New York giant Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom has disappointed the world’s most highly-paid lawyers by kicking off the 2003 bonus round by sticking to its 2002 rates.

As revealed exclusively on www.legalweek.com on 26 November, Skaddens has indicated that the firm will repeat last year’s rates of between $2,500 (£1,472) and $20,000 (£11,780) according to seniority.