{"id":138794,"date":"2025-12-11T15:56:15","date_gmt":"2025-12-11T23:56:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/2025\/12\/11\/top-15-global-biglaw-firm-unveils-its-year-end-bonus-scale\/"},"modified":"2025-12-11T15:56:15","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T23:56:15","slug":"top-15-global-biglaw-firm-unveils-its-year-end-bonus-scale","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/2025\/12\/11\/top-15-global-biglaw-firm-unveils-its-year-end-bonus-scale\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 15 Global Biglaw Firm Unveils Its Year-End Bonus Scale"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Biglaw\u2019s bonus season is moving right on schedule, with firms steadily matching the now-prevailing scales. <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/11\/cravath-starts-biglaws-bonus-season-with-year-end-and-special-bonuses\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Cravath<\/a> once again set the year-end bonus structure, while <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/08\/milbank-issues-summer-bonuses\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Milbank<\/a> set the bar for special bonus scales, and the industry has wasted no time following suit. One by one, firms are confirming that this year\u2019s bonus picture looks very familiar \u2014 and very lucrative \u2014 for associates. <\/p>\n<p>The latest firm to match the market is Freshfields, which brought in\u00a0$2,981,807,000 gross revenue in 2024, putting it at No. 13 on the Global 100. Here\u2019s what the scale looks like at the firm:<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"493\" height=\"221\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/abovethelaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/12\/Freshfields-Bonus-Scale-2025.jpg?resize=493%2C221&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1174660\" title=\"\"><figcaption><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Bonuses will hit bank accounts on December 30, paving the way for a very happy new year. Congratulations to everyone at Freshfields!<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Remember everyone, we depend on your tips to stay on top of compensation updates, so when your firm announces or matches, please text us (646-820-8477) or\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:tips@abovethelaw.com?subject=%5BFirm%20Name%5D%20Bonus\/Matches\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">email us<\/a>\u00a0(subject line: \u201c[Firm Name] Bonus\/Matches\u201d). Please include the memo if available. You can take a photo of the memo and send it via text or email if you don\u2019t want to forward the original PDF or Word file.<\/p>\n<p>And if you\u2019d like to sign up for ATL\u2019s Bonus Alerts (which is the alert list we also use for salary announcements), please scroll down and enter your email address in the box below this post. If you previously signed up for the bonus alerts, you don\u2019t need to do anything. You\u2019ll receive an email notification within minutes of each bonus announcement that we publish. Thanks for your help!<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"150\" height=\"100\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/abovethelaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/11\/Staci-Zaretsky.jpg?resize=150%2C100&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-66762\" title=\"\"><figcaption><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong><em><a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/author\/staci-zaretsky\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Staci Zaretsky<\/a>\u00a0is the managing editor of Above the Law, where she\u2019s worked since 2011. She\u2019d love to hear from you, so please feel free to <a href=\"mailto:staci@abovethelaw.com\">email<\/a> her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/stacizaretsky.bsky.social\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Bluesky<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/stacizaretsky\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">X\/Twitter<\/a>, and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.threads.net\/@stacizaretsky\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Threads<\/a>,\u00a0or connect with her on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/staci-zaretsky\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">LinkedIn<\/a><\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/12\/top-15-global-biglaw-firm-unveils-its-year-end-bonus-scale\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Top 15 Global Biglaw Firm Unveils Its Year-End Bonus Scale<\/a> appeared first on <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Above the Law<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"post-single__featured-image post-single__featured-image--medium alignright\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/abovethelaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/06\/globe-world-money-cash-pay-raise-bonus-global-international-300x200.jpg?resize=300%2C200&#038;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n<p>Biglaw\u2019s bonus season is moving right on schedule, with firms steadily matching the now-prevailing scales. <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/11\/cravath-starts-biglaws-bonus-season-with-year-end-and-special-bonuses\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Cravath<\/a> once again set the year-end bonus structure, while <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/08\/milbank-issues-summer-bonuses\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Milbank<\/a> set the bar for special bonus scales, and the industry has wasted no time following suit. One by one, firms are confirming that this year\u2019s bonus picture looks very familiar \u2014 and very lucrative \u2014 for associates. <\/p>\n<p>The latest firm to match the market is Freshfields, which brought in\u00a0$2,981,807,000 gross revenue in 2024, putting it at No. 13 on the Global 100. Here\u2019s what the scale looks like at the firm:<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"493\" height=\"221\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/abovethelaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/12\/Freshfields-Bonus-Scale-2025.jpg?resize=493%2C221&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1174660\" title=\"\"><figcaption><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Bonuses will hit bank accounts on December 30, paving the way for a very happy new year. Congratulations to everyone at Freshfields!<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Remember everyone, we depend on your tips to stay on top of compensation updates, so when your firm announces or matches, please text us (646-820-8477) or\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#54203d24271435363b2231203c313835237a373b396b2721363e31372069716116123d26397166641a353931716110716664163b3a21277b193520373c3127\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">email us<\/a>\u00a0(subject line: \u201c[Firm Name] Bonus\/Matches\u201d). Please include the memo if available. You can take a photo of the memo and send it via text or email if you don\u2019t want to forward the original PDF or Word file.<\/p>\n<p>And if you\u2019d like to sign up for ATL\u2019s Bonus Alerts (which is the alert list we also use for salary announcements), please scroll down and enter your email address in the box below this post. If you previously signed up for the bonus alerts, you don\u2019t need to do anything. You\u2019ll receive an email notification within minutes of each bonus announcement that we publish. Thanks for your help!<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"100\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/abovethelaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/11\/Staci-Zaretsky.jpg?resize=150%2C100&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-66762\" title=\"\"><figcaption><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong><em><a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/author\/staci-zaretsky\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Staci Zaretsky<\/a>\u00a0is the managing editor of Above the Law, where she\u2019s worked since 2011. She\u2019d love to hear from you, so please feel free to <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#c4b7b0a5a7ad84a5a6abb2a1b0aca1a8a5b3eaa7aba9\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">email<\/a> her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/stacizaretsky.bsky.social\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Bluesky<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/stacizaretsky\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">X\/Twitter<\/a>, and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.threads.net\/@stacizaretsky\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Threads<\/a>,\u00a0or connect with her on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/staci-zaretsky\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">LinkedIn<\/a><\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Biglaw\u2019s bonus season is moving right on schedule, with firms steadily matching the now-prevailing scales. Cravath once again set the year-end bonus structure, while Milbank set the bar for special bonus scales, and the industry has wasted no time following suit. One by one, firms are confirming that this year\u2019s bonus picture looks very familiar [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":138795,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-138794","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-above_the_law"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/xira.com\/p\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Staci-Zaretsky-k8XlaE.jpg?fit=150%2C100&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138794","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=138794"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138794\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/138795"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=138794"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=138794"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=138794"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}