Above the Law reported two weekends back the rumor that Biglaw colossus Mayer Brown would freeze salaries for 2009. Now it’s official.
As most of you know, we have instituted various prudent and significant cost-cutting measures in recent months. As part of this effort, we have decided to keep base salaries for associates progressing to the next class year at 2008 levels for 2009. As the year progresses, we will evaluate whether to provide class increases. [emphasis ours]
The good news is:
Eligible associates will be receiving bonuses for 2008; we will be announcing bonus decisions in February for those who have not received their bonuses already.
ATL has more quotes, including this amusing triple-negative you can spend a few hours parsing:
The fact that THIS year you don’t have an increase yet WITHOUT any firmwide announcement (which has NEVER happened, btw) doesn’t mean anything.
Ah, English. If only there were some free school you could attend for 12 years, and learn to speak it.