The move is being viewed as a means to better compensate more hours billed in times of high demand, but without “actively encouraging a drive to a high billable culture.”

       

Clifford Chance has adapted how it calculates its associate bonuses in the U.K. in what is being described as a “move towards” a more U.S.-style associate bonus pay structure, according to several people close to the matter.

One of the people said that, while the firm continues to champion “well-rounded” performances from its juniors, the move is designed to better reward associates “in times of exceptional demand,” who will receive payouts more “commensurate to compensation available at U.S. firms”.