Los Angeles heavyweights Latham & Watkins, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, O’Melveny & Myers and Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker are reviewing their junior salary bands after local firm Irell & Manella last week boosted first-year associates’ base rates to $135,000 (£76,200).
The firms have yet to make a decision on this year’s salary rates, but the early move by IP specialist Irell, which is an increase of $5,000 (£2,800) on last year, has already prompted California rival Quinn Emanuel Urquhart Oliver & Hedges to promise to match the jump.
