2017 (Preview) Bonus Thread Forum

[TFALAWL]

Now that the hangover has worn off from our new raises, let's get greedy and begin speculating about bonus season!

[Anonymous User]

BUMP

[h2go]

I think it will be the same as last year.

[LaLiLuLeLo]

I hope Cravath goes all in for 2016 and tries to push the market into tiers by upping the bonuses this year. For purely selfish reasons, of course.

[Anonymous User]

Anticipating $40,000 but hoping for $60,000.

[dixiecupdrinking]

My guess is market stays the same as last year, but you see firms that shouldn't have gone to the $180k scale doing sneaky things to avoid matching market bonuses, with total comp at those firms only slightly increased over last year.

[Anonymous User]

4th year really hoping for the bump to 75K even, but I don't think it will happen. M+A and BIGLIT has been slower than last year although things are picking up now.

[KM2016]

Pretty sure bonuses will stay flat this year and mirror last year, but I have (probably false) hope that Cravath will try to distance itself from the pretenders and raise bonuses, effectively creating a divide between elite and non-elite firms that can't afford to hang. In this case, firms with $2M+ PPP would probably follow, while others don't or create schemes where they pretend to pay market but impose a bunch of conditions that deny many associates the new market bonus.

[Pokemon]

Overall, effective rate, think bonuses will go down. I do not think firms would do it in obvious ways like pay less for someone hitting the hours. Instead, they will not prorate as much people considerably above their hours or slightly below.

[Anonymous User]

What are the bonuses at Proskauer generally? In NYC v non-NYC markets

[zot1]

$0

[jbagelboy]

Pretty sure bonuses will stay flat this year and mirror last year, but I have (probably false) hope that Cravath will try to distance itself from the pretenders and raise bonuses, effectively creating a divide between elite and non-elite firms that can't afford to hang. In this case, firms with $2M+ PPP would probably follow, while others don't or create schemes where they pretend to pay market but impose a bunch of conditions that deny many associates the new market bonus.

ppl say this with every raise, but everyone always matches

[Monochromatic Oeuvre]

People get angry about their firm matching bonuses, but seemingly not quite as mad about their firm having some stupidly high hours requirement. My guess is you'll see hours creep up, or dinging people for late time, things like that.

[anonnymouse]

Wouldn't be surprised to see some compression for junior and midlevels e.g.:

$10k
$20k
$40k
$60k
$80k
$90k
$100k

Probability matrix: 10% compression; 88% flat; 2% expansion. Compression unlikely but I wouldn't be surprised. Partners can justify by pointing to total comp increase.

[anonnymouse]

More importantly, when will Cravath announce? Since they reestablished as market, I see an earlier announcement than last year. Monday 11/28.

[2014]

NY to $20k (and up) - believing is seeing

[Anonymous User]

Sources in the industry are expecting a slight decrease across the board due to the salary increases, but would not be surprised if Cravath tries to separate themselves from the peons of the V50-V100.

[h2go]

Sources in the industry are expecting a slight decrease across the board due to the salary increases, but would not be surprised if Cravath tries to separate themselves from the peons of the V50-V100.

Most of the V50-V100 don't really give market bonuses anyways.

[KM2016]

If Trump wins bonuses go *poof*

[Toni V]

Sources in the industry are expecting a slight decrease across the board due to the salary increases, but would not be surprised if Cravath tries to separate themselves from the peons of the V50-V100.

Most of the V50-V100 don't really give market bonuses anyways.

Name 2 V50-V100 firms that do not give markets bonuses.

(I'd be surprised if you can name one.)

[h2go]

Sources in the industry are expecting a slight decrease across the board due to the salary increases, but would not be surprised if Cravath tries to separate themselves from the peons of the V50-V100.

Most of the V50-V100 don't really give market bonuses anyways.

Name 2 V50-V100 firms that do not give markets bonuses.

(I'd be surprised if you can name one.)

I don't even need to go down to V50-100. Jones Day, Baker Botts, and Arnold Porter didn't pay market last year.

http://abovethelaw.com/2016/01/associat ... t-bonuses/

http://abovethelaw.com/2016/01/associat ... -new-year/

[RaceJudicata]

Sources in the industry are expecting a slight decrease across the board due to the salary increases, but would not be surprised if Cravath tries to separate themselves from the peons of the V50-V100.

Most of the V50-V100 don't really give market bonuses anyways.

Name 2 V50-V100 firms that do not give markets bonuses.

(I'd be surprised if you can name one.)

Lol... off the top of my head, Seyfarth Shaw (88) and Littler Mendelson (96) don't pay market comp for first years, let alone mid-level and above...and certainly don't pay market bonuses. There are many others, these two just popped in my head.

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone done the legwork on what date in November or December bonuses were first announced for the past, say, 5 years?

[Tiago Splitter]

Has anyone done the legwork on what date in November or December bonuses were first announced for the past, say, 5 years?

Can someone data mine when bonuses were announced historically?

TYIA

Already did this like a week ago in anticipation (all announcements by CSM unless otherwise noted):

2014: 11/21 (preempted by STB; edit: I think CSM matched STB on 11/24 before getting falcon punched by DPW)
2013: 12/2
2012: 11/26
2011: 11/28
2010: 11/22
2009: 11/2
2008: 11/20 (preempted by Skadden on 11/19)
2007: 10/29

The only other year with a December announcement in the last 9 was 2013. Pre-ITE, seems like CSM announced in advance of Thanksgiving. ITE, announcements have been the Monday following Thanksgiving (except last year and this year).

Last year was weirdly late with the announcement not until December 7.

[Abbie Doobie]

Sources in the industry are expecting a slight decrease across the board due to the salary increases, but would not be surprised if Cravath tries to separate themselves from the peons of the V50-V100.

Most of the V50-V100 don't really give market bonuses anyways.

Name 2 V50-V100 firms that do not give markets bonuses.

(I'd be surprised if you can name one.)

I don't even need to go down to V50-100. Jones Day, Baker Botts, and Arnold Porter didn't pay market last year.

http://abovethelaw.com/2016/01/associat ... t-bonuses/

http://abovethelaw.com/2016/01/associat ... -new-year/

also worth mentioning that practically no one in the v50-100 pays cravath-style lockstep bonuses