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Law360 (October 20, 2020, 2:37 PM EDT ) Blank Rome LLP is rolling back salary cuts it made at the outset of the coronavirus pandemic, becoming the latest BigLaw firm this month to announce its intentions to fully restore pay.
The law firm in the spring implemented across-the-board salary cuts of 15% and furloughed a small portion of its staff. The firm restored pay to associates, counsel, paralegals and other staffers at the beginning of October and plans to do the same for partners on Nov. 1, Blank Rome communications director Kate Tavella confirmed to Law360 on Tuesday.
"Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have remained focused on supporting our clients, colleagues and the communities in which we live and work. We have been privileged to continue to work closely with our clients during the pandemic and are pleased that the need for our services has exceeded our initial expectations," Tavella said.
Blank Rome, which has 14 offices across the U.S., was one of many firms to implement salary cuts and furloughs in light of economic concerns tied to shutdowns and quarantine orders caused by COVID-19. The firm said in a statement at the time that the measures were part of an effort to "take a cautious and financially disciplined approach to the COVID-19 pandemic."
The firm told Law360 in May that it was also altering its summer associate program and making it virtual. It said it planned to invite everyone who participated back next year.
Unlike some firms, Blank Rome did not implement cuts on a sliding scale. Partners, associates, counsel, professional staff and assistants all experienced a 15% pay reduction. The firm said Tuesday that it restored pay partially before following through with a full rollback of the cuts.
Since September, a growing number of firms have announced plans to restore pay cuts and, in some cases, hand out special pandemic-related bonuses to associates. Fox Rothschild LLP, Perkins Coie LLP, Stoel Rives LLP and Mintz Levin Ferris Glovsky and Popeo PC were among the firms to roll back salary cuts earlier this month.
Perkins Coie also announced that it would make restoration payments to make up for lost income.
"The firm was able to quickly pivot to a virtual environment which allowed for uninterrupted service to clients," Perkins Coie managing partner Bill Malley said in a statement announcing the decision.
Blank Rome did not say whether the rollback of salary cuts would include restoration payments.
--Additional reporting by Emma Cueto and Aebra Coe. Editing by Stephen Berg.
Update: This story has been updated with additional details about Blank Rome's announcement.
For a reprint of this article, please contact reprints@law360.com.
