Could it be? Are Biglaw firms finally coming around and making Milbank matches without Cravath’s permission? It sure looks like it!
The latest firm to hop aboard the Milbank money train is Cooley, which announced today that come January 1, 2027, all associates on the US compensation scale will be paid at the new market rate that was set back in June. “We believe our people are our greatest assets, and investing in exceptional talent remains a top priority,” Rachel Proffitt, the firm’s chief executive officer, noted in the firm’s compensation memo. Here’s what the new salary scale looks like at Cooley:
On top of these raises, Cooley announced that it will be “awarding special bonuses for 2026 to eligible associates and special counsel before year-end or early 2027.” We assume that this is likely a match of Milbank’s summer special bonuses, which ranged from $6,000 to $25,000.
Congratulations to Cooley associates on the forthcoming raises and special bonuses! Good news like this is always better late than never.
(Flip to the next page to see the full memo from Cooley.)
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 email us (subject line: “[Firm Name] Raise/Matches”). 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.
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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 Show Them The Money: Top Biglaw Firm Raises Salaries For Associates appeared first on Above the Law.
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