Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider is not scrambling to match Milbank’s new salary scale — it has been ahead of it since last year.
The boutique antitrust and litigation firm raised its first-year associate base salary to $250,000 in 2025, sitting $15,000 above Milbank’s new floor of $235,000.
That head start has left Axinn in the unusual position of watching competitors rush to catch up while its own compensation structure remains above market across all class years.
Rather than issuing a matching memo, the firm has announced firmwide special bonuses ranging from $10,000 to $25,000, to be paid by 15 July 2026.
The bonuses apply across associates, counsel, and eDiscovery attorneys, according to an internal memo dated 23 June 2026.
The firm was candid in explaining its position, stating in the memo: “That commitment extends to maintaining our position as a market leader in compensation, with our associate salaries remaining above the newer scale adopted by some of our competitors.”
The memo continued: “The Firm continues to evaluate market developments and will make adjustments where appropriate, consistent with our investment in exceptional talent.”
The language signals that Axinn views its compensation strategy as an ongoing commitment rather than a reactive response to competitor moves in the market.
To qualify for the special bonus, associates must be in good standing as of 8 July 2026, with payments prorated based on start date where applicable.
Counsel and eDiscovery attorneys will receive separate communications regarding their individual bonus amounts, the firm confirmed in the memo.
The Milbank scale, which triggered a fresh round of salary competition across the legal industry, has forced many large and mid-size firms to revisit their associate pay structures in recent weeks.
For Axinn, however, the episode has served more as a validation of its existing approach than a catalyst for urgent internal review.
The firm’s ability to offer both above-market base salaries and supplemental bonuses simultaneously places it in a strong position in the ongoing competition for top legal talent across the United States.