Top US Law Firms Award Six-Figure Bonuses in 2025

Top US law firms distributed substantial six-figure bonuses to associates in 2025 to attract and retain talent amidst increasing competition. The payouts often reference the industry-standard Cravath Scale, though several firms deviated to offer higher amounts. Paul Weiss, headquartered in New York, offered bonuses up to $140,000 alongside special and discretionary payments. Pallas Partners provided the highest reported amounts, reaching $232,000 for senior associates and counsel. Other major firms, including Davis Polk & Wardwell and Katten Muchin Rosenman, also confirmed significant year-end bonuses ranging from $140,000 to $172,500. These compensation packages reflect the high value placed on experienced legal talent in the current market.

Every year, elite US law firms hand out bonuses to associates, their hardworking rank-and-file attorneys. These generous annual bonuses help elite law firms attract and retain talent. Top US law firms shelled out six-figure bonuses to associates in 2025. The generous end-of-year payouts come as top firms face increasing competition for talent.

Bonuses are typically ranked based on the number of years of experience associates hold. Many top US law firms match the Cravath Scale for associate bonuses, which is based on the salaries and bonuses awarded by the legacy law firm Cravath, Swaine & Moore. However, as competition for junior talent has intensified, some firms are deviating from the industry standard as they battle to attract and retain top talent.

Associates at Paul Weiss, a leading Big Law firm headquartered in New York, received annual bonuses of up to $140,000 for 2025. In addition to the regular year-end bonus, associates would receive "a special 2025 bonus," said Brad Karp, the chairman of Paul Weiss, in a memo sent to associates on November 20, 2025. Karp told associates, "On behalf of my partners, please accept our sincere gratitude for all you do to make our firm so exceptional."

Paul Weiss' associate bonuses categorized by class year were:

• Class year 2025: bonus $15,000 (prorated), special bonus $6,000 (prorated)
• Class year 2024: bonus $20,000, special bonus $6,000
• Class year 2023: bonus $30,000, special bonus $10,000
• Class year 2022: bonus $57,500, special bonus $15,000
• Class year 2021: bonus $75,000, special bonus $20,000
• Class year 2020: bonus $90,000, special bonus $25,000
• Class year 2019: bonus $105,000, special bonus $25,000
• Class year 2018 and senior: bonus $115,000, special bonus $25,000

In addition to the 2025 bonuses, Karp said some staff could expect "discretionary bonuses" in early 2026 for "outsized contributions to the firm over the past year."

Pallas Partners senior associates and counsel received bonuses of up to $232,000 this year, exceeding the amounts set by the Cravath Scale. Pallas, a leading boutique global litigation firm, said the bonuses recognize "the extraordinary commitment that the associates and counsel bring to the firm." The firm stated, "Pallas's lawyers receive much more hands-on trial experience than their Big Law counterparts, and as such, their compensation reflects that high-level work and commitment."

Elsberg, Baker & Maruri, an elite commercial trial, litigation, and arbitration firm headquartered in New York, paid its associates bonuses of up to $226,250 in 2025. Rollo Baker, a founding partner of the firm, stated, "We are pleased to have paid bonuses that were 175% of the big law market to our stellar associates, who helped achieve great results for our clients in 2025."

The Big Law firm Davis Polk & Wardwell paid bonuses of up to $140,000 to its junior attorneys. Davis Polk, headquartered in New York, ranks among the top ten Big Law firms in the US. The bonuses awarded by the firm are in line with the industry standard Cravath scale.

Katten Muchin Rosenman, a large, full-service law firm, has offered year-end bonuses of up to $172,500 to its top associates, contingent on the number of bonus hours they worked. The firm, headquartered in Chicago, also offers additional discretionary "superstar bonuses" to select associates.