Biglaw’s latest compensation wave continues to build momentum, with yet another Am Law 100 firm stepping forward to increase associate salaries across the board.
Katten Muchin has announced it is adopting the Milbank scale for the most part, joining a growing list of firms that have moved quickly to keep pace with the market since Milbank kicked off the latest round of increases.
The firm recorded $912,273,000 in gross revenue in 2025, placing it at No. 66 in the most recent Am Law 100 rankings, signalling it has the financial muscle to make the move.
Gil Soffer, Katten’s chairman, offered a direct statement on the decision, saying: “Our associates are integral to our exceptional client service and to the continued success of the firm.”
The firm’s summer associates will also benefit from the compensation adjustment, with their salaries set to increase alongside those of full-time associates.
However, the announcement comes with a notable caveat for the firm’s most senior lawyers, who will not receive Milbank’s top salary of $455,000.
Associates in the Class of 2018 and beyond will instead be paid the same salary as the Class of 2019, which stands at $440,000, placing those attorneys technically below the current market rate.
This mirrors a pattern seen the last time the Biglaw salary scale increased, suggesting Katten has made a deliberate structural choice rather than an oversight in its compensation design.
The trade-off for senior associates may come at year end, as Katten has a well-established track record of rewarding high billers with above-market bonuses that can run tens of thousands of dollars ahead of what peers at other firms receive.
On top of those elevated bonuses, Katten has previously offered additional so-called superstar bonuses targeted at the firm’s most dedicated and highest-billing associates.
For many associates watching developments closely, the prospect of outsized bonus payouts at year end could more than offset the gap in base salary relative to Milbank’s top tier.
The broader market continues to move rapidly following Milbank’s initial announcement, with associates at firms yet to respond keeping a close eye on any further updates in the coming days.