Recent Salary Increases in London

Over the last few weeks in London, we have seen salary increases predominantly with UK & Mid-Atlantic firms all set in motion by Freshfields raising their salaries to £150,000 at NQ. Although this has created ‘bunching’ for some mid-level associates, salaries have generally gone up across the board for more senior fee-earners as well.

As a general rule, with magic circle firms, expect a salary increase of 25-30% from NQ to Senior Associate and other UK firms about 20-25% from NQ to Senior Associate.

The below shows a selection of UK/Mid-Atlantic firms that have raised their salaries  (NQ only):

• A&O Shearman - £150,000 (up from £125,000)

• Ashurst - £125,000 (up from £115,000)

• Baker McKenzie - £140,000 (up from £118,000)

• Bird & Bird - £98,000 (up from £95,000)

• Clifford Chance - £150,000 (up from £125,000)

• DLA Piper - £110,000 (up from £100,000)

• Freshfields - £150,000 (up from £125,000)

• Gowling WLG - £98,000 (up from £95,000)

• Herbert Smith - £135,000 (up from £120,000)

• Hogan Lovells - £135,000 (up from £120,000)

• Linklaters - £150,000 (up from £125,000)

• Macfarlanes - £140,000 (up from £115,000)

• Norton Rose - £120,000 (up from £105,000)

• Pinsent Masons - £97,000 (up from £92,000)

• Reed Smith - £125,000 (up from £107,500)

• Slaughter and May - £125,000 (NO CHANGE!)

• Stephenson Harwood - £100,000 (up from £95,000)

• Taylor Wessing - £115,000 (up from £100,000)

• Travers Smith - £120,000 (up from £110,000)