Milbank is offering special bonuses of up to $25,000 for associates and counsel, raising fresh questions about whether rival firms will follow suit.
The move puts pressure on competitors across the market, though the longstanding question remains whether any firm will act independently without Cravath’s permission.
Bonus cycles at major law firms have long been shaped by Cravath’s position as a de facto market setter, with most firms waiting for the New York giant to move first.
Milbank’s decision to step ahead of that convention signals growing confidence among top-tier firms willing to compete aggressively on compensation outside the traditional cycle.
Associates at large firms have seen sustained upward pressure on pay in recent years, driven by fierce competition for talent across the legal and financial sectors.
Elsewhere in the legal world, FIU has appointed a new interim dean, though the appointment has drawn immediate scrutiny following a federal court sanction against the individual.
The timing is particularly awkward given that the sanction came from a federal court in close geographic proximity to the university itself.
The DOJ Honors Program, once considered among the most prestigious entry points into federal legal service, is seeing law students actively choose to pass on it.
Law school deans, according to reports, say they understand exactly why students are steering clear of the programme amid the current climate surrounding the Justice Department.
Elizabeth Oyer, who spent 13 years as the DOJ’s pardon attorney, has been receiving death threats since last week following a high-profile congressional hearing appearance.
Senators Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt did not raise questions about Todd Blanche during that hearing, but their conduct has been linked to the harassment Oyer subsequently received.
The episode adds to broader concerns about the personal safety risks now facing current and former Justice Department officials who appear before congressional committees.