Compensation news continues to spread across the Biglaw landscape, and associates couldn’t be happier. From Am Law 200 firms to boutique firms, there will be more money in associates’ pockets this holiday season, and the excitement is palpable.
We’ve now confirmed that Orrick — a firm that brought in $1,593,353,000 gross revenue in 2024, putting it at No. 35 in the most recent Am Law 100 — has chosen to use the Cravath scale for its year-end bonuses, complete with the special bonuses being offered by Milbank. That said, here’s what the bonus and salary scales look like at the firm:
| Role | Year | 2026 Salary Scale | 2025 Bonus | |
| Merit Bonus | Special Bonus | |||
| Senior Associate | Year 2+ | $435,000 | $115,000 | $25,000 |
| Year 1 | $420,000 | $115,000 | $25,000 | |
| Managing Associate | Year 3 | $390,000 | $105,000 | $25,000 |
| Year 2 | $365,000 | $90,000 | $25,000 | |
| Year 1 | $310,000 | $75,000 | $20,000 | |
| Associate | Year 3 | $260,000 | $57,500 | $15,000 |
| Year 2 | $235,000 | $30,000 | $10,000 | |
| Year 1 ** | $225,000 | $20,000 | $6,000 | |
The firm is also considering overmarket merit bonuses for those who have displayed “exceptional performance” this year.
Special bonuses will be paid out on December 31, 2025, while merit bonuses will hit bank accounts in mid-February 2026.
Congratulations to everyone at Orrick!
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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.
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