Legal News

Ballard Spahr Moves to Different Associate Comp Model

By Brian Harris

By Gina Passarella
Of The Legal Staff

Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll became the latest firm to cut associate salaries, according to reports first posted on legal blog ?Above the Law.?

Salaries, which started at $145,000 for first-years in Philadelphia, were said to have been cut between $17,000 and $26,000 depending on the class year, according to the blog. The 2008 class dropped from $145,000 to $125,000, the blog reported.

Firm Chairman Arthur Makadon said he wouldn?t comment beyond what was posted on the blog but said that wasn?t a confirmation of the information posted there. He said the firm wouldn?t comment on personnel matters.

Makadon recently told The Legal that Ballard Spahr would be revamping its non-partner compensation models around this time.

He said Tuesday that ?the shift has been away from your salary to your bonus.?

Along with changes to its non-partner compensation, the firm has done away with non-equity partners so that no partners will be on a fixed income.

Ballard Spahr isn?t the first local firm to cut associate salaries. Reed Smith announced a 10 percent cut last month for associates in the majority of its offices.

Full post as published by The Legal Intelligencer Blog on June 02, 2009 (boomark / email).