Lovells’ junior partners face Hogan-style pay
Lovells is revolutionising the way it pays salaried partners ahead of its merger with Hogan & Hartson, abolishing a profit-linked portion in favour of a performance-related bonus to mimic the US firm’s model.
Currently salaried partners receive a fixed salary plus a variable sum, which is equivalent to three equity points but is not an actual profit share. In the 2008-09 financial year the additional payment amounted to £36,798, with salaried partners taking home an average total of around £270,000.
Under the new system the three points will be traded for an as-yet undetermined fixed sum, which will be lower than the three-point equivalent, and all salaried partners will be eligible for a bonus.
Lovells senior partner John Young said: “It’s expected that the bonus will work as it will for equity partners, who can effectively expect that the bonus will be around 15 per cent of their total pot.
“That will feed in over time, so in the first year the bonus will be around 7 per cent of total remuneration, then 10 per cent, then 15 per cent.”
At the moment non-equity partners’ fixed salary portions are determined by a four-year lockstep. This will be phased out over two years, after which time it will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
Readers' comments (5)
Anonymous | 8-Mar-2010 12:14 pm
I think we can expect a surge in the talent available to the market place, i just dont think the merger will work out as JY thinks it will.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Robin of Sherwood | 8-Mar-2010 9:25 pm
Mmmm, what happens if you are happy with what you have got and do not want to change? Forced out/seen as a trouble maker? Did the salaried partners have any input in the decision making? A little bit more information would not go amiss
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Curious | 10-Mar-2010 6:35 am
Is 270k what the magic circle salaried partners make too?
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 25-Aug-2010 4:13 pm
Please can the Lawyer publish a survey of salaried partner pay at major firms. With equity reducing, it's no longer the carrot. People need to know what they are working towards.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 25-Aug-2010 8:44 pm
Looks more and more like a take over than a merger of equals! I feel sorry for the salaried partners who work their nuts off and get treated in this way. What does Gorrell make? US$17 million p.a.?!!
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment