Top US Law Firms Award $300,000-Plus Bonuses to Associates

The Financial Times reported that mid-level lawyers at some US firms are receiving bonuses exceeding $300,000 this month as top firms battle to hire and retain star performers in an increasingly competitive legal market.

New York law firm Cahill Gordon & Reindel announced total bonuses for associates worth up to $315,000, including a "super bonus" of up to $200,000 for top performers. Litigation boutique Elsberg Baker & Maruri will pay bonuses of up to $226,250, while Chicago-headquartered Katten Muchin Rosenman offered as much as $172,500 plus "superstar bonuses."

Jon Truster at Macrae noted the intensity of the competition. "Competition for mid-level and senior associates is intense right now, driven by an active deal market and major litigations," he told the FT. "Many are investing heavily in initiatives designed to keep associates engaged and satisfied, including paying sizeable bonuses."

The large payouts to associates—who tend to be in their twenties and early to mid-thirties—underscore how competitive the legal market has become, with the best-paid lawyers now roughly on par with their investment banking peers. The majority of large US law firms use the Cravath scale, which reaches $140,000 for top performers, though some firms are significantly exceeding this benchmark. The bonuses come as law firm revenues rise due to higher fees and greater demand, with research showing revenues among 185 firms surveyed rose by an average of 11.3% in the first nine months of 2025.

Read the full Financial Times article here: Top US law firms hand associates $300,000-plus bonuses

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