The post All Associates Want For Christmas Is… More Money: The 2025 ATL Bonus Tracker appeared first on Above the Law.
Firm
Date Matched
Minimum Hours
Payout Date
Cravath
Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2018: $115K / $25K
November 18, 2025
None
December 12, 2025
Paul Hastings
Class of 2024: $20K / $6K
Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K
November 18, 2025
2000 hours
Undisclosed
Cadwalader
Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2017: $115K / $25K
November 18, 2054
Additional bonuses “equal to 120% of [market bonuses]” for high billers with 2200 hours or more
By or before end of February 2026
Fried Frank
Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K
November 19, 2025
1850 hours for special bonus (including billable, pro bono, qualified nonbillable, and firm matter hours); associates eligible for “premium” bonus ranging from $3K to $34.5K for 2200 hours or 2450 hours
On or before December 31, 2025
McDermott Will & Schulte
Class of 2025: $0 / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K
November 19, 2025
2000 hours (merit bonuses available for eligible associates; “two-thirds” of legacy MWE associates will see bonuses above market)
December 26, 2025 (legacy MWE) / January 16, 2026 (legacy SRZ)
Dechert
Class of 2024: $20K / $6K
Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K
November 19, 2025
1950 hours (client billable, pro bono, firm as client, maximum of 50 community hours); associates who exceeded hours expectations eligible to receive an “extraordinary” bonus (i.e., 2200 hours = addt’l 30%; 2400+ hours = addt’l 40%)
By or before end of January 2026
Wilkinson Stekloff
Class of 2025: $22.5K / $0 spring bonus
Class of 2017+: $172.5K / $60K spring bonus
November 19, 2025
None
By December 15, 2025
Ropes & Gray
Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2017+: $130K / $25K
November 20, 2024
1900 creditable hours (bonuses “may be increased up to 150% of the year-end bonus amounts” for those who have billed “materially more” than 1900 hours)
Undisclosed
Hogan Lovells
Class of 2024: $20K / $6K
Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K
November 20, 2025
2000 hours; additional bonuses available include incremental hours-based bonuses, discretionary bonuses, and business-generation bonuses
End of December 2025
Vartabedian Hester & Haynes
Class of 2025: $21K (total bonus, including $5K summer bonus)
Class of 2018: $140K (total bonus, including $5K summer bonus)
November 20, 2025
1800 hours
On or before December 31, 2025
Paul Weiss
Class of 2025: $15K / $6K
Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K
November 21, 2025
None (additional discretionary bonuses for “outsized contributions”)
December 22, 2025; discretionary bonuses to be paid in early 2026
Proskauer
Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2017: $115K / $25K
November 21, 2025
2000 hours
On or before December 24, 2025
Baker Botts
Class of 2024: $20K / $6K
Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K
November 21, 2025
2000 hours (1800 client billable hours and 200 non-client billable hours, including pro bono, business development, etc.); “enhanced” bonuses available for “exceptional” performance
Undisclosed
Davis Polk
Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K
November 21, 2025
None
December 30, 2025
White & Case
Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2018: $115K / $25K
November 21, 2025
Eligibility criteria detailed in separate memo
February 13, 2026
Debevoise
Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K
November 21, 2025
None
Undisclosed
Skadden
Class of 2025: $15K / $6K
Class of 2018+: $115K or $125K / $25K
November 21, 2025
1800 “productive hours” (including unlimited pro bono time and up to 150 hours of productive non-billable work)
December 15, 2025
Cleary
Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K
November 21, 2025
None
December 19, 2025
A&O Shearman
Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K
November 21, 2025
2000 hours (including a minimum of 25 pro bono hours and up to 100 investment hours (e.g., DEI/mental health; personal development/training; community involvement; management & talent development; knowledge development; origination, client relationships, business development; and market innovation group)); associates eligible for an “enhanced year-end bonus” if they “significantly exceed” the firm’s hourly requirements
Undisclosed
Covington
Class of 2025: $15K / $6K
Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K
November 21, 2025
1950 hours (including pro bono and up to 50 DEI hours)
January 2026
Vinson & Elkins
Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K
November 24, 2025
Based on hours and good standing
On or about January 30, 2026
Simpson Thacher
Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2018: $115K / $25K
November 24, 2025
Undisclosed
December 2025
Morgan Lewis
Class of 2024: $20K / $6K
Class of 2018: $115K / $25K
November 24, 2025
1900+ hours (20 of which must be pro bono hours)
January 2026
Milbank
Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (paid 9/25)
Class of 2017: $115K / $25K (paid 9/25)
November 24, 2025
None
December 31, 2025
Willkie Farr
Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K
November 24, 2025
None
December 31, 2025
Weil Gotshal
Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K
November 25, 2025
None
January 30, 2026
Holwell Shuster
Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2018: $115K / $25K
November 25, 2025
None
On or before December 31, 2025
Linklaters
Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K
November 26, 2025
1900 hours (including unlimited pro bono, up to 400 hours of marketing, and other work)
Undisclosed
Clifford Chance
Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K
November 26, 2025
None (based on overall performance, quality of work, contributions to firm, teamwork, and pro bono)
January 15, 2026
Perkins Coie
Class of 2025: $6K
Class of 2018+: $25K
November 26, 2025
Undisclosed; year-end bonuses announced separately
December 31, 2025
Sidley
Class of 2024: $15K / $6K
Class of 2017: $115K / $25K
December 1, 2025
2000 hours required for base bonuses; associates with “higher productivity and/or exceptional performance” will receive additional bonuses, in some cases “more than 50% above base bonus”
Prior to December 31, 2025
Sheppard Mullin
A1: $15K / $6K
C2: $115K / $25K
December 2, 2025
2000 hours for base bonus (associates who record 1950 hours will receive a partial bonus; associates who record 2200 and 2400 hours will receive 110% and 120% of the market bonus); 2000 hours for special bonus
January 16, 2026
McKool Smith
Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2018: $115K / $25K
December 2, 2025
Undisclosed; high billers will receive additional bonus money, with some exceeding the market scale more than 35%; firm previously awarded Thanksgiving bonuses based on tenure at the firm (ranging from $2.5K to $10K)
December 19, 2025
Cahill
Class of 2025: $15K / $7.5K (prorated)
Class of 2017: $115K / $40K
December 4, 2025
Undisclosed; select associates in Classes of 2018-2022 who have demonstrated “extraordinary” performance eligible for a “super bonus” up to $200K (based on performance and seniority) in lieu of special bonus
Second half of January 2026
Katten
Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K
December 4, 2025
2000 hours (2100 hours for $16.5K-$126.5K; 2200 hours for $18K-$138K; 2300 hours for $19.5K-$149.5K; 2400 hours for $22.5K-$172.5K); additional “superstar” bonuses available
Undisclosed
Orrick
Assoc Year 1: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Senior Assoc Year 2+: $115K / $25K
December 4, 2025
Overmarket merit bonuses for those who have displayed “exceptional performance”
December 31, 2025 (special bonuses); mid-February 2025 (merit bonuses)
Morrison & Foerster
Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K
December 4, 2025
Undisclosed; high hours bonus of 10/20/40% of base by class year ($16.5K (prorated) to $161K) and merit incentive bonus of 10/20% of base + high hours by class year ($16.5K (prorated) to $193.2K) also available; potential bonus total by class year of $21K to $218.2K
February 13, 2026
Kellogg Hansen
Assoc Year 1: $65K median / $75K high / $30K special
Assoc Year 6: $225K median/$300K high / $55K special
Of Counsel: $60K
December 9, 2025; December 10, 2025
Undisclosed; year-end bonuses announced separately
Undisclosed
Yetter Coleman
Class of 2025: $21K (prorated)
Class of 2018+: $140K
December 9, 2025
Undisclosed; bonuses expected to be “significantly higher” than market for “almost all” associates
December 11, 2025
Dunn Isaacson Rhee
Bonuses ranging from $21K to $140K (based on seniority) / Special bonus $35K for all class years
December 9, 2025
Undisclosed
Undisclosed
Boies Schiller
Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K
December 10, 2025
2000 hours for associates on the “market” system; more than 88% of associates received bonuses as high as, and in most cases higher than market system bonuses; some junior associates received bonuses of $200K+ or $300K+, top associate bonuses were more than 8 times what they would have received under the market system
December 12, 2025
Ross Aronstam
Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K
December 10, 2025
None
Undisclosed
Sullivan & Cromwell
Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K
December 10, 2025
Undisclosed
Before Christmas 2025
Freshfields
Class of 2025: $15K / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K
December 10, 2025
Undisclosed
December 30, 2025
Perry Law
Class of 2025: $20K / $6K
Class of 2018: $120K / $25K
December 10, 2025
Undisclosed
By or before the end of December 2025
Pallas Partners
Class of 2024: $20K / $6K
Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K
December 11, 2025
2000 hours for base bonus; step up bonuses for all class years and counsel based on hours (2100 hours for 15% more; 2200 hours for 30% more; 2350 hours for 50% more; 2400 hours for 60% more; 2500 hours for 80% more)
Undisclosed
Axinn
Class of 2025: $20K (prorated) / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K
December 11, 2025
2000 hours (some associates earned bonuses of up to $100K above market; others earned total bonuses of up to $240K)
December 19, 2025
Elsberg Baker & Maruri
Class of 2025: $26.25K / $6K
Class of 2015+: $201.25K / $25K
December 11, 2025
Undisclosed
December 19, 2025
Cohen Ziffer
Class of 2024: $20K / $6K
Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K
December 12, 2025
Undisclosed
December 19, 2025
Bursor & Fisher
Class of 2024: $50K
Class of 2023+: $100K+
December 12, 2025
Undisclosed; bonuses are based on business origination and revenue; highest bonus awarded was $770K+
Undisclosed
Glenn Agre
Class of 2025: $15K (prorated) / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2018: $115K / $25K
December 12, 2025
Undisclosed; associates will be eligible to receive a “premium” above base bonuses if they’ve shown “extraordinary dedication and/or performance” this year
December 19, 2025
Massumi + Consoli
Class of 2025: $2.5K / $1.5K
Class of 2017: $115K / $25K
December 15, 2025
1900 hours
December 19, 2025
Goodwin
Class of 2024: $20K / $6K
Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K
December 15, 2025
1900 hours (including pro bono hours and up to 100 hours of culture & innovation hours); counsel eligible for $25K special bonus as well as individualized bonuses; department and discovery attorneys eligible for $6K special bonus; individualized bonuses for all Global Operations Team members
January 30, 2026
Susman Godfrey
Class of 2023: $130K (median)
Class of 2016: $280K (median)
December 16, 2025
None
Undisclosed
Arnold & Porter
Class of 2025: $15K (prorated) / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K
December 16, 2025
2000-2199 hours (1800 billable) for year-end bonus; 2200-2399 hours (2000 billable) for special bonus
Undisclosed
Selendy Gay
Class of 2025: $17.25K / $6K
Class of 2018+: $132.25K / $25K
December 16, 2025
None (some associates will receive even more bonus money based on performance, hours, and firm citizenship; some associates received bonuses more than 50% above market)
Undisclosed
Irell & Manella
Class of 2025: $45K (prorated) / N/A
Class of 2017+: $175K / $42K
December 16, 2025
Undisclosed
December 19, 2025
Gjerset & Lorenz
Class of 2025: $21K
Class of 2018: $140K
December 16, 2025
1900 hours for base bonus; 2000 hours for $26K-$180K bonus; 2100 hours for $34K-$200K bonus; 2200 hours for $41K-$215K bonus; maximum potential bonuses of $61K-$355K; additional bonuses of up to $160K to be paid out over the next four quarters, with the first installment on March 31, 2026
December 19, 2025
Groombridge Wu
Class of 2025: $30K
Class of 2018: $155K
December 17, 2025
Undisclosed
Undisclosed
Foley & Lardner
Tier I, Year 1 (2024): $20K / $6K
Sr. Counsel: $115K / $25K
December 17, 2025
1950 hours for partial special bonus (ranging from $3K to $12.5K); 2000 hours for partial year-end bonus (ranging from $12.5K to $65K); 2000 hours for market special bonus; 2100 hours for market year-end bonus; 2200 hours for above-market year-end bonus (ranging from $40K to $140K)
End of January 2026
HSF Kramer
Class of 2024: $20K / $6K
Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K
December 17, 2025
Undisclosed
February 13, 2026
Hueston Hennigan
December 17, 2025
All associates in good standing reportedly received above-market bonuses, and in some cases, near or more than double the market bonus
Undisclosed
WilmerHale
Class of 2025: $15K (prorated) / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K
December 18, 2025
Undisclosed
Undisclosed
Seward & Kissel
Class of 2024: $15K / $7.5K
Class of 2018+: $115K / $40K
December 18, 2025
2000 total hours for year-end bonus, with at least 1850 billable hours and up to 150 qualified non-billable hours; 2200 total hours for special bonus, with at least 2050 billable hours and up to 150 qualified non-billable hours; special contribution bonus for associates who exceed the billable hours req for special bonus (based on hours by which they exceed target of 2200)
First quarter of 2026
King & Spalding
Class of 2025: $15K (prorated) / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K
December 19, 2025
Undisclosed
Undisclosed
Haynes Boone
Class of 2025: $15K (prorated) / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K
December 19, 2025
2000 creditable hours (billable hours and 100 pro bono hours, plus up to 50 inclusion & engagement hours); all associates eligible to receive “catch-up” bonuses if their performance later meets hourly standards
Undisclosed
Alston & Bird
Class of 2025: $15K (prorated) / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K
December 19, 2025
2000 hours for base bonus and special bonus
Undisclosed
Rolnick Kramer Sadighi
Class of 2025: $15K (prorated) / $6K (prorated)
Class of 2018+: $115K / $25K
December 22, 2025
Undisclosed; the firm reportedly awarded associate bonuses that in some cases were “significantly” above market
Undisclosed
