White & Case has increased its London trainee pay, as the salary war among firms ramps up.

The U.S. firm has boosted salaries for its U.K. first-year trainees by £2,000, from £46,000 to £48,000, while second-year trainees will now take home £53,000, up from £50,000.

The changes come as Magic Circle and U.S. firms boost pay for associates in a bid to remain competitive in the market.

Yesterday (10 June), Clifford Chance increased its newly qualified (NQ) lawyer pay to £100,000, after Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer made the same move last month.

Ropes & Gray kicked off the season when it announced pay increases for associates back in February, raising its NQ salary by £5,000 to hit £120,000. U.S. rival Shearman & Sterling matched that figure last month.

Some U.S. firms in the City already pay above that rate, including Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom, which has been paying its London NQs £133,000 since last August.

Pay for trainees at Skadden also increased, with first-years now taking home £50,000 and second-years taking home £55,000.

White & Case is yet to announce any changes to its associate pay this year.