Clifford Chance (CC) has announced 2010 bonus levels for the firm's US associates, with the top payout coming in at $35,000 (£22,300).

The news, announced in an internal memo sent out yesterday (14 December), lists the bonus levels for associates of the 2003-09 class years, which range from $7,500 (£4,800) to $35,000 (£22,300) based on post-qualification experience (PQE).

The 2003 rate is also applicable for senior associates outside of the PQE range. The memo states that the bonuses will be paid out on or around 7 January next year.

The rates are equal to those of the magic circle firm's US competitors, with Cravath Swaine & Moore and Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom issuing the same bonus payout bands last month.

The CC memo also stipulates that "individual bonuses will be based upon an assessment of each associate's overall performance, including quality of work, contribution, teamwork and volunteer efforts".

CC announced in April this year that it was to abandon its UK bonus system of using billable hours targets as the key benchmark for domestic associate bonuses.

The firm previously determined associate bonuses based on performance, but only if individuals had first reached a target number of hours billed.

The news follows yesterday's announcement that Dewey & LeBoeuf is set to pay its UK associates up to £21,500 as a discretionary year-end bonus, according to an internal memo sent by chairman Steve Davis.