Weil Gotshal ditches lockstep salaries for some associates

The London office of US firm Weil Gotshal & Manges has abandoned the traditional lockstep salary structure for associates in favour of a performance-related pay scheme.

It will affect associates over three years qualified.

Newly qualified to three years qualified remain tied to the lockstep system, with newly qualifieds earning 60,000, rising to 70,000 and then 80,000.

Senior associates over six years qualified will continue to be reviewed on an individual basis.

Weil Gotshal's head of human resources Chris Conway said: 'Our previous lockstep system seemed old-fashioned.

By discriminating between our associates, we can pay more appropriately and according to performance.'

He predicted that more firms would follow Weil Gotshal's example.

Joanne Street of recruiters Hays ZMB, agreed, 'This trend is likely to continue.

The market is employer-driven and firms can afford to do it.

'Before, firms were desperate to recruit, and would have had difficulty introducing this scheme: but they are now looking to keep staff, and a merit-based pay system which rewards good lawyers makes sense.'

VIctoria MacCallum