City law firm summer NQ pay war continues
updated on 07 July 2025
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Several City law firms have increased official salaries for their newly qualified (NQ) solicitors in an attempt to acquire top talent amid this year’s summer salary ‘war’.
HFW announced a 3.5% salary increase for its London-based NQ solicitors, raising pay from £100,000 to £103,500. Bird & Bird also increased its NQ salaries from £98,000 to £102,000, with changes set to apply from September 2025.
Meanwhile, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer’s NQs in London saw salaries rise 7.4% – a £10,000 increase from £135,000 to £145,000. This change marks the firms first salary rise since the transatlantic merger between Herbert Smith Freehills and US firm Kramer Levin.
Other firms to have recently increased NQ salaries include Pinsent & Masons LLP, which boosted salaries by 8% from £97,000 to £105,000 for its NQs in London; and DLA Piper UK LLP, which boosted the salaries of its London-based NQs by 18% to £130,000.
Legal recruitment consultant at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, Sophie Burns, commented on this trend: “This approach sometimes leads to ‘pay bunching’, where the initial excitement of a high NQ salary can fizzle out as associates progress. For instance, a firm might offer an NQ salary that's £10,000 lower than another, yet by the time associates reach two years post qualified experience, they could be earning more through regular and motivating pay rises, whilst the associates on the initially higher salary only see an extra £200 a month. This raises important questions about how mid-level associates are being rewarded for their loyalty and expertise”.
