Cadwalader hasn’t enjoyed the smoothest 2025.
Key partners defected, the firm announced a snap leadership shakeup, and finally admitted they’re looking for a merger proposal with Alston & Bird. And that “Trump administration capitulation” story didn’t help. But, as the year winds down, firm lawyers can look past 2025 and comfort themselves with a tidy bonus match.
At 6:02, the co-managing partners sent out the memo laying out the following baseline bonuses:
Class Year Year-End Bonus Class of 2025 $15,000 (pro-rated) Class of 2024 $20,000 Class of 2023 $30,000 Class of 2022 $57,500 Class of 2021 $75,000 Class of 2020 $90,000 Class of 2019 $105,000 Class of 2018 and 2017 $115,000 For those recording 2200 hours or more throughout the year, their year-end bonus will be 120% of the amounts listed above.
But that’s not all. Cadwalader is also matching special bonuses according to the below schedule.
Year Special Bonus Class of 2025 $6,000 (pro-rated) Class of 2024 $6,000 Class of 2023 $10,000 Class of 2022 $15,000 Class of 2021 $20,000 Class of 2020 $25,000 Class of 2019 $25,000 Class of 2018 and 2017 $25,000
The bonuses will be paid out by the last February pay period.
Not bad for a firm potentially going to the (Alston &) Birds.
(Full memo on the next page.)
Joe Patrice is a senior editor at Above the Law and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. Feel free to email any tips, questions, or comments. Follow him on Twitter or Bluesky if you’re interested in law, politics, and a healthy dose of college sports news. Joe also serves as a Managing Director at RPN Executive Search.
The post Bonus News Drops As Firm Engages In Merger Talks appeared first on Above the Law.
Cadwalader hasn’t enjoyed the smoothest 2025.
Key partners defected, the firm announced a snap leadership shakeup, and finally admitted they’re looking for a merger proposal with Alston & Bird. And that “Trump administration capitulation” story didn’t help. But, as the year winds down, firm lawyers can look past 2025 and comfort themselves with a tidy bonus match.
At 6:02, the co-managing partners sent out the memo laying out the following baseline bonuses:
Class Year Year-End Bonus Class of 2025 $15,000 (pro-rated) Class of 2024 $20,000 Class of 2023 $30,000 Class of 2022 $57,500 Class of 2021 $75,000 Class of 2020 $90,000 Class of 2019 $105,000 Class of 2018 and 2017 $115,000 But that’s not all, with special bonuses available for those recording 2200 hours or more throughout the year:
Year Special Bonus Class of 2025 $6,000 (pro-rated) Class of 2024 $6,000 Class of 2023 $10,000 Class of 2022 $15,000 Class of 2021 $20,000 Class of 2020 $25,000 Class of 2019 $25,000 Class of 2018 and 2017 $25,000
The bonuses will be paid out by the last February pay period.
Not bad for a firm potentially going to the (Alston &) Birds.
(Full memo on the next page.)
Joe Patrice is a senior editor at Above the Law and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. Feel free to email any tips, questions, or comments. Follow him on Twitter or Bluesky if you’re interested in law, politics, and a healthy dose of college sports news. Joe also serves as a Managing Director at RPN Executive Search.
