Following Vinson & Elkins' lead, Andrews Kurth is the second large Texas firm to raise its Texas associate salary scale.
It didn't take long for Andrews Kurth to make a move. On Wednesday, the same day 720-lawyer V&E notified its associates of higher base salaries, Andrews Kurth sent word to its Texas associates that the firm is adopting a new, higher salary scale.
But Andrews Kurth upped the ante a bit. V&E's new associate base salaries will be retroactive to March 1. Andrews Kurth will pay the new salaries retroactive to Jan. 1.
Jeffrey Spiers, a partner in Andrews Kurth who is co-chairman of the firm's associates' committee, says his sense is the firm's associates are pleased with the firm's quick response to V&E's market move.
"There was genuine appreciation for the retroactive-to-Jan. 1 statement in our release. Obviously, they will want to look at the details, for sure, but I think it's an appreciated move," Spiers says.
Associates at Andrews Kurth, which has about 420 lawyers, will get details of the new salary scale within a few days, Spiers says.
In Texas, V&E raised the first-year base salary to $135,000. V&E also increased first-year associate base salaries to $145,000 in Washington, D.C., and New York City.
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