Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) partners are voting on a single remuneration structure, which includes steps to protect the firm's Asian and Australian partnership by enabling top performers to break away from its lockstep.

The vote on the new system closes tomorrow (4 December) or Thursday depending on jurisdiction and needs a 75% majority from at least one of the partnerships to secure approval. Provided the quorum is reached on one side, a lower threshold is required by the other partnership, understood to be 50-60%.

The new structure includes regional variations in pay with the option of breaking with lockstep for top-performers in Asia and Australia.

A partner in the firm said: "The new structure needs to recognise that in some territories we have people performing at a certain level – particularly in Asia-Pacific and Australia where there are a number of people capable of working at the top firms. Freehills is a hunting ground for a small number of top-tier firms in Australia. People understand that the firm needs to be smart to adapt to the current market."

Currently there is not an option for UK partners to break away from the lockstep although one source said this "may change".

Another partner within the firm said: "Australians are less used to a lockstep culture, in the Australian market it is more common for partners to be rewarded off lockstep."

Partners are expected to move across to the new pay system with each point roughly equating the same in worth as it currently does. There will be a common bonus pool.

In October it emerged that partners at the firm voted to reject all four proposals initially put forward for a new unified remuneration system.

This final alternative is thought to include elements of the original four options, and is described by one partner as being "less radical".

HSF declined to comment.