Nabarro has increased pay for associates with more than three years' post-qualification experience (PQE), while freezing salaries for trainees and newly-qualified (NQ) lawyers for the second year in a row.

Associates with between four and five years' PQE have seen median earnings rise by 3% to £80,000, up from £77,750, while median pay for those with three to four years' PQE is up from £74,500 to £76,000.

Meanwhile, NQ pay has been held at £59,000. The last time the figure rose was in 2011, when it was increased from £58,000. One and two-year PQE rates have also been held at last year's levels, standing at £64,500 and £70,000 respectively.

The firm said: "Our focus this year, as last, is on rewarding high-performing associates at any experience level with a salary which can be 5% or more above the median.

"In addition we have hours and billings-based bonus schemes in place which reward high performers with a bonus representing up to 20% of their salaries. We also have a sales bonus scheme for associates who bring in new business to the firm."

Earlier this month Ashurst and Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) both confirmed their associate salary rates, with the latter increasing pay rates by up to 3% across all of its junior salary bands.

Lawyers at Ashurst with one year's PQE are earning £69,000, £2,000 more than last year's salary of £67,000, while the firm has raised the rate for lawyers with two years' PQE from £74,000 to £77,000. NQ and trainee pay at the firm has been held.

Nabarro 2013 junior salaries (2012 in brackets)

1st seat trainee: £37,000 (£37,000)
NQ: £59,000 (£59,000)
1PQE: £64,500 (£64,500)
2PQE: £70,000 (£70,000)
3-4PQE+: £76,000 (£74,500)
4-5PQE+: £80,000 (£77,750)