Debevoise, Clifford Chance, Ropes & Gray Announce Bonuses (2)

Debevoise & Plimpton, Clifford Chance, and Ropes & Gray are the latest to join Big Law’s end-of-year bonus rush, handing extra cash to associates in a year of challenges and uncertainty due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Cravath, Swaine & Moore, a traditional standard-setter for Big Law compensation, said earlier this week it would bestow year-end awards ranging from $15,000 for first-year associates to $100,000 for senior associates, plus a special bonus reaching up to $40,000 depending on seniority. Other firms quickly followed suit.

Debevoise matched Cravath in a memo viewed by Bloomberg Law that announced the firm would meet the ...