Compensating the Rising Star

Compensating the Rising Star

A young, dynamic partner is rapidly building a practice.  She is active, visible and well connected in the market.  She aggressively pursues business opportunities.  She is known for her keen intellect, is highly respected, and her work is first rate.  Clients regularly comment on her ability to seamlessly blend pragmatic legal and business advice that advances their agendas in very positive ways.  Other firms have periodically made runs at her beginning around her mid to senior associate years, but she began her career at this firm and feels very attached to it.

She has come to you, the Compensation Committee Chair and a member of your firm's Executive Committee, to discuss her compensation.  She is delighted to be the youngest associate invited to become a partner.  She sees partnership as affirmation that hard work and loyalty to the firm will be rewarded.  She has been happy in the past with her pay package and very upbeat about her future with the firm.  But now she is conflicted because other firms are offering her substantial increases in pay to lure her away.

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