Cravath, Swaine & Moore announced its associate year-end bonuses on Monday, just a few days after Milbank made its uncharacteristically early associate bonus announcement.

Cravath's bonuses are the same as last year's and are identical to the bonuses Milbank announced last week. First-year associates will be paid $15,000 while senior associates will take home up to $100,000, according to an internal memo obtained by Above the Law, which first reported the Cravath bonuses.

A representative for Cravath said the firm does not comment on compensation matters.

Last year Cravath was the first mover on associate bonuses, announcing them on Nov. 19. But Milbank beat out Cravath when it announced last Thursday. Milbank was also the first to announce a $10,000 associate salary raise last year, which Cravath quickly matched for first-year associates and raised for midlevel and senior associates.

Legal experts speculated that Milbank's early announcement demonstrates just how competitive the market for top talent has become. Announcing early signals to the market that the firm is in good financial health and boosts name recognition among law school students, although many criticized the salary arms race as detrimental to firm profits and clients.

But that trend is likely to continue, Zeughauser Group consultant Kent Zimmermann has said.

"The market for sought-after talent is more competitive than ever and that causes firms to look for an advantage wherever they can find it," Zimmermann told The American Lawyer last week when Milbank announced its bonuses. "I would not be surprised if the date moves up more."

Here is the full bonus scale announced Monday by Cravath:

  • Class of 2019 — $15,000
  • Class of 2018 — $15,000
  • Class of 2017 — $25,000
  • Class of 2016 — $50,000
  • Class of 2015 — $65,000
  • Class of 2014 — $80,000
  • Class of 2013 — $90,000
  • Class of 2012 — $100,000
  • Class of 2011 — $100,000
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