A&O Germany trims assistant pay bands

A&O says that the changes are to bring them into line with competitors.

Although no associates will have their salaries cut, at this year's annual pay review associates will receive a smaller increase than associates of their seniority did last year. A five-year qualified associate will earn E10,000 less than than they would have done last year.

The re-jig will only affect associates who are more than three-years qualified.

A source said: "As a prime example of communication within the firm in Germany, associates have not been officially informed of this downward adjustment. Only associates who recently entered a new grade have been notified."

A&O's German senior partner Arndt Overlack defended the move. He told The Lawyer: "This was not due to the financial situation of the firm, it was a market competitiveness issue."