Elite litigation firm Susman Godfrey has taken the lead in the associate salary race, topping the new market rate set by Cravath, Swaine & Moore by $5,000 at each pay level. The first-year base pay rate at Susman Godfrey moves to $195,000, which is $5,000 more than Cravath’s $190,000.

The firm’s partners approved the new salary scale on June 23 while attending a retreat in Seattle.