Elite litigation boutiques are beginning to match or exceed the new market salary and bonus scales for associates, following dozens of Am Law 100 firms that have announced they will follow the new salary and bonus scales set by Cravath Swaine & Moore.

Trial boutiques have a tradition of matching or beating the market salary and bonus scales—they compete for the same top law students as the Big Law firms—which is prompting some litigation boutiques to make moves before year-end. Yet, some high-profile boutiques with national work are noticeably absent from matching announcements so far, perhaps demonstrating the limited reach of salary raises in the industry in 2024 or indicating the firms need a little more time to consider the costly compensation adjustments.