Wake Up Call: Latham ‘Stub Years’ to Get Special Bonuses

In today’s column, facing a tough market for talent, some mid-level firms are trying to match their Big Law rivals on associate compensation; insurance attorneys are questioning a reported $9,000 per hour in fees awarded in a Florida workers’ compensation case; White & Case launched a “real time” survey of 58 global competition authorities.

• Leading off, Latham & Watkins, the second biggest U.S. law firm by revenue, just before Christmas told its most junior associates, who joined in 2021, that they will get $2,500 when it pays out special bonuses Dec. 30. Almost no other Big Law firms have done ...