Law Firm Salary War Heats Up As Rivals Look To Surpass Milbank’s Pay Scale
Milbank’s latest round of associate pay rises has triggered a fierce compensation race among top law firms, with industry insiders predicting further increases within weeks.
Thomas Hanlon, executive director of recruiting firm Buchanan Law, says the momentum behind salary hikes shows no signs of slowing down at the top end of the market.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if someone goes over the top [of Milbank’s increase] in the next few weeks,” Hanlon said in comments given to the American Lawyer.
“Attracting talent at the top end is so vital, and being seen as the firm who’s capable of boosting associate compensation across the board — the firm that’s moving the market — is just such a big notch on the belt when it comes to the talent fight,” he added.
Milbank announced raises ranging from $10,000 to $20,000 depending on class year, with more senior associates receiving the larger increases, effective July 1, 2026.
Summer associates are also set to benefit from the new scale, underscoring the firm’s commitment to competing aggressively for legal talent at every stage of their careers.
McDermott Will and Schulte moved quickly to match Milbank’s new compensation grid, doing so less than a year after the firm completed its merger, signalling how seriously firms are treating the talent arms race.
Quinn Emanuel, widely regarded as the world’s largest litigation-only firm, also confirmed it would match the Milbank salary scale effective July 1, 2026, with associates seeing equivalent raises across class years.
Hueston Hennigan and VKHH similarly moved to match the new scale, demonstrating how rapidly Milbank’s opening move rippled through the upper tier of the legal market.
Stephanie Biderman, an associate recruiter for Major Lindsey and Africa, pointed to another sign of intensifying competition, saying, “My understanding is now OCI is starting really, really early.”
The acceleration of on-campus interviewing timelines suggests firms are not waiting to secure top talent, treating recruitment as an extension of the broader compensation battle.