The National Law Journal asked the respondents to its 2008 survey of the nation’s 250 largest law firms to provide a range of hourly billing rates for partners and associates. Firms that supplied this information — including some firms that are not in the NLJ 250 — are listed below in alphabetical order. We also asked firms to provide average and median billing rates, and several complied. The number after a firm’s name indicates the total number of attorneys at the firm. The city listed after the name of a firm is the location of its principal or largest office.
The 2008 NLJ Billing Survey is available in downloadable Excel format from ALM Research.
Adams and Reese (253), New Orleans
Partners $240-$425 (average $318, median $310)
Associates $175-$300 (average $209, median $205)
Firmwide (average $257, median $265)
Arent Fox (336), Washington
Partners $410-$710
Associates $260-$465
Armstrong Teasdale (252), St. Louis
Partners $295-$450
Associates $175-$300
Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz (549), Memphis, Tenn.
Partners $230-$525 average $339, median $330)
Associates $120-$300 (average $218, median $220)
Firmwide (average $295, median $290)
Balch & Bingham (244), Birmingham, Ala.
Partners $295-$600
Associates $200-$280
Bass, Berry & Sims (211), Nashville, Tenn.
Partners $240-$575 (average $410, median $420)
Associates $175-$365 (average $245, median $240)
Firmwide (average $307, median $300)
Best Best & Krieger (198), Riverside, Calif.
Partners $300-$550 (average $391, median $375)
Associates $190-$330 (average $252, median $245)
Firmwide (average $340, median $305)
Blank Rome (503), Philadelphia
Partners $425-$785 (average $525)
Associates $245-$485 (average $332)
Firmwide (average $400)
Bond, Schoeneck & King (189), Syracuse, N.Y.
Partners $210-$450 (average $308, median $310)
Associates $150-$250 (average $187, median $185)
Firmwide (average $268, median $275)
Bradley Arant Rose & White (255), Birmingham, Ala.
Partners $260-$550
Associates $170-$310
Briggs and Morgan (175), Minneapolis
Partners $300-$580 (average $420, median $425)
Associates $195-$290 (average $229, median $225)
Firmwide (average $368, median $390)
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione (171), Chicago
Partners $320-$700 (average $499, median $500)
Associates $180-$435 (average $281, median $275)
Firmwide (average $392, median $390)
Broad and Cassel (179), Orlando, Fla.
Partners $290-$475 (average $378, median $375)
Associates $175-$320 (average $245, median $248)
Firmwide (average $314, median $310)
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck (235), Denver
Partners $275-$750 (average $424, median $400)
Associates $160-$285 (average $234, median $240)
Firmwide (average $340, median $325)
Bryan Cave (852), St. Louis
Partners $340-$750 (average $525, median $510)
Associates $170-$510 (average $314, median $310)
Firmwide (average $424, median $405)
Buchalter Nemer (146), Los Angeles
Partners $260-$600 (average $448, median $450)
Associates $225-$450 (average $283, median $275)
Firmwide (average $384, median $375)
Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney (529), Pittsburgh
Partners $300-$1,020
Associates $100-$520
Bullivant Houser Bailey (153), Portland, Ore.
Partners $275-$525
Associates $190-$325
Burr & Forman (208), Birmingham, Ala.
Partners $210-$495 (average $352, median $350)
Associates $165-$305 (average $235, median $230)
Firmwide (average $271, median $295)
Butzel Long (243), Detroit
Partners $300-$650
Associates $180-$290
Carlton Fields (281), Tampa, Fla.
Partners $305-$650 (average $435, median $435)
Associates $195-$335 (average $267, median $265)
Firmwide (average $334, median $325)
Cooley Godward Kronish (618), Palo Alto, Calif.
Partners $525-$980
Associates $285-$570
Cozen O’Connor (478), Philadelphia
Partners $240-$840 (average $457, median $455)
Associates $205-$650 (average $342, median $325)
Firmwide (average $397, median $385)
Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle (235), New York
Partners $675-$785 (average $730, median $730)
Associates $290-$575 (average $434, median $435)
Firmwide (average $520, median $515)
Davis Wright Tremaine (467), Seattle
Partners $300-$710 (average $455, median $450)
Associates $190-$405 (average $280, median $280)
Firmwide (average $395, median $395)
Day Pitney (405), Florham Park, N.J.
Partners $295-$710
Associates $220-$450
Dickinson Wright (228), Detroit
Partners $275-$550
Associates $180-$300
Dickstein Shapiro (403), Washington
Partners $475-$895 (average $607, median $605)
Associates $250-$475 (average $378, median $395)
Firmwide (average $493) (median $485)
Dinsmore & Shohl (347), Cincinnati
Partners $220-$495 (average $347, median $338)
Associates $160-$305 (average $202, median $198)
Firmwide (average $284, median $275)
Dorsey & Whitney (670), Minneapolis
Partners $235-$1,180 (average $505, median $510)
Associates $170-$820 (average $301, median $335)
Firmwide (average $407, median $430)
Duane Morris (594) (Philadelphia)
Partners $340-$755 (average $490, median $505)
Associates $230-$510 (average $326, median $350)
Firmwide (average $449, median $450)
Dykema Gossett (374), Detroit
Partners $265-$650 (average $415)
Associates $170-$435 (average $277)
Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge (576), Boston
Partners $325-$755
Associates $170-$480
Firmwide (median $450)
Epstein Becker & Green (372), New York
Partners $350-$850 (average $501, median $495)
Associates $175-$450 (average $312, median $300)
Firmwide (average $406, median $400)
Fisher & Phillips (208), Atlanta
Partners $330-$505
Associates $195-$380
Foley & Lardner (1,032), Milwaukee
Partners (average $596, median $585)
Associates (average $405, median $395)
Firmwide $185-$985 (average $508, median $520)
Ford & Harrison (179) , Atlanta
Partners $325-$585
Associates $245-$405
Fowler White Boggs Banker (201*), Tampa, Fla.
Partners $175-$525 (average $360, median $350)
Associates $160-$325 (average $222, median $220)
Firmwide (average $314, median $325)
(*Total prior to subsequent firm split.)
Fox Rothschild (440), Philadelphia
Partners $250-$590 (average $443, median $450)
Associates $215-$395 (average $275, median $260)
Firmwide (average $378, median $375)
Fredrikson & Byron (233), Minneapolis
Partners $250-$590 (average $402, median $395)
Associates $150-$315 (average $237, median $225)
Firmwide (average $340, median $340)
Frost Brown Todd (342), Cincinnati
Partners $225-$490 (average $317, median $310)
Associates $145-$260 (average $188, median $180)
Firmwide (average $272, median $270)
Gardere Wynne Sewell (281), Dallas
Partners $380-$750 (average $502, median $500)
Associates $210-$450 (average $306, median $300)
Firmwide (average $374, median $390)
Gibbons (230), Newark, N.J.
Partners $375-$700
Associates $220-$415
GrayRobinson (213), Orlando, Fla.
Partners $200-$650 (average $310, median $285)
Associates $125-$275 (average $164, median ($167)
Firmwide (average $239, median $252)
Greenberg Traurig (1,840), New York
Partners $335-$850 (average $520, median $535)
Associates $175-$525 (average $323, median $325)
Firmwide (average $426, median $425)
Harris Beach (179), Rochester, N.Y.
Partners $250-$475
Associates $140-$275
Hiscock & Barclay (187), Syracuse, N.Y.
Partners $190-$650 (average $361, median $359)
Associates $145-$430 (average $235, median $224)
Firmwide (average $319, median $322)
Hodgson Russ (227), Buffalo, N.Y.
Partners $240-$665 (average $355, median $350)
Associates $165-$450 (average $230, median $235)
Firmwide (average $303, median $300)
Hogan & Hartson (1,175), Washington
Partners $375-$900 (average $660, median $650)
Associates $150-$550 (average $410, median $400)
Firmwide (average $525, median $525)
Holland & Hart (406), Denver
Partners $295-$615 (average $414, median $405)
Associates $175-$355 (average $269, median $275)
Firmwide (average $350, median $345)
Holme Roberts & Owen (228), Denver
Partners $285-$635 (average $415, median $410)
Associates $160-$525 (average $294, median $265)
Firmwide (average $355, median $345)
Howard Rice Nemerovski Canady Falk & Rabkin (102), San Francisco
Partners $515-$795
Associates $275-$510
Hughes Hubbard & Reed (334), New York
Partners $625-$875
Associates $270-$600
Husch Blackwell Sanders (629), St. Louis
Partners $205-$740 (average $352, median $340)
Associates $150-$380 (average $218, median $215)
Firmwide (average $302, median $300)
Jackson Kelly (187), Charleston, W.Va.
Partners $200-$435 (average $238, median $247)
Associates $135-$335 (average $155, median $151)
Firmwide (average $214, median $212)
Jackson Lewis (517), White Plains, N.Y.
Partners $250-$595
Associates $180-$405
Jenner & Block (482), Chicago
Partners $525-$1,000 (average $616, median $575)
Associates $325-$495 (average $393, median $375)
Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrère & Denègre (264), New Orleans
Partners $225-$620 (average $332, median $325)
Associates $140-$250 (average $186, median $180)
Firmwide (average $277, median $275)
Kilpatrick Stockton (466), Atlanta
Partners $310-$695 (average $485, median $475)
Associates $225-$400 (average $290, median $275)
Firmwide (average $400, median $395)
Kelley Drye & Warren (378), New York
Partners $430-$850
Associates $255-$520
Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear (249), Irvine, Calif.
Partners $375-$660 (average $473, median $450)
Associates $245-$430 (average $287, median $275)
Firmwide (median $362)
Lane Powell (170), Seattle
Partners $325-$550 (average $405, median $400)
Associates $195-$325 (average $270, median $275)
Firmwide (average $327, median $350)
Lathrop & Gage (281), Kansas City, Mo.
Partners $255-$490
Associates $180-$265
Leonard, Street and Deinard (189), Minneapolis
Partners $310-$530
Associates $200-$315
Lewis, Rice & Fingersh (164), St. Louis
Partners $225-$440
Associates $140-$305
Lindquist & Vennum (185), Minneapolis
Partners $280-$450 (average $367, median $375)
Associates $180-$295 (average $218, median $210)
Firmwide (average $309, median $330)
Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell (707), Dallas
Partners $375-$975 (average $527, median $525)
Associates $225-$450 (average $313, median $300)
Firmwide (average $433, median $450)
Loeb & Loeb (310), New York
Partners $450-$925 (average $651, median $650)
Associates $260-$500 (average $422, median $425)
Firmwide (average $534, median $500)
Lowenstein Sandler (278), Roseland, N.J.
Partners $400-$765
Associates $220-$405
Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps (187), San Diego
Partners $350-$650 (average $483, median $483)
Associates $235-$460 (average $293, median $280)
Firmwide (average $397, median $400)
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips (358), Los Angeles
Partners $495-$850 (average $626, median $620)
Associates $290-$505 (average $407, median $410)
Firmwide (average $533) (median $550)
Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman & Goggin (408), Philadelphia
Partners $135-$400
Associates $120-$300
McCarter & English (399), Newark, N.J.
Partners $325-$635 (average $435, median $440)
Associates $215-$395 (average $280, median $285)
Firmwide (average $353, median $345)
McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter (232), Morristown, N.J.
Partners $295-$450 (average $250, median $235)
Associates $135-$225 (average $180, median $165)
Firmwide (average $195, median $215)
McKee Nelson (202), New York
Partners $665-$995
Associates $395-$630
McKenna Long & Aldridge (435), Atlanta
Partners $370-$750 (average $454)
Associates $220-$450 (average $274)
Michael Best & Friedrich (229), Milwaukee
Partners $235-$620 (average $391, median $375)
Associates $190-$330 (average $252, median $245)
Firmwide (average $340, median $305)
Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone (387), Detroit
Partners $275-$620 (average $425, median $425)
Associates $165-$375 (average $240, median $240)
Firmwide (average $347, median $355)
Miller & Martin (198), Chattanooga, Tenn.
Partners $210-$610 (average $354, median $360)
Associates $180-$305 (average $210, median $205)
Firmwide (average $316, median $330)
Montgomery, McCracken, Walker & Rhoads (151), Philadelphia
Partners $360-$585 (average $440)
Associates $195-$365 (average $270)
Firmwide (average $360)
Moore & Van Allen (300), Charlotte, N.C.
Partners $280-$770 (average $425, median $410)
Associates $180-$365 (average $256, median $250)
Firmwide (average $283, median $273)
Nexsen Pruet (174), Columbia, S.C.
Partners $250-$450
Associates $170-$250
Nixon Peabody (699), Boston
Partners $565-$845 (average $570, median $590)
Associates $230-$350 (average $370, median $365)
Firmwide (average $468, median $430)
Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart (428), Greenville, S.C.
Partners $275-$600 (average $367)
Associates $185-$380 (average $266)
Firmwide (average $325)
Patton Boggs (529), Washington
Partners $360-$990 (average $586, median $570)
Associates $244-$535 (average $372, median $385)
Firmwide (average $440, median $455)
Pepper Hamilton (514), Philadelphia
Partners $385-$795
Associates $240-$395
Perkins Coie (632), Seattle
Partners $260-$785 (average $498)
Associates $165-$515 (average $329)
Phelps Dunbar (258), New Orleans
Partners $170-$450 (average $256, median $250)
Associates $130-$260 (average $171, median $165)
Firmwide (average $213, median $205)
Phillips Lytle (179), Buffalo, N.Y.
Partners $250-$475 (average $334, median $330)
Associates $155-$355 (average $230, median $220)
Firmwide (average $288, median $300)
Polsinelli Shalton Flanigan Suelthaus (304), Kansas City, Mo.
Partners $250-$600
Associates $175-$275
Quarles & Brady (450), Milwaukee
Partners $280-$625 (average $419, median $420)
Associates $200-$375 (average $252, median $245)
Firmwide (average $347, median $342)
Reed Smith (1,558*), Pittsburgh
Partners $375-$900 (average $626, median $585)
Associates $235-$580 (average $423, median $390)
Firmwide (average $441, median $425)
(*National Association for Law Placement figure. The firm recently reported an attorney count of 1,505.)
Robinson & Cole (215), Hartford, Conn.
Partners $320-$650 (average $436, median $440)
Associates $210-$350 (average $276, median $275)
Firmwide (average $346, median $350)
Roetzel & Andress (227), Akron, Ohio
Partners $225-$500 (average $333, median $325)
Associates $170-$295 (average $219, median $215)
Firmwide (average $292, median $300)
Rutan & Tucker (140), Costa Mesa, Calif.
Partners $315-$635
Associates $220-$370
Saul Ewing (231), Philadelphia
Partners $295-$800 (average $441, median $430)
Associates $205-$535 (average $285, median $255)
Firmwide (average $372, median $380)
Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis (189), Philadelphia
Partners $275-$625
Associates $160-$375
Schulte Roth & Zabel (481), New York
Partners $695-$895 (average $770, median $755)
Associates $255-$650 (average $495, median $510)
Firmwide (average $550, median $530)
Sedgwick, Detert, Moran & Arnold (380), San Francisco
Partners $295-$650 (average $398, median $380)
Associates $185-$390 (average $262, median $260)
Firmwide (average $318, median $300)
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton (458), Los Angeles
Partners $475-$795
Associates $275-$455 (up to $580 in New York)
Shughart Thomson & Kilroy (179), Kansas City, Mo.
Partners $240-$500
Associates $185-$245
Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick (180), Toledo, Ohio
Partners $225-$500 (average $329, median $325)
Associates $185-$380 (average $227, median $225)
Firmwide (average $297, median $315)
Shutts & Bowen (203), Miami
Partners $190-$540
Associates $190-$240
Sills Cummis & Gross (165), Newark, N.J.
Partners $395-$725
Associates $215-$425
Smith, Gambrell & Russell (181), Atlanta
Partners $260-$595
Associates $155-$335
Snell & Wilmer (440), Phoenix
Partners $300-$725 (average $444)
Associates $170-$420 (average $271)
Firmwide (average $354)
Steptoe & Johnson LLP (506), Washington
Partners $350-$895 (average $591, median $580)
Associates $210-$685 (average $384, median $395)
Firmwide (average $477, median $470)
Steptoe & Johnson PLLC (182), Clarksburg, W.Va.
Partners $200-$325
Associates $170-$250
Stinson Morrison Hecker (324), Kansas City, Mo.
Partners $275-$680 (average $363, median $373)
Associates $190-$290 (average $224, median $228)
Firmwide (average $293, median $275)
Stoel Rives (350), Portland, Ore.
Partners $290-$550
Associates $170-$365
Strasburger & Price (194), Dallas
Partners $300-$580
Associates $185-$395
Firmwide (average $334)
Sullivan & Worcester (182), Boston
Partners $450-$775 (average $603, median $600)
Associates $270-$490 (average $343, median $330)
Firmwide (average $485, median $495)
Sutherland Asbill & Brennan (429), Atlanta
Partners $395-$750 (average $543, median $530)
Associates $240-$450 (average $316, median $300)
Firmwide (average $379, median $380)
Taft Stettinius & Hollister (337), Cincinnati
Partners $200-$475 (average $354, median $355)
Associates $165-$325 (average $217, median $195)
Firmwide (average $294, median $295)
Thompson Coburn (344), St. Louis
Partners $295-$555
Associates $170-$400
Thompson Hine (396), Cleveland
Partners $275-$740 (average $425, median $420)
Associates $185-$510 (average $240, median $235)
Firmwide (average $330, median $325)
Thompson & Knight (458), Dallas
Partners $410-$785 (average $545, median $530)
Associates $250-$500 (average $334, median $345)
Firmwide (average $453, median $450)
Ulmer & Berne (176), Cleveland
Partners $230-$495 (average $319)
Associates $175-$310 (average $205)
Firmwide (average $262)
Vedder Price (265), Chicago
Partners $310-$685 (average $455, median $445)
Associates $235-$390 (average $290, median $290)
Firmwide (average $385, median $390)
Venable (569), Washington
Partners $380-$950 (average $530, median $525)
Associates $250-$425 (average $329, median $320)
Firmwide (average $440, median $440)
White & Case (2,205), New York
Partners $550-$1,260 (average $747)
Associates $160-$920 (average $456)
Firmwide (average $513)
Wiggin and Dana (152), New Haven, Conn.
Partners $360-$600
Associates $215-$375
Williams Mullen (326), Richmond, Va.
Partners $300-$625 (average $401, median $380)
Associates $170-$355 (average $260, median $255)
Firmwide (average $344, median $350)
Winstead (281), Dallas
Partners $365-$655 (average $465)
Associates $215-$385 (average $282)
Firmwide (average $390)
Winston & Strawn (1,004), Chicago
Partners $400-$975 (average $622)
Associates $210-$625 (average $376)
Firmwide (average $448)
Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice (505), Winston-Salem, N.C.
Partners $285-$750 (average $448, median $450)
Associates $140-$370 (average $275, median $275)
Firmwide (average $248, median $200)
Wyatt Tarrant & Combs (198), Louisville, Ky.
Partners $225-$450 (average $340, median $345)
Associates $180-$255 (average $210, median $210)
Firmwide (average $300, median $310)
