Since we broke the news of the new $235K salary scale for associates at large law firms in the United States — a trend that was started by Milbank on Tuesday, June 2, 2026 — firms are quickly falling in line to match the scale. In addition to these hefty new salaries, Biglaw and boutique firms alike are rolling out seasonal bonuses. When will your firm announce its new salary and bonus scales for associates?
Today, for your viewing pleasure, we unveil tables of all of the firms that have already matched the new salary scale (or instituted raises, generally, because of the new salary scale) and bonus scales, the date those matches were made, the minimum hours generally required at those firms to receive bonuses (if available), and the date bonuses will be paid (if available). We presume all raises are effective July 1, 2026. We will be updating this table on a daily basis, sometimes multiple times, as news on raises and bonuses unfolds. If you see any information here that is incorrect or needs clarification, let us know.
We are covering this trend extensively, so please drop us a line — text (646-820-8477) or email (subject line: “[Firm Name] Matches”) — when you know of a firm making a compensation move. Please include the memo if available. You can take a photo of the memo and send it via text or email if you don’t want to forward the original PDF or Word file. Sources are kept confidential.
Don’t forget, if you’d like to sign up for ATL’s Bonus Alerts, please enter your email address in the box below. If you previously signed up for the bonus alerts, you don’t need to do anything. You’ll receive an email notification within minutes of each compensation announcement that we publish. Cheers to a happy bonus and raise season, everyone!
BONUSES
| Firm | Date Matched | Minimum Hours | Payout Date |
| Selendy Gay Bonuses up to $25K |
May 27, 2026 | Bonuses awarded to associates on track to meet their billable expectations | Undisclosed |
| Hueston Hennigan Bonuses ranging from $10K to $35K, regardless of class year |
May 29, 2026 | 2000 hours (higher bonuses for higher hours) | Undisclosed |
| Dunn Isaacson Rhee Bonuses ranging from $10K to $25K, based on class year |
June 4, 2026 | Undisclosed (additional bonus money possible for those who have had an “outsized impact”) | Undisclosed |
| Firm | Salaries | Minimum Hours |
| Milbank FIRST MOVER June 2, 2026 |
Class of 2026/2025: $235K Class of 2018: $455K |
None |
| McDermott June 2, 2026 |
Class of 2026/2025: $235K Class of 2018: $455K |
2000 hours |
| Hueston Hennigan June 2, 2026 |
Class of 2026/2025: $235K Class of 2018: $455K |
Undisclosed |
| Vartabedian Katz Hester Haynes June 3, 2026 |
Class of 2026/2025: $235K Class of 2018+: $455K |
1800 hours |
| Quinn Emanuel June 4, 2026 |
Class of 2026/2025: $235K Class of 2018: $455K |
2000 hours |
| Katten June 4, 2026 |
Class of 2026/2025: $235K Class of 2019+: $440K |
2000 hours |
Staci Zaretsky is the managing editor of Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Bluesky, X/Twitter, and Threads, or connect with her on LinkedIn.
The post Associate Compensation Scorecard: The 2026 Summer Of Salary Increases appeared first on Above the Law.
Since we broke the news of the new $235K salary scale for associates at large law firms in the United States — a trend that was started by Milbank on Tuesday, June 2, 2026 — firms are quickly falling in line to match the scale. In addition to these hefty new salaries, Biglaw and boutique firms alike are rolling out seasonal bonuses. When will your firm announce its new salary and bonus scales for associates?
Today, for your viewing pleasure, we unveil tables of all of the firms that have already matched the new salary scale (or instituted raises, generally, because of the new salary scale) and bonus scales, the date those matches were made, the minimum hours generally required at those firms to receive bonuses (if available), and the date bonuses will be paid (if available). We presume all raises are effective July 1, 2026. We will be updating this table on a daily basis, sometimes multiple times, as news on raises and bonuses unfolds. If you see any information here that is incorrect or needs clarification, let us know.
We are covering this trend extensively, so please drop us a line — text (646-820-8477) or email (subject line: “[Firm Name] Matches”) — when you know of a firm making a compensation move. Please include the memo if available. You can take a photo of the memo and send it via text or email if you don’t want to forward the original PDF or Word file. Sources are kept confidential.
Don’t forget, if you’d like to sign up for ATL’s Bonus Alerts, please enter your email address in the box below. If you previously signed up for the bonus alerts, you don’t need to do anything. You’ll receive an email notification within minutes of each compensation announcement that we publish. Cheers to a happy bonus and raise season, everyone!
BONUSES
| Firm | Date Matched | Minimum Hours | Payout Date |
| Selendy Gay Bonuses up to $25K |
May 27, 2026 | Bonuses awarded to associates on track to meet their billable expectations | Undisclosed |
| Hueston Hennigan Bonuses ranging from $10K to $35K, regardless of class year |
May 29, 2026 | 2000 hours (higher bonuses for higher hours) | Undisclosed |
| Dunn Isaacson Rhee Bonuses ranging from $10K to $25K, based on class year |
June 4, 2026 | Undisclosed (additional bonus money possible for those who have had an “outsized impact”) | Undisclosed |
| Firm | Salaries | Minimum Hours | |
| Milbank FIRST MOVER June 2, 2026 |
Class of 2026/2025: $235K Class of 2018: $455K |
None | |
| McDermott June 2, 2026 |
Class of 2026/2025: $235K Class of 2018: $455K |
2000 hours | |
| Hueston Hennigan June 2, 2026 |
Class of 2026/2025: $235K Class of 2018: $455K |
Undisclosed | |
| Vartabedian Katz Hester Haynes June 3, 2026 |
Class of 2026/2025: $235K Class of 2018+: $455K |
1800 hours | |
| Quinn Emanuel June 4, 2026 |
Class of 2026/2025: $235K Class of 2018: $455K |
2000 hours | |
| Katten June 4, 2026 |
Class of 2026/2025: $235K Class of 2019+: $440K |
2000 hours |
Staci Zaretsky is the managing editor of Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Bluesky, X/Twitter, and Threads, or connect with her on LinkedIn.
