New York leader Simpson Thacher & Bartlett is to follow Cravath Swaine & Moore by paying associates and counsel a one-off bonus of up to $65,000 (£31,400), as another Manhattan pay war seems set to gather pace.

The special bonus sees junior associates at Simpson Thacher bag up to $35,000 (£16,900), with senior associates pocketing between $50,000 (£24,100) and $65,000. The payment comes in addition to the usual end-of-year bonus.