| Hello! Two years ago the great junior lawyer pay wars saw partners decry the “insane” base salaries being handed to newly qualified solicitors (NQs). Now, it looks like the competition may be restarting. Litigation powerhouse Quinn Emanuel, which was already paying top dollar at £180,000 in London for NQs, has raised salaries by another 5 per cent this year to £189,000. US law firms McDermott Will & Schulte and Milbank have also announced big pay rises for associates, increasing salaries by between $10,000 and $20,000. NQs will now take home $235,000 in the US and an equivalent amount in London, the firm said. As always, the pay rises have sparked a debate among our readers in the comments section. One reader added a link to a site set up by a “friend” that aims to dissect life in corporate law. The blog is billed as: “A warning label for the legal profession: billing, burnout, status, and the myths young and aspiring lawyers are sold before they understand the price.” Another saw the situation more simply: “It’s enough to make you want to vote [Andy] Burnham*.” The UK “magic circle” firms appear to so far be keeping their powder dry. Slaughter and May held NQ salaries at £150,000 in its most recent spring review, according to two people with knowledge of the situation. Clifford Chance is also still offering its £150,000 NQ pay packet for now, according to the firm. Will any UK-headquartered firm dare to be a disrupter? Plenty of managing partners are hoping not. *For non-UK readers, the Greater Manchester mayor is battling to win a by-election next week that may lead to him becoming UK prime minister ICC suspends chief prosecutor: The International Criminal Court has formally suspended chief prosecutor Karim Khan amid an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct. The matter has now been handed to the 125 member states of the ICC to decide on the outcome. Pugilistic Florida billionaire plots law firm stake sale: The largest personal injury law firm in the US is considering selling a stake to an outside investor. Billionaire political donor John Morgan, founder of Morgan & Morgan, told the FT that he was working with advisers to explore a possible deal, before adding: “I don’t get along well with private equity, because I don’t like usury rates.”
A Full Disclosure reader asks: I aspire to make partner some time in the next few years or so, but there are no women partners at my (UK-based boutique) firm. I am wondering if this says something about the company culture and if I would have a better chance at achieving my goals at a different — maybe bigger — firm. Should I stick it out or consider looking elsewhere? “The absence of female partners may be a red flag but could also represent a genuine opportunity. Being the first female partner is more than a personal milestone; it is a chance to shape culture, broaden what leadership looks like, and set a precedent that benefits both the business and its people. It can also make you a visible role model for junior women, showing that progression to the top is both possible and valued. A key factor is the attitude of current partners and how the firm actually operates. Who gets the best work, client exposure and sponsorship? Are talented women staying and progressing, even if they are not yet partners? Are partners aware of and open to your ambitions and able to set out a credible path to partnership? Do not assume a larger firm is automatically a better option. Bigger firms may have more women in senior roles, but also bring different cultures, politics and pressures. The real question is whether you enjoy your day-to-day work, feel valued and can see a realistic and exciting path to growth.” — Charlotte Andrews, a former lawyer, executive coach and consultant for BlueSky Got a question for our experts? Please get in touch at [email protected]. Gibson Dunn has hired litigation partner Matt Owen in Washington DC from Kirkland & Ellis. Cooley has hired real estate partners Kevin Donahue and Jacob Clark in New York from Kirkland & Ellis. M&A litigator Casey Berger has joined Latham & Watkins in Houston from Winston & Strawn. Morrison Foerster has hired intellectual property partners Ching-Lee Fukuda in New York and Tom Broughan in Washington DC from Sidley Austin. BCLP has hired arbitration partner Ania Farren in London from Fieldfisher. Norton Rose Fulbright has hired sanctions and investigations partner Ginger Faulk in Washington DC from Eversheds Sutherland. Tim Lenderking has joined Squire Patton Boggs in Washington DC after more than 30 years at the US Department of State.
 | |  | Sam Bankman-Fried seeks Trump pardon | | CEO of collapsed crypto exchange FTX has served three years in prison for misappropriating billions in customer funds | |  | Magistrate shortage threatens English court reforms, MPs warn | | Recruitment shortfall threatens Labour’s pledge to reduce huge backlog of cases in criminal courts | |  | Who owns my name after I sell my business? | | I want to use my name for new products, but my former backers are threatening legal action | | | | | Not a day goes by at the moment that Anthropic is not in the news, as journalists assess whether this AI giant can really hold on to its ethical founding principles in the face of such rapid expansion. My colleague Madhumita Murgia looked at its prospects and spoke to Daniela Amodei, half of the sibling duo behind the multibillion-dollar company, to get some answers. “Dario Amodei has been known to speculate that there is a 25 per cent chance that AI could lead to catastrophe for the human race.” | 
