V55) - 50% of 2019 bonuses will be paid on time and the other 50% will be paid in the second half of 2020
• Norton Rose (V66) - Optional 20% pay cut for associates in Europe, Asia and the Middle East in exchange for reduced hours req.; 10% pay cut for associates in Canada
• Nixon Peabody (V68) - 5% of associates laid off (w/3 mo. health insurance) and 5% of associates furloughed
• Venable (V70) - 20% pay cut for associates (plus additional 10% of compensation above $400k)
• Arent Fox (V77) - 25% pay cut for associates
• Bryan Cave (V82) - 15% pay cut for associates OR a sabbatical while being paid 30% of normal salary OR going onto a part-time schedule with a corresponding reduction in salary
• Blank Rome (V92) - 15% pay cut for associates

Womble bond dickenson as well. Feel like there are others missing in this list too, but not sure.

These are just Vault 100 firms. For a list of other large firms, as another posted noted, Above the Law has a tracker here: https://abovethelaw.com/2020/04/the-cov ... vive/?rf=1

They placed in 2019, didn’t they?

[JF215]

I wonder what the real situation is like, given that some firms are not publicizing in light of the backlash.

The firms listed here aren't "publicizing" anything. We're finding out through the traditional sources (associates anonymously ratting out the firm to ATL by forwarding the internal emails). So I'd say we're getting fairly accurate information.

Don't think the comment was addressing accuracy as much as completeness (i.e., that this list is longer in reality).

[Sackboy]

Womble bond dickenson as well. Feel like there are others missing in this list too, but not sure.

These are just Vault 100 firms. For a list of other large firms, as another posted noted, Above the Law has a tracker here: https://abovethelaw.com/2020/04/the-cov ... vive/?rf=1

They placed in 2019, didn’t they?

It looks like they were only regionally ranked. Vault just has them at #8 in the South Atlantic

[objctnyrhnr]

Womble bond dickenson as well. Feel like there are others missing in this list too, but not sure.

These are just Vault 100 firms. For a list of other large firms, as another posted noted, Above the Law has a tracker here: https://abovethelaw.com/2020/04/the-cov ... vive/?rf=1

They placed in 2019, didn’t they?

It looks like they were only regionally ranked. Vault just has them at #8 in the South Atlantic

I thought you said amlaw. I saw on a couple sources that after a merger they were 77 in 2019.

[plmqazw]

Womble bond dickenson as well. Feel like there are others missing in this list too, but not sure.

These are just Vault 100 firms. For a list of other large firms, as another posted noted, Above the Law has a tracker here: https://abovethelaw.com/2020/04/the-cov ... vive/?rf=1

They placed in 2019, didn’t they?

It looks like they were only regionally ranked. Vault just has them at #8 in the South Atlantic

I thought you said amlaw. I saw on a couple sources that after a merger they were 77 in 2019.

For clarity, I'm going off of this 2020 list: https://www.vault.com/best-companies-to ... s-rankings

[objctnyrhnr]

Womble bond dickenson as well. Feel like there are others missing in this list too, but not sure.

These are just Vault 100 firms. For a list of other large firms, as another posted noted, Above the Law has a tracker here: https://abovethelaw.com/2020/04/the-cov ... vive/?rf=1

They placed in 2019, didn’t they?

It looks like they were only regionally ranked. Vault just has them at #8 in the South Atlantic

I thought you said amlaw. I saw on a couple sources that after a merger they were 77 in 2019.

For clarity, I'm going off of this 2020 list: https://www.vault.com/best-companies-to ... s-rankings

Got it that’s my bad. I was conflating vault and amlaw I think.

That being said, since amlaw is an objective measurement (size) and vault is just associates‘ subjective ideas about reputation, wouldn’t it make more sense to do amlaw? I think they generally will correlate but there will be some outliers such as womble.

Either way, appreciate the service that you are doing. Thanks for the work.

[Jchance]

Yes to completeness, not necessarily accuracy.

Lower Vault ranking fluctuates from year to year (e.g., some firms drop out), it makes more sense to use something more stable like AmLaw.

[Anonymous User]

Attorney pay cuts just announced for Baker McKenzie, but no specifics

[plmqazw]

Womble bond dickenson as well. Feel like there are others missing in this list too, but not sure.

These are just Vault 100 firms. For a list of other large firms, as another posted noted, Above the Law has a tracker here: https://abovethelaw.com/2020/04/the-cov ... vive/?rf=1

They placed in 2019, didn’t they?

It looks like they were only regionally ranked. Vault just has them at #8 in the South Atlantic

I thought you said amlaw. I saw on a couple sources that after a merger they were 77 in 2019.

For clarity, I'm going off of this 2020 list: https://www.vault.com/best-companies-to ... s-rankings

Got it that’s my bad. I was conflating vault and amlaw I think.

That being said, since amlaw is an objective measurement (size) and vault is just associates‘ subjective ideas about reputation, wouldn’t it make more sense to do amlaw? I think they generally will correlate but there will be some outliers such as womble.

Either way, appreciate the service that you are doing. Thanks for the work.

I know Vault is stupid but I couldn't get past AmLaw's paywall, sadly.

[objctnyrhnr]

Attorney pay cuts just announced for Baker McKenzie, but no specifics

Anon, are you an associate there? Or more specifically what’s the source?

[Anonymous User]

Attorney pay cuts just announced for Baker McKenzie, but no specifics

Anon, are you an associate there? Or more specifically what’s the source?

Yes

[BKing]

Arent Fox: https://abovethelaw.com/2020/04/lawyers ... 0-percent/