There’s a reason we’ve been referring to the 2025 bonus season as the year of the boutique firm. While Biglaw firms are scrambling to match Cravath’s year-end bonuses and Milbank’s special bonuses, boutique firms are ready to really share the wealth when it comes to compensation. The latest boutique to announce bonuses for associates is no different — they’re rewarding their attorneys handsomely with top bonuses that exceed the market scale.
Selendy Gay recently announced that it would be blowing away the market bonus scale for the eighth year in a row. “This year’s scale reflects the exceptional work our associates deliver every day,” said Kelley Cornish, the firm’s managing partner. “These bonuses underscore our deep appreciation for their talent, dedication, and unwavering commitment to our clients and to one another.”
This is what base bonuses, plus special bonuses, look like at the elite boutique:
| Class Year | Base Bonus | Special Bonus | Total Bonus |
| 2018+ | $132,250 | $25,000 | $157,250 |
| 2019 | $120,750 | $25,000 | $145,750 |
| 2020 | $103,500 | $25,000 | $128,500 |
| 2021 | $86,250 | $20,000 | $106,250 |
| 2022 | $66,125 | $15,000 | $81,125 |
| 2023 | $34,500 | $10,000 | $44,500 |
| 2024 | $23,000 | $6,000 | $29,000 |
| 2025 | $17,250 | $6,000 | $23,250 |
Selendy’s bonuses are already 15% higher than the Biglaw numbers across the board — but some associates will wind up receiving bonuses up to more than 50% higher than the prevailing market rate, based on performance, hours, and firm citizenship.
Congratulations to all Selendy Gay associates on their amazing bonuses!
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Staci Zaretsky is the managing editor of Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Bluesky, X/Twitter, and Threads, or connect with her on LinkedIn.
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