SNR Denton's UK partners are pushing management to confirm their individual share of the firm's profits, following last month's move to merit-based pay.

Partners were expecting to learn at the beginning of May what they would earn during the current financial year, and are now calling for urgent clarification from management, with some raising the question of whether they will be paid in dollars or pounds.

They also want to see confirmation of the UK arm's financial results, which have not yet been announced internally but are expected to show profits per equity partner (PEP) falling by more than a third to below £250,000.

The firm's UK arm moved to merit-based pay for partners on 
1 May following the merger of legacy Denton Wilde Sapte and Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal in September 2010.

As the new system is entirely discretionary and based on each partner's contribution to the firm, as assessed by the 15-member EMEA policy and planning board, partners have little idea what they will take home. Last year the UK firm posted PEP of £360,000.

One SNR Denton partner said: "A lot of people are going to get a real awakening. Some will be paid more and some will be paid less from a very small cake. There will be a brutal immediate aftermath when it is announced. As of 1 May, I don't know what my remuneration will be or even in which currency it will be paid."

The firm said partners would find out about individual remuneration packages within "the next few weeks", with financial results expected to be revealed around the same time.