White & Case raises salaries for its London NQ associates

White & Case raises salaries for its London NQ associates

Battling it out, the international law firm hikes rates to £140,000

White & Case (W&C) has increased newly qualified (NQ) salaries in London by 8 per cent. The NQ rates will move from £130,000 to £140,000 from 2022. The New York firm is the latest of a string of US players battling it out to attract and retain talent in hyper-competitive London legal market.

The firm's latest round of salary hikes will also see pay for associates with one year's post-qualification experience (PQE) rise from £137,500 to £147,500 effective next year. Those with two years out of qualification will see their salaries jump from £150,000 to £160,000.

The trainees are also getting a boost, with first and second-year trainees receiving a £2000 pay jump from £50,000 and £57,000, respectively. Salary hikes for lawyers with three to nine years' PQE are 'discretionary' but are expected to be as 'competitive' as those detailed in full, the firm said in a statement.

W&C, which is celebrating the 50th year of its city presence, has more than 400 lawyers in London and currently recruits around 50 trainees into its London trainee programme each year.

"The London office is pivotal to the firm's global ambitions and continued success," a spokesperson for the firm said. "W&C is committed to being a great place to work with a diverse, supportive, collegial team and strong business platform. This combination of reward, benefits, support and progressive working environment is compelling," he added.

The salary war in the UK, anchored by strong financial performances by companies over the past year, largely reflects the ongoing battle to stand out. The firms are grappling to keep lawyers happy in the face of surging work volumes.