Susman Godfrey shatters BigLaw bonus scale, paying senior associates up to $280K
Susman Godfrey associates will have a extra special holiday season this year.
Powered by the “second-most successful year in the firm’s history,” the Am Law 100 law firm announced Tuesday that its year-end bonuses for associates would surpasses the BigLaw market scale.
According to a Dec. 16 press release, median bonuses for first-year associates will be $120,000 and for the most senior associates, it will be $280,000. The firm also announced that all associates would get a bonus, as would all of its employees, such as office assistants and paralegals.
“We are grateful to our incredible lawyers and staff that together ensure the success of Susman Godfrey year after year,” said Vineet Bhatia and Kalpana Srinivasan, the firm’s managing partners, in a statement.
Susman Godfrey has had an eventful 2025. One of the targets of President Donald Trump’s executive orders aimed at firms, Susman Godfrey and its outside lawyers at Munger, Tolles & Olson, obtained a permanent injunction in June blocking its enforcement and declaring it unconstitutional. The administration filed an appeal in August, according to Reuters.
According to Law.com and Above the Law, the BigLaw market scale, which is usually set by Cravath, Swaine & Moore, was established this year at $15,000 to $21,000 for first-year associates and $115,000 to $140,000 for senior associates.
Susman Godfrey also announced Tuesday that six associates had been promoted to equity partners.
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