Fenwick & West Moves Associates to $235K Salary Scale for 2027

Fenwick & West will pay first-year associates on the $235,000 salary scale starting January 1, 2027. The firm told associates that raises are coming, and it did not wait for Cravath, Swaine & Moore to bless the market before moving. For Biglaw associates already watching bonus season, the announcement adds a second payday to the calendar.

Who gets the raise?

The increase applies to associates in good standing on the firm's 1,950-hour billing track. That eligibility condition matters. Associates on reduced-hours or alternative tracks should read the memo's terms closely before assuming the new scale reaches them. Individualized compensation memos will arrive before December 31, 2026, giving each lawyer a personal figure rather than a blanket announcement.

The published chart lists Tier 3 salaries at $440,000 and up. But Tier 3 is not automatic. The firm's memo states that compensation decisions for Tier 3 associates and counsel on the 1,950-hour track "are determined separately and will be communicated individually." Senior lawyers in that bracket should treat the chart as a floor reference, not a promise. Their number will come by memo, case by case.

What does the announcement signal for the market?

Fenwick acted without Cravath's blessing, and that is the notable part. For years, firms have waited for Cravath to set bonus and salary benchmarks before matching. Fenwick's early move suggests the queue logic is loosening, at least among firms competing hard for associate talent in technology and life sciences work. Practitioners advising law firm clients, and recruiters tracking lateral movement, should expect other firms to match or respond sooner rather than later. Compensation committees now have cover to move independently, and associates negotiating laterally have a fresh, dated benchmark to cite.

The move lands while associates across the industry wait on bonus news. Fenwick said it will continue to follow the market on annual bonuses, consistent with prior years. No dollar amounts were announced. That commitment tracks the firm's established practice but leaves the biggest variable of the season unanswered.

What else stays in place?

Two retention programs continue alongside the salary increase:

• The Rest, Relaxation, and Recreation ("Triple R") rewards program, for attorneys who exceed associate expectations.
• The Firm Condo program, for lawyers who make significant contributions to the firm.

Both programs reward performance beyond the billable baseline. Associates who clear the 1,950-hour bar and contribute above expectations can now point to salary, potential Triple R rewards, and condo access as a combined package.

The practical takeaway

Fenwick associates on the 1,950-hour track have a firm number arriving by December 31, 2026, with Tier 3 lawyers and counsel waiting on individualized decisions above the $440,000 mark. The raise is effective January 1, 2027, and bonus amounts remain open until the market moves. For the wider profession, the message is simpler: a major firm has again set pay without waiting for Cravath, and the 2027 compensation season is already underway before the new year begins.