A clutch of leading Manhattan firms, including Sullivan & Cromwell, have moved to match competitor salary rates in New York as a new US pay war gathers momentum.

Sullivan announced yesterday (23 January) it has increased its newly-qualified salary rate to $160,000 (£81,000), while rivals Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft and Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison are reported to have done the same.